Thriller is a genre of literature, film and television that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960), “Taking Lives” (2004), directed by D.J Caruso and David Finchers “Se7en” (1995) are three good examples which use these elements, as well as Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009) as my wider research. With reference to the above films I will be discussing the forms and conventions which are represented in the thriller genre. They involve suspense/tension, storyline, characters and the relationship which they have with the audience.
Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960) conveys particular aspects within suspense and tension in the shower scene when Norman Bates is murdering Marion Crane. Alfred Hitchcock portrays this by firstly including a soundtrack which includes screeching violins, violas and cellos, composed by Bernard Herrmann. By Hitchcock adding in the background music, it builds a creepy, scary effect towards the scene. The string instruments which are included in the soundtrack are also well known to be associated with tense scenes, with the addition to the music this indicates that there is no requirement for any dialogue. An additional way in which Hitchcock exposes suspense and tension in this scene is when he is using the camera. Alfred Hitchcock uses a combination of close shots with a short duration between cuts to make the sequence feel longer, more subjective, more controlled and more violent than an image if it was presented alone or in a wider angle. Compared from Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009) some parts may be perceived as similar, such as the music, when Rupert Ames is receiving his death penalty (15minutes into film). The music in the above films can be compared as similar, this is because as is “Psycho” the film includes string instruments such as violins, the violins are played in short, fast notes to emphasise the situation as a unpeaceful set. Another form in which “Law Abiding Citizen” may be compared to “Psycho” would be the way in which Gary Gray uses the camera. In “Law Abiding Citizen” he uses a variety of shots, including medium shots to show the scene and also close shots to show the audience the pain in which Rupert Ames is feeling. However, he also uses a combination of close shots to make the scene feel more violent, but he uses them over a longer duration so the audience can interpret that his supposed peaceful death has gone awfully wrong.
Suspense and tension has been used very well in David Finchers “Se7en” (1995). It is portrayed in the scene in which Detective Lt. William Somerset discovers the head of Detective David Mills wife, Tracy Mills. The background music is again similar in comparison, with a mix of brass and string instruments. A Trombone is used in intervals with a cello in the background, the mixture of these two sets of instruments sets a theme of a dilemma, stating if Detective David Mills should either shoot John Doe, or keep him alive. Suspense is also used when Detective Lt. William Somerset receives the package from the delivery man. Suspense is created in this scene firstly when he receives the package, wondering what it may be. The camera then changes between John Doe, William Somerset and David Mills, this gives the expression that it is intended for one of them. John Doe then talks to David Mills about his wife. When William Somerset opens the package, you know exactly what it is, however they never show you it. This adds more suspense and tension to the scene until the point at which David Mills shoots John Doe.
The storyline in Hitchcocks “Psycho”, D.J Caruso’s “Taking Lives”, Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” and David Finchers “Se7en”, mainly tend to be different, for example the storyline in Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960) begins as when Marion Crane steals $40,000 from her employer and starts to flee Phoenix and travels by car. Whilst on her way fleeing from Phoenix, Marion Crane falls asleep on the side of the highway. However, a police officer questions her in the morning but remains suspicious and follows her. Marion then decides to spend the night at the Bates Motel. Owner of the Bates Motel, Norman Bates invites Marion to have supper with him. Marion decides to take a shower she is brutally murdered. It then shows Norman appearing to clean the bathroom, he then wraps up the body and puts her in the car boot. Norman then takes the car to the swamp which he then sinks. A few days later Marion’s sister and boyfriend turn to a private investigator to find out what happened to Marion. Arbogast later returns hoping to question Normans mother but he also gets murdered with a knife. Sam and Lila get concerned thinking that he has found her but he has run away with the money, when there Sam tries to distract Norman while Lila goes into the family home to get answers. She later hides in the fruit cellar when she finds what she thinks is Norman Bates mother, but is actually her corpse. Norman shortly arrives attempting to murder Lila but Sam arrives to save her. After Normans arrest a psychiatrist tells them that he is living in Normans psyche. This film may be compared to the other films because the main character at the beginning gets killed off a third of the way through the film.
The storyline in D.J Caruso’s “Taking Lives” (2004) also varies when the film opens in the early 1980s when the young and shy teenager Martin Asher is seen fleeing from his home. He befriends another teen and they both go to a local mechanic and take a car, the car breaks down. Whilst Matt is changing the tyre, Martin pushes him into an oncoming vehicle. Picking up 20 years later, a FBI profiler is summoned to help out in Canada to hunt down the serial killer, Martin Asher. Meanwhile Martins mother claims that she has recently seen her son in Montreal. The team meets with a art salesman who is meant to be meeting their prime suspect. The art salesman meets with him but is attacked but he escapes and their prime suspect dies. Befriending the art salesman, Illeana Scott has sexual intercourse with the art salesman and the next day the art salesman is confronted by Martins mother and he murders her. Illeana then catches salesman murdering his mother, but he escapes. He then enters a new identity. It then skips nine months where Illeana is heavily pregnant, Martin finds her and attacks her, he then stabs her with a pair of scissors. However, she is not pregnant, she was wearing a suit. She then takes it from her chest and turns to stab Martin. Martin dies. This film can be compared similar to Psycho because they both involve a murderer. They are compared different because they have different situations and Norman Bates is living a lonely life whilst Martin isn’t.
Another film which has a different storyline is Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009). It starts out when Clyde Shelton witnesses the rape and murder of his wife and daughter, they two men get caught, and however the wrong man goes to prison receiving the death penalty. Ten years later Rupert Ames is executed but Clarence Darby isn’t. Over the past ten years Clyde Shelton has been planning revenge on all of the people who were involved in the court case ten years ago. Clyde later confesses to the murder of Clarence Darby, however, he asks for items in return, such as a mattress, iPod and even food. When receiving these items, Clyde tells them the location of the missing Attorney. During their search for the Attorney he murders his cellmate for to be taken into solitary confinement. After the judge is killed from an explosive phone, he tells Nick that these killings are not about revenge and that if he is not cleared of these charges by six o’clock the next day, he will kill everyone who is involved in this case. Nick receives information leading to a garage owned by Clyde next to the prison, leading to the solitary confinement cells. They realize that Clyde had deliberately had himself sent to solitary confinement so that he could come and go, committing his string of killings while the authorities believed him to be locked up. Clyde returns to his cell via his tunnel and finds Nick waiting for him. He offers Nick one last deal, but Nick refuses. Clyde activates the bomb anyway as Nick seals the cell door and flees the building. Clyde realizes too late that they have placed the bomb beneath his cot. As Clyde sits, staring at the bracelet given to him by his daughter, the bomb goes off, killing him. This film can be compared different to “Taking Lives”, this is because the main protagonist is a male, compared to Angelina Jolie in “Taking Lives” who plays a female. The location can also be considered as a comparison because as in “Law Abiding Citizen” it is shot mainly in a prison and “Taking Lives is shot, in a more unique country of Canada.
The final film which has a different storyline is David Finchers “Se7en” (1995) when a experienced detective has to partner up inexperienced Detective David Mills. They start out their investigation finding an obese man dead who was forced to feed himself representing Gluttony. They find clues to find another murder after a rich attorney gets murdered representing greed, they get led to an apartment which a man has been kept alive for exactly one year. This victim represents sloth. Detective Somerset becomes close to David Mills wife when she tells him that she is pregnant. The Detectives use Library record to find a match towards John Doe. When Doe finds the detectives approaching his apartment, he opens fire on them and flees, chased by Mills. Eventually, Doe gains the upper hand, holding Mills at gunpoint, but he runs away. They arrive too late to find their Lust victim, a prostitute killed by an unwitting man who Doe forced at gunpoint Sometime later, they investigate the death of a young model whose face has been mutilated; the victim of Pride. As they return to the police station, Doe appears to them and offers himself for arrest Doe claims he will lead the two detectives to the last two bodies and confess to the crimes, or otherwise will plead insanity. Doe directs the two detectives to a remote desert area far from the city, after arriving at the location, a delivery van approaches; Somerset goes to intercept the driver, leaving Mills and Doe alone. While Mills holds Doe at gunpoint, Doe mentions how much he admires him, but doesn't say why. Somerset opens the package and recoils in horror at the sight of the contents. He races back, warning Mills not to listen to Doe, but Doe reveals to Mills that the box contains Tracy's head. Mills, threatens to execute Doe, he then taunts Mills with the knowledge that Tracy was pregnant. Somerset is unable to contain Mills as he points his gun at John Doe, becoming the embodiment of Wrath. This film can be compared to “Law Abiding Citizen” because both of the antagonists were killing people for a reason. However, you can sympathize with Clyde Shelton due to the scenario but, you cannot with John Doe as he shows no remorse. Overall these films are similar throughout because they all have a extraordinary chain of events.
Thrillers tend to use the concept of characterisation in the films above. In Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960) characterisation is used as Norman Bates. Hitchcock uses Norman Bates character as a lonely man in his mid twenties; he is also portrayed as a tall, slender and handsome man. Hitchcock used these attributes for his characterisation so you can feel that Marion Crane can have a conversation with him when she first enters the Motel. Norman Bates also seems to feel a nice shy person. This also adds more of a twist when you see him taking away Marion Crane and your first perceptions of him go away. Compared to David Mills character in “Se7en”, Norman Bates is portrayed as a shy person who is evil, and David Mills is fighting the law, whilst being a short tempered, loud officer. He is also busy working everyday whilst the Bates Motel is always empty.
Another thriller which uses the concept of characterisation is in D.J Caruso’s “Taking Lives” (2004), the main protagonist, Illeana Scott, as a young attractive woman who is a Detective which uses unusual methods; this is because Angelina’s character is a Sherlock Holmes more than a James Bond. This is used so it isn’t a more traditional thriller movie; D.J Caruso used this to make an unusual protagonist as a female lead, to make the viewers guessing what decision she may make. Her characterisation can be compared to Gerard Butlers Clyde Shelton; this is because Clyde seeks revenge and so does Angelina Jolie’s character when she stabs Martin Asher. Both of the characters both believe that justice has been done; they both also set traps for their victims to fall into.
Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009) uses the concept of characterisation in Clyde Shelton’s character played by Gerard Butler. His character is a family man in his late 30s who owns numerous properties around the country. He is a highly intellectual man, who takes his time to plan. Gary Gray used this style of characterisation to make the viewers keep guessing what Clyde Shelton is about to do next, he doesn’t give away any secrets and is highly prepared. Gerard Butler’s character can be compared to Kevin Spacey’s character as John Doe, this is because they both had motives to kill, however you can argue to say whether the motives were correct.
The final film which uses characterisation is in David Finchers “Se7en” (1995). It is shown in Morgan Freeman’s character as Detective William R. Somerset. David Fincher set out to make his character as a composed cop which is ironically the opposite from his partners; this adds more emphasis towards Morgan Freeman’s character. Detective William R. Somerset is a middle aged and very experienced officer. A compared character would be Jamie Fox’s character as Nick Rice; this would be compared as different because, Nick Rice tries to get to the point by threatening or either just refusing to agree with the suspect. The comparison of these characters shows a good cop, bad cop like look.
The thrillers of “Psycho”, “Taking Lives”, “Law Abiding Citizen” and “Se7en” uses a different relationship with their audience compared to a Action or Adventure audience. A thriller audience would generally be for a mature audience, whom have more patience to let the film run its course. However, classic thriller such as Hitchcocks “Psycho” are rated a PG but are still intended for adults. Audience for thrillers may also be people who are intrigued in solving mysteries/crimes, but cannot quite solve it, yet they still love the element of surprise. Compared to a thriller audience, the audience for an action adventure may differ. This is because that the usual audience for an action/adventure will be from a younger age group whom is also more immature. They would also be less patient by wanting the movie to go straight to the action scenes. The audience in a action/adventure film may also like fiction based films which consist of fantasy, compared to thrillers, the movies are portrayed over a series of unfortunate events but can also be realistic.
To conclude Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960), D.J Caruso’s “Taking Lives” (2004), Gary Grays “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009) and David Finchers “Se7en” (1995) all contain its forms and conventions in the thriller genre, including suspense/tension, storyline, characters and relationship with their audience.
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