Types of Thrillers

Black Swan is a 2010 American
psychological thriller film directed
 by Darren Aronofsky

Psychological Thriller 
Black Swan

• Focus on psychology and emotional state of its character (protagonist)
• Subculture of thriller genre
• Aronofsky renowned for 'hip-hop montage' - represents drug use
• Also for use of lighting and fast-pace jump cuts represent change in characters
• Famous for 'fade to white' trademark - going in to the light

Mystery Thriller 

• Revolves around a puzzle that protagonists tries to solve
• Is usually triggered by an unusual event occurring at the beginning 
• Normally ends with the 'solution of the puzzle' and explanation of the event

Common elements

Vertigo is a 1958 mystery thriller

 directed and produced by

Alfred Hitchcock

• Retired or amateur detective (not professional)
• No police force helping
• Detective risks safety while investigating
• Clues dropped throughout
• Plot twist/red herrings to confuse audience 

For example - Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo'

• "Scottie" (retired police) asked to follow friends wife around - believes she is possessed - they fall in love - she commits suicide - he then finds a woman who looks similar - obsesses over her - makes her re-enact suicide 
• "Vertigo effect" - Zoom in and pull back 

Techno Thriller

IRobot is a 2004 American dystopian
science fiction techno thriller film
directed by Alex Proyas

• Large amounts of attributes - futuristic and involves things the audience want to see in the future
• Advanced technology

For example - Alex Proyas -iROBOT

• High tech/present day setting
• Advanced technology
• Hero figure not extravagant but knows hidden truth
• Colour and lighting clean and crisp
• Robotic sound effects

Disaster Thriller - 

2012 is a 2009 American science fiction
 disaster thriller directed and co-written
by Roland Emmerich

• Main conflict related to natural disaster e.g hurricane/earthquake etc

For example - Roland Emmerich - 2012

• People brought together through disaster (adds emotion)
• Science and tech play a key part
• Close up on faces are common
• Long/panning/tracking shots used to show the disaster/devastation
• Quick cuts build tension
• Non-diegetic sound draws out emotion
• Silence builds tension
• Key, recognisable settings