They all follow a pattern, a trait of some sort. I am going to research into the concept of a Typical Thriller Synopsis, to gather an understanding of what to look out for and how to make an effective Thriller for my opening scene.
To do so, i am going to look at:- What characteristics are there in Thriller?
- What Sub-genres of a Thriller are there?
- A typical Thriller Synopsis for each Sub-genre(story/character/theme)
In Thrillers, there is always a certain "rule" that directors follow. It is not necessary to follow the aspects in this rule, however, the most effective ones tend to include a majority of these elements. In Thriller, there are a selection of characteristics, such as the setting/location(s), story/theme, characters, mood, mystery and visuals/effects.
The setting of a Thriller tends to be city/suburb based; somewhere where you can hide and evade capture...or better still, to carry out your deeds. In most Thrillers, the setting tends to be dark, with a hint of rain/thunderstorm. There are Thrillers that also take place in the past, present and future, therefore the setting can change, depending on the genre of Thriller you are watching/making. With the story/theme, usually focus on psychotic issues, or even issues that threaten us in the real world, such as terrorism, mass murder, politics, etc. For example, a film based on a real life event could be World Trade Centre(2006), a film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Nicholas Cage, Michael Peña and Maria Bello.
The characters that are created are also a vital part of a typical Thriller. For example, there is always a villain and a hero/heroine, of which the hero/heroine is caught in a serious of events, but yet survives throughout the film through, what in real life, would seem impossible. At the end of the film, the hero/heroine would defeat the villain and earn a reward of some kind. Along with the usual comic characters, the intellectual characters and the strong/hard characters, all of which go hand in hand to create a typical Thriller film.
Within a Thriller, there are different Sub-genres that specify the type of story line it will follow. For example, most common Thriller Sub-genres include:
Action/Adventure - One of the hardest Sub-genres to create, due to all the action. This Sub-genre uses a story of discovery and exploring as well as fast paced, hardcore action and stunts. This is most probably the most common Sub-genre in the film industry, as films can afford all of the extras and that to make it as action packed as possible. An example of this Sub-genre could be the Die Hard films (1988).
Disaster - This type of Thriller is usually about a natural disaster, or even man-made. It often portrays the worst things that can happen to us and this planet, using a very convincing plot and characters, along with visuals. It always shows us the effect it has on the characters and even their families. A good example would be The Day After Tomorrow(2004), a film of which covers survival strategies as well.
Medical - There are not many of this type of Thriller, but in medical Thrillers, it usually has a medical hero who fights against time and all other possible threats in order to solve a medical condition or problem. For example, Awake(2007).
Religious - This type of Thriller explores peoples beliefs and religious events. It also can be about evil possessing an individual or group. This type of Thriller is also not very common, but has made more of an appearance in recent years, for example Angels and Demons(2009).
Conspiracy - This is when the hero is the only character is the one that knows the truth about a certain event, and must try to convince everyone else about this information before the evil villains' plan succeeds. An excellent example would be JFK(1991)Crime - Another common type of Thriller. Crime Thrillers are about the criminals who have recently completed a successful crime, eg. Murder, robbery, rape, etc. or even to have it fail miserably. It often shows the relationship between two or more criminals, resulting in suspense to see who is stronger and smarter to beat the other. A classical example that I have studied a lot is The Usual Suspects(1995).
Erotic - Erotic Thrillers are very uncommon nowadays. There's not much story behind these Thrillers, perhaps an affair or series of affairs? An example of an Erotic Thriller is Basic Instinct(1992).Political - In this rare type of Thriller, the main character/hero, is out to manipulate the government/power of their country. They do so, by risking everything, and creating enormous amounts of suspense and mystery. A perfect example is Valkyrie(2008).
Psychological - These Thrillers a particular clever and interesting, as they use the characters aspects to drive the film, rather than action, as this forces the audience to think about what's in store at the end of the film. The use of deception is common in these films and are designed to mess around with the audiences mind. An example would be Jacob's Ladder(1990).
Supernatural - Supernatural Thrillers can easily be related to horrors, however, without the amount of violence and gore. The main character of which does not matter on sides, has a super power of some kind, of which is required in a battle to save the world or city. Carrie(1976), a film about a girl suffering from many problems in her life.
The above information was sourced from:
http://lauren-flanagan.suite101.com/subgenres-of-the-hollywood-thriller-a121577
| “ | ...Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds. The legal thriller, spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, police thriller, romantic thriller, historical thriller, political thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller, military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job. | ” |
—James Patterson, June 2006, "Introduction," Thriller | ||
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