Lesson 1

What is a Thriller

Scary
Edge of your seat
Nail biting
Action/adventure/horror
Tense

Conventions of a thriller

Suspense
Crime at the core of the narrative (often murder)
Complex narrative structure – false paths, clues & resolutions
Narrative pattern of establishing enigmas which viewers expect to be resolved
Protagonist is systematically dis empowered & drawn into a complex web of intrigue by antagonist
Extraordinary events happen in ordinary situations
Themes of identity
Themes of mirroring
Themes of voyeurism
Protagonist with a flaw/weakness that is exploited by the antagonist
Often a scene near the end where the protagonist is in peril/danger
Mise-en-scene echoes/mirrors protagonists plights

Lesson 2

North by Northwest is a suspense thriller, directed and produced by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Cary Grant as the protagonist in a case of mistaken identity. It fits many conventions of a thriller. A crime is at the heart of it, apparently committed by Grant's character, and there is suspense all the way through. Despite this, it is evidently a dated film. It was quite slow, and thrillers in modern cinema are more to the point, sharper, and quicker. Right at the end, the scene on Mount Washington, where he is in danger, along with his female companion, again fitting the convention of a thriller.

Notes on opening sequences

American Psycho: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TvNL_u6IaRM

Immediate question posed – what is the money buying/purchasing?
Why is this person paying?
Where is the place?
What style of club is it?
What is going on?
Why is the man going to this club?
Introducing us to crew members
Music and questioning of the situation create tension and suspense
“Fucking ugly bitch” – why so aggressive?
“I wanna stab you to death and play with your blood” continues the question of who is the man? Why does he say this?
Creates shock, confusion
Left unanswered, audience wants to know more


Mission Impossible 2: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7s5KFbyBmrQ

Where are we?
We have normal, crew names introduced, prod companies etc
Who is this guy?
Why is he climbing the rocks?
Why is he risking so much?
The sheer height creates tension, as there is the possibility that something bad might happen
Why is this man so brave?
Why is this man so strong?
This all helps to build the question, who is he, why are we following him?
Audience are in awe of this man.
Suddenly we want to know, why is the helicopter here? Who is in it?
Pointing at man, why? Why is there a gun?
Tension built again
Why does the man laugh?
Music creates tension, confusion in the background
Where is this technology coming from?
Who is hiring him?
Why does it self-destruct?
What’s going on?
All answered in the film, draws audience in