Crime Thriller:
Gone Girl - https://youtu.be/0VGD_jLyE9Y?si=HIjFk_tsTxnK-n05
An external story in the Thriller genre focuses on the protagonist’s need for safety. This leads the reader to identify with the protagonist, who seeks to defeat an antagonist that personifies evil. Thriller stories blend elements of three other genres as the powerful individual protagonist from the action genre faces the embodiment of evil (the monster) from the horror genre in a story about unmasking an antagonist who has committed a crime against society, as in the crime genre.
The Four Core Framework of the Thriller Genre:
Safety - The core need of the protagonist in a Thriller story is safety. The need arises when the antagonist or shadow agent commits an inciting crime indicative of a master villain.
Damnation to Life - Damnation, or a fate worse than death, for the protagonist is an ever present threat. The crime committed by the antagonist becomes personal in some way for the protagonist, intensifying the relationship between the two and making their opposition even more exciting than in an ACTION or CRIME story.
Excitement - In a Thriller story, one of the villain’s goals is to torment and destroy the protagonist, and one source of excitement for readers is in identifying the source of that deep antagonism.
Hero at the Mercy of the Villain - The CLIMAX of the Thriller genre is the Hero at the Mercy of the Villain scene. The Core Need for safety is most in jeopardy as the protagonist faces damnation, or a fate worse than death. The Core Emotion of excitement is at its height during the confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist.
5 Obligatory Moments in the Thriller Genre:
An Inciting Crime indicative of a master Villain. There must be multiple victims.
Speech in Praise of the Villain. Speech by an avatar, or a revelation, that praises the cunning/brilliance of the villain.
The Protagonist becomes the Victim. A scene reveals that the villain makes the crimes personal to the protagonist, who becomes the primary victim.
The Hero at the Mercy of the Villain. This is the core event of the Thriller, when the protagonist unleashes his or her gift.
False Ending. There must be two endings.
4 Main Conventions of Thriller include:
MacGuffin. This is the villains object of desire, what he or she wants.
Investigative Red Herrings. Seemingly revelatory false clues that mislead the protagonist.
Making it Personal. The villain takes the protagonist’s fight as a personal affront and wants to not only beat the protagonist but make it painful as well.
Clock. There is a limited time for the protagonist to act; failing to act burns precious time.
Political:
Nil by Mouth - https://youtu.be/7YaOsPuPyxk?si=erN6VuMLTSIAUC02
The Hand of God - https://youtu.be/CFUVnhUsNws?si=GUYdiEHsdYqN2BY8
The political genre of film is a genre that discusses a deeper meaning within the film, it is not always inherently clear to the audience, it may be subtle. Political cinema, in the narrow sense, refers to cinema products that portray events or social conditions, either current or historical, through a partisan perspective, with the intent of informing or agitating the spectator. For example, Get Out may appear to be just a normal horror film but in fact reflects the pose of the post-racial masks liberal whites' active complicity in the oppression of African Americans. Nil by Mouth reflects the dull experiences of working class Britain and how domestic abuse and drug abuse are rife in these communities and how there is a lack of government support for these victims. Aftersun explores the relationship between a young father on holiday with his daughter. All while him getting to grips with his life and his isolation with his feelings of being a father and having no guide in his life. The film shows the protagonists struggle with mental health all while trying to hide this from his young daughter.
Political films have always existed and all films can be considered political but certain films reflect the ideologies of the time they were made. For example Alien in 1979 reflecting the domination of corporations on working class people. But political films can go even further back to reflect ideologies that majority of society no longer hold. For example in 1915 the release of Birth of a nation which reflects the racist ideologies of the past. And is now considered the most racist film in history.
Conventions:
Socially reflective - race, gender, class.
Symbolism to help express the social message of the film.
Social Imagery - social norms, expectations of specific people.
Sugar coating - hiding a strong political message within a genre such as comedy.
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