1920's:
A man named Hitchcock made his first thriller in which was his third silent film in 1926 this was called 'The Lodger' a Jack The Ripper type story filled with suspense. However, because there is no sound within this movie, there is no tension and suspense unlike today where sound plays an important role in creating the fear within thriller films. Also, this film is in black and white so therefore couldn't use specific colors to present the victim and the villian. Hitchcock's next thriller was 1929 was a film called 'Blackmail' this was notable for being his and Britain's first film with sound. Blackmail displays many stylistic elements and themes with which Hitchcock would become associated, particularly he had a fascination with male sexual aggression and female vulnerability which later on shaped the modern day thriller.1940's:
Hitchcock continued to direct thriller films and in this year he directed one which won an Oscar in which was called 'Rebecca'. It is about a self-conscious bride who is tormented by the memory of her husbands first wife who died, called Rebecca. This clip doesn't necessarily scare the audience as the 1940's didnt have the use of technology we have today, however we do connect and engage with what is occuring within the scene. For instance, the cinematography used helps us engage to the scene. The camera is zooming into the house making the audience focus on it and makes us believe that the house will play an important role within the film. Sound also plays a big part in this clip as we cannot use colour to present certain things so therefore sound enforces what is happening within the scene. This is shown to us when the use of the non diagetic sound says 'last night'. This gives the audience the time frame of the film and enforces what is being shown to us on the screen in more detail as there is no colour used to present clearly what is going on. Although color couldn't of been used, they have tried their best to use different shades to present things. When the girl and the man are talking, we are led to believe that the man could possibly be the villain due to the dark clothing he is wearing and that the women is the victim as we is wearing light clothes presenting her to be vulnerable and innocent. 1960's:
Hitchcock carried on to direct films and in 1960, released a disturbing film called 'Psycho'. Its about a secretary who steals $40,000 from her employer's client, who then goes on the run and checks into a remote motel. Over the 20 year period from the 1940's Hitchcock had introduced more conventions to the thriller genre. For example, this clip is set in a shower, inside a house. This is conventional tot the thriller genre as it makes the the film feel more realistic therefore enhancing the fear in which the audience would feel. Another convention used is that the killers identity is hidden presenting mystery and suspense and therefore making the audience sit on edge as we don't know who it is and how they got into the house. Iconography is also another convention as it is typical to what we should expect to see within the genre.
Cinematography is also used within this clip from pyscho to present fear. From 2:07-2:15 the camera zooms into the rain of the bath. This connotes the girls life fading away slowly and therefore makes the audience feel sympathy towards her and feel shocked to what has happened. Also, another cinematography point that has been used is zooming out. The camera zooms out from the girls eye once she is dead, this creates an emotional distance towards the girl. They have done this to present sadness and leads the audience to feel sorry for her.
From now, technology improved over the years and now directors and producers could use bigger and better sound effects in their films. Most importantly, colour was now introduced.
This post demonstrates some understanding of how thriller films have changed and developed over the years. You have considered some examples, but further discussion of the conventions, themes and characters are needed, to demonstrate further understanding of the task.
ReplyDeleteWithin this post, you also need to include the box office information, by disucssing how thriller films appeal to an audience, by their narratives and plots.