Genre Research

The psychological thriller genre is not one to be widely incorporated into a mass variety of films as much as the "thriller" genre, but when the art of a thriller is combined with the reality of human psychology, it can come down to create some of the most impactful films featuring topics of importance while creating suspensful storytelling. The type of storytelling that can challenge our perceptions and engage us on a deep emotional level. While the genre is not as popularized as comedies, romances, horror or action films, the psychological thriller genre is still remains to be a vital and evolving component of film and television, captivating audiences with it's exploration of the human condition. So what exactly is a psychological thriller and how does it differ from what we would call a "regular" thriller genre film? A psychological thriller is a sub-genre of the thriller category, emphasizing the unstable emotional or psychological state of its charaters. Unlike thrillers, that rather prefer to rely on physical challenges or external adversaries and present the viewers with content contaning high-stakes; this sub-genre mainly focuses on a conflict that is often internal, rooted in the mind. When watching a film that falls under this category of genre, you might begin to ask yourself, how to differ and identify the two, but the answer is quite simple. The main factor that distincts the two is if the film focuses more on a deep dive of the minds of one or multiple characters; as they face challenges while the film progresses and we begin to see how their perspective on certain aspects becomes compromised in some way. By making those important observations, we can begin to see how these are the basic characteristics that make up a psychological thriller. The way this sub-genre is able to gather it's specific target audience is by using certain production techniques to incorporate topics that might spark interest in certain age groups by presenting content that contains realistic conflicts we can be faced with, and turning them into something artistically unsettling and tragic, or even in some cases depending on the film, tragically beautiful. So exactly what tecniques need to be incorporated into a production in order to create a remarkable film that represents our genre? Pychological thrillers typically incorporate content that includes, mind games (when characters often engage in manipulative or deceitful behaviour to gan the upper hand), internal struggles, psychological disorders (often exploring conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia or depression which play a crucial role in the storyline), isolation, reality vs. perception, moral ambiguity, and dark themes. An example of media that does an overview of the topics listed periously, are movies like American Psycho (2000), directed by Mary Harron. It is a film where we are driven through certain plot twists which make us question things on broader aspects. The prescence of heavy narcissim and manipulative behaviour is present within our main character Patrick Bateman, as well as many other psychological issues that our character is faced with like psychopathic behaviour and identity disorder; character traits like lack of empathy, superficial charm, and violent tendencies are also very crucial part of this film that have found themselves to be well portrayed. This film can also give the audience the message of the effects of a materialistic society and how it slowly begins to affect mental health. In order to create a well made production, we have to remember it is important to not only know how to manage content and how it is portrayed to successfully embody our genre, but we have to make careful observations; the way the technique of a production is handled, plays a very important role into what is the final result of a film. Certain production techniques include, cinematography, sound design (eerie, suspensful music that can heighten tension), narrative strucure, character development, and visual symbolism. These techniques work together to immerse the audience in the psychological tension and mystery, making the experience of watching a psychological thriller both engaging and unsettling. And as important as the content and production techniques are in our films, what makes them get recorgnized in the first place is marketing these movies. Genre is marketed by using techniques like viral marketing, online trailers and teasers, cross-promotions, etc. The target audience of this sub-genre is typically adults with ranging ages of 25-45 years old. More examples of psychological thriller films that explore themes of the previously discussed information, are films like "Black Swan" (2010), "The Shining" (1980), "Psycho" (1960), "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), "The Guilty" (2021), "Us" (2019), and "Get Out" (2017) which successfully delve into the complexities of the human psyche. These films employ a variety of techniques to create tension and suspense, from the unsettling atmospheres and haunting soundtracks to the intricate character studies and shocking plot twists. Each movie uniquely explores themes such as identity, paranoia, addiction, and societal issues, leaving impact on the audience. By creating something that blends both psychological depth and thrilling narratives, films like these will continue to captivate and provoke thought, solidifying their place in the genre's legacy.