Introduction to thriller course work

Since the beginning of the year we looked at a range of thrillers and analysed the techniques used to engage and entertain the auidence. These included 'Memento', 'The Birds', 'Psycho' and 'Peeping Tom'. We found that many of these films used typical conventions which are clearly associated with the thriller genre. The use of reoccuring flashbacks in 'Memento' suggest a non-linear narrative. Hitchock's 'The Birds' and 'Peeping Tom' both included a vulnerable, blonde female character. We also found that in all the films there was a flawed hero. As well as this, instead of using visible imagery, a variety of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds was used to build up tension in the audience.


Then we started looking at 'The Auteur Theory' and discovered that some of the more important directors have a distinctive style which is specific to them. For example, Hitchcock often uses a defenceless blonde as the victim. Another of his traites was to appear at the beginning of his films perhaps as a way to make make the audience more involved, as they search for him . Hitchcock also used repetitive themes of a character's primal fears, which in turn created anxiety amongst the audience.