As a general rule, all thriller films are based around the generic conventions regarding character, location and theme:
- Characters- convicts, gangsters, innocent victims, femme fatale (dangerous or deviant women e.g. Gilda (1946)), assassins, criminals, psychotic individuals, hit men/women (Pulp Fiction (1994)), drug addicts, corrupt police officers, terrorists, characters with dark pasts etc.
- Locations- dimly lit, claustrophobic locations such as basements, tunnels, underground rooms/hideouts, phone booths, shower cubicles (Psycho (1960)), wet narrow backstreets, large barren landscapes (Essex Boys (2000) reflects emotional/physiological state of character), inside vehicles, derelict buildings, elevators, staircases, toilet cubicles etc.
- Themes- conflict, gang war, greed, political conspiracy, obsession, envy, romantic triangles, violence (weapons), terrorism etc.
Sub-genres
There are many different sub-genres within the thriller genre that are largely based around these classic conventions:
- Crime Thriller – focuses on crime (gangsters etc) and the life/story of the protagonist - Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- Action Thriller – focuses more on the dramatic and fast-paced action scenes - The Bourne Identity (2002)
- Film Noir – a ‘sub-genre’ established in early 1940’s characterised by lighting effects & black and white style - Gilda (1946)
- Physiological Thriller – based around physiological issues more than action, storyline tends to be more complex than other sub-genres - Strangers on a Train (1951) or Sixth Sense (1999)
- Religious Thriller – commonly based around the supernatural and religious issues/experiences - The Da Vinci Code (2006)
- Science Fiction Thriller – classically films made about the future, involving advanced technology unavailable today - Inception (2010)
- Western Thriller – based on events in the western areas - High Noon (1952)
Aspects of the thriller genre:

Film noir is the French translation of ‘black film’, a film genre first contrived by French film critic, Nino Frank in 1946. This ‘genre’ commonly features themes and feelings of moral corruption, alienation, bleakness, loss of innocence, despair, guilt, desperation, paranoia and violence. Strictly speaking, film noir is not a genre, but a reference to the tone, style and atmosphere created within film. Character figures commonly used in film noir are murderers, convicts, cops, gangsters and femme fatales involved in storylines that are usually non-linear, complex narratives with acerbic dialogue and often featuring flash backs through time. The mise en scene of noir thrillers often feature dark, depressing colours and lighting, claustrophobic and restricting locations and an oppressive atmosphere to emphasise the negative experience and atmosphere.Femme fatale is French for ‘fatal woman’, used within media to describe a mysterious, seductive and predatory female character whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. These characters challenge the stereotypical view of women as being weak and safe characters, an example being the protagonist played by Pam Grier in Jackie Brown (1997) and Rita Hayworth who plays the protagonist in Gilda (1946).
Well done for posting your research into noir thrillers and the definition of the tradional femme fatale. When uploading research from websites it's always wise to evaluate the information. For example with the defininition of the femme fatale and to to strengthen:
ReplyDeleteYou could explain why a contemporary female audience may find this type of representation of women is an example of misogyny in the film industry and labels female characters who challenge or deviate from conventional norms in one way or another as dangerous, deadly and a threat!
Male characters (in traditional film noir) such as say Dirty Harry in the film of the same name, or Noodles in Once Upon a Time in America have heroic status; whereas their female counterparts, such as Gilda in "Gilda" and Phyllis in "Double Indemnity" are either forced to conform or end up dead.
You may want to relate your research into the femme fatale to a contemporary film and discuss how the traditional representation of deviant women has either changed or remained stuck in the past!!!