Research into the History of Thriller Films (Miss Georgiou)

What is a thriller?
In this blog post I will be researching into the history of thriller films. The thriller genre in general is a play, novel or in this case film which consists of an exciting plot usually involving crime. Every thriller includes a villain of some sort who torments the victim throughout. All thrillers rely on there main elements of suspense, shock and surprise to captivate their audience and give them a high level of anticipation and anxiety as the plot builds towards it's climax. Plot twists and cliff hangers are often used to, to confuse the audience further and ensure they have the fear of the unknown which is very desired in this genre.

How has the thriller genre changed over the years?
One of the main heroes of the thriller genre is director Alfred Hitchcock. His first thriller and third silent film 'The Lodger', based upon Jack the ripper was directed in 1926 and saw a huge amount of success which spurred Hitchcock on to make more. Since then he has created over 50 feature films which has earned him the title of 'the master of suspense'. Hitchcock lead the way for other pursuing thriller directors and dominated most of the early thriller success.

1920's and 1930's
 In these years the thriller genre was a new concept so the scenes they contained had very minimal suspense unlike the films we know today as the audience members of this period were easily shocked causing the films content to be made very basic. Audiences didnt have a preferance at the type of thriller they perfered yet causing all of the thriller made during the 1920's and 30's to have very different story lines.

• 1923- The first ever thriller film was made called 'Safety Last' and  was directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor. Because it was the first ever thriller all thrillers have aspects of this film or it wouldn''t be classed as a thriller.
• 1928- The film Spies directed by Fritz Lang was one of the earliest spy films made and was said to have anticipated the James Bond of the future.
• 1929- Hitchcock released his 10th film and 2nd thriller Blackmail which became Hitchcock's and Britain's first sound film. 
• 1931- Fritz Lang then created a real life story of serial killer Peter Kurten and was called German film M. It featured the actor Peter Lorre.
• 1932- Next came a spy film directed by Greta Garbo called World War I in Mata Hari and was based on a the life of a real-life double agent.
• 1934- Hitchcock then returned with The Man Who Knew Too Much. After it's release it became one of the most successful and critically acclaimed films of Hitchcock's British period.
• 1935- One of the last iconic films on the 1930's was Hitchcock's romantic thriller The 39 Steps. It was his first spy romance collab in the thriller genre.

1940's and 1950's

These years it was considered to be Hitchcock's golden years and it was in the 1940's he produced 'Rebecca' which became Oscar winning. During the 1940's and 50's the main theme that appeared in most plots featured a husband and wife as domestic plots were favoured by audience members.

• 1943- During this year Hitchcock released his personal favourite 'Shadow of a doubt' which was based upon true events from a 1920 serial killer know as The Merry Widow Murderer.
• 1944- Director George Cukor's then created his psychological thriller 'Gaslight'. This was about a man who plotted to make his wife insane to take her inheritance.

..By time the 1950's Hitchcock then added Technicolor to his thrillers. These ten years were also included in the idea of Hitchcock's golden years.

1951- saw Hitchcock release 'Strangers on a train'.

1953- saw the release of the film 'Niagara' by Henry Hathaway and starred the iconic Marilyn Monroe who tries to kill her unstable husband.

1954- The film 'Dial M For Murder' starred with Ray Milland as a villainous husband who attempts to murder his wealthy wife Grace Kelly.

1960's and 1970's
By time the 1960's thrillers were a very popular film genre which saw the arrival of new directors such as J. Lee Thompson, Terrance Young, Francis Ford Coppola and Roman Polanski.

• 1962- Director J.Lee Thompson created 'Cape Fear' which featured a menacing character seeking revenge.


• 1965- Polanski's first english film;'Repulsion' where a young woman goes increasingly mad.


• 1967- Terrance Young's 'Wait until dark' which was a famous thriller during its release date. It featured a victimised blind woman in her Manhattan apartment and an evil con man in search for drugs.


• 1974- Francis Ford Coppola's created tense spy thriller 'The Conversation' which showed a man uncovered a murder while he was being spied on himself.


• 1978- Directed by Irvin Kershner the film 'The Eyes of Laura Mars' was yet another stalker themed thriller.

1980's and 1990's
This decade saw this main thriller interest in being within FBI thrillers and the case to solve murders and crimes. However in this time people also become fixated on the idea of stalkers and the dangerous obsessions people had.

• 1983 saw the release of Sam Peckinpah's final film 'The Osterman Weekend'. It was based on Robert Ludlum's best-selling novel and starred a creepy CIA agent.


• 1989- Phillip Noyce released a psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman called 'Dead Calm'. This thriller became a bench post for the thrillers of the 1990's as it had elements of obsession and escaping which heavily influence later films.


• 1991- Jonathan Demme released Best Picture-winning crime thriller 'The Silence of the Lambs' involved a young FBI agent in a psychological war against a cannibalistic psychiatrist.


• 1992- Barbet Schroeder's suspenseful 'Single White Female' was with Bridget Fonda and her obsessed roommate-from-hell Jennifer Jason Leigh.


• 1995- 'Se7en', a thriller starring Brad Pitt, was about the search for a serial killer who re-enacts the seven deadly sins.


• 1999- Anthony Minghella's psychological thriller 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' plot involved a man being obsessed with someone then assuming his identity.

2000 till today
Today's age has seen thrillers become even more popular and successful however today some thrillers are often a thriller/action mix to satisfy the audience members who now look for more action filled scenes.

• In 2005 Hostage was released and was said to have been borderline action


• One popular film of the 2000's came in 2008 with the release of Eden Lake.


• 2009 saw the release of The Last House on the Left a twisted thriller which focuses on the fear of the unknown and isolation.

Individual ideas for a narrative (Miss Georgiou)

Inspirations from other films-

Over the last few weeks I have been watching and analysing lots of the popular thriller films of this time. Through watching all these films I now feel I have an understanding of the features I would like to apply my own thriller film and the scenes I would like to almost recreate. Below are some of my top inspirations.

One film I drew inspiration from was the film 1408. It is a film which shows a man trapped in a haunted hotel room and his bid to make sense of what's happening around him. A main feature I would like to feature in my film is the use of the clock. A clock, although a typical daily object, manages to add a lot of suspense and anticipation onto a film or a particular scene as it is able to create a time limit which puts the audience on edge as they wonder what's going to happen when the time runs out as within the thriller genre inevitably something will. As well as this I also liked the films use of the radio within the room. Again as with the clock although a radio is a typical house hold object which would not necessarily have any scare value to the audience it allows, as demonstrated by this scene, the ghost or villain to have a voice and speak to both the victim and audience through song which is able to set the tone and mood for the scene.
With both these objects despite their boring persona I think they will make good additions to my film as they are relatable objects found within most home which will allow my audience to connect and relate to my film more.

Another idea I liked is the use of masks in both strangers and the scream box set. The use of a mask as the villains main iconography creates them a hidden identity and therefore makes the scene more mysterious. This also creates a mystery for the audience as we know someone is under the mask committing the crimes but have no idea who which makes the idea of the victim running away seem more impossible as even if they run they or the audience have no idea who their running from making an escape seem impossible. This then elevates the villains powers and control over the film and scene which makes the audience feel more empathy towards the victim as we understand their in an impossible position.

As well as this I also draw inspiration through watching the films 'the conjuring' and 'hide and seek'. Both films feature games played within the film between the victim and the supernatural presence such as 'hide and seek' from hide and seek and the 'clap clap' game as featured in my previous blog post. The use of the games to mess with the victim shows that the supernatural presence is having fun tormenting and scaring the central characters this then leads the audience to feel pity and empathy for the characters as they realised they have no control as they cannot see what is haunting them and so are instead being played with like a part of a board game which the player or villain can manipulate and control. 


To add to these ideas I also liked the idea of using a house to base my film at. This idea as a setting can be seen in both the films 'insidious' and 'paranormal activity'. By basing the story in a real life setting it relates to the audience as they all come from a home to be there and so can image being trapped and teased within their own homes. Through featuring a realistic scene the audience then can relate to the film more and allow themselves to put themselves in the position of the central characters as they can all relate to the scenes as well as the iconography used throughout. As well as this the use of a home or house is also very affective as after watching the film the audience typically go straight home where they can then imagine the scenes taking part in their house putting them on edge even after the screening of the scene which is a positive sign that the effects of your thriller have been as intended.

I also liked the idea of an imaginary friend from hide and seek and mama. By creating a character that the central characters, who don't have an connection to the imaginary person, could possibly underplay and disregard as real even during a scene which features paranormal activity it allows the audience to have a deeper insight into the film than the characters on screen do which makes them feel nervous for the characters as they know something is bound to happen and know who is carrying out the activity but have no control over the scene or cannot tell the characters what is happening which makes them have to let them watch the scene play out with high suspense as they know its only a matter of time. 

The idea of dragging from under the bed as seen in prom night also caught my attention. Under the bed is usually where young children expect monsters to be so a scene where the characters are under the bed would be very affective as it shows they know now worse is out there that what was fictionally under their bed so the one place they used to fear is now where they seek a moments safety and shelter from whatever is in the house. This makes the audience feel emotionally for the characters as they know to hide under the bed they must be feeling very scared and small enough that they feel to crawl under the bed. As well as making the victim seem even less superior they then get dragged out from under the bed which is very effective as the audience knows the person has no control and is going to be face to face with the villain very soon which puts them on edge as they wonder what is going to happen afterward they are out from the shelter.

Another film I drew inspiration for was from the haunting in Connecticut. In particular I liked the scene where the slaves are on the swings. In thriller the conventional swing used is often a rope swing with a wooden seat. This makes the swing seat seem very old which allows the audience to imagine how many people have been able to swing and haunt the swing. As well as that through being outside and lightweight and there fore sensitive to any wind the swing seat can then move without being touched which creates an eeriness as the swinging motion suggests someone is on or has tampered with the swing. To add to this a swing is also a play object and is typically loved by young children so the audience can relate to the swing as it is a familiar piece of iconography that they would have once experienced.

Finally another idea I liked for my thriller which relates to 1408's clock scene is the time limit from the ring. This helps create a sense of urgency throughout the film and at times can make the characters seem powerless as they have no control over the time and cannot dictates when it stops. The time limit usually set in place is often unrealistic as well which can then relate back to the audience as they can relate to a time when they were put under mounts of time pressure and can help relate the feelings they experienced then and apply them to the situation in the film now. This creates a bond between the audience and leading actor as they can relate to each other through a mutual feeling and situation.

Research into Conventions of the Thriller Genre (Miss Miller)

'Conventional' refers to the elements that are common within different film genres. It is a constant pattern that can be used which allows the techniques to become almost predictable with in a film. Through featuring in many films some iconography and camera angles and lighting can become automatically associated with that particular genre.The film clip that I am going to be analysing is from the film cassadaga. This scene is one of the final clips of the film where the story line reaches it climax.

Unknown location
In this scene a dungeon or almost workshop is used to portray an enclosed area. The locations where abouts is never revealed when the man comes and goes from the workshop which adds to the element of unknown. This room has no windows and a door emphasising that there is only one way to leave. The fact there is no windows suggests that the location is possibly underground and creates a suspense of claustrophobia as it like being in a cupboard and suggests limited air. By not showing where the dungeon is the audience become unaware of the surrounding so as she escapes it sends a panic through the audience as they don’t know where she should run to either. 

Woods
As the girl escapes from the dungeon she opens a door way which leads to the floor in the middle of the woods. She then looks around at her options where to run which all seem as far as each other from civilisation and therefore possible help. Through being so isolated in the woods it creates an extra element of suspense as we believe once she’s escaped from the room that she is therefore free and has as it states ‘escaped’ however to then be thrown into her second conventional setting of the woods you begin to wonder if she’s ever going to escape.

Chase scene
After the girl chooses her way in which to run the man then catches her up and starts to chase after her through the woods. A chase scene is very typical and conventional of a thriller as they show how desperate the victim is to escape as they often put themselves in dangerous situations and add an element of suspense as you know the victim usually doesn’t escape and if she does its often very close. However in a more conventional chase scene it usually features the victim running away often slowly as they are weak from what they have endure and the villain typically walks slowly behind them suggesting a certain smugness and arrogance as they know they’re going to get catch them in the end regardless which makes the audience tense and nervous as you wonder why the villain is so calm as even though to us it appears his plan is falling apart his dedication to staying calm makes us believe he thinks otherwise.

Weapons
A weapon is used in the form of a workshops knife. A metal cutter is also used as a potential weapon as when the man is sharpening it up we imagine that he is planning to use it. This adds to the scene and makes it seem more realistic as it is a tool you would find just as you would find another type of knife in a kitchen. This allows the audience to put themselves into the scene and grabbing the knife as it happens to be the one familiar object available. As well as this through most people in their life having held a knife before through watching her stab him they can again imagine what that sensation must feel like which allows them to relate to not only the scene but victim which helps build a relationship between them both. As well as this as the villain begins to sharpen his tool as the sparks fly off it add to the intimidation to both the victim and the audience as it almost seems as though he’s trying to make a show of it which seems unusual. As well as this it adds to the desperation and fear as we know she doesn’t stand a chance. A weapon and in particular a knife is very conventional to the thriller genre as they allow the villain and victim to have more contact during their fight scene. This means in order for an incident to happen they have to be very close together which makes chase scenes more tense as they appear to close the distance between the victim and villain. A knife is also more commonly used as it creates a more gory death as multiple wounds are usually achieved as a result. As well as this through using a knife it also allows there to be a momentary struggle where the victim has to fight with all their will power to get the knife away from them and aimed towards the villain. This allows there to be more suspense as the scene can be dragged out as a death by knife is slower and more theatrical then the other more action conventional methods of a gun.

Female victim
The victim in the room is a young girl. This is conventional to a thriller as a female is typically seen as the weaker sex and so by trapping a female it makes the audience members feel more empathy towards them creating a bond built of fear for the victim as the villain is usually a man suggesting he is bigger and stronger than the victim suggesting to the victim that they are defenceless. However more typically a blonde female is used as they manage to portray more innocence to the audience emphasising their position as the victim.

Handheld
A handheld camera angle is used when the girl is running away and also in the fight scene. This camera movement creates a jerky unclear image which helps shows how desperate the girl is to get away as well as portraying that the scene was a chase scene. Handheld movements are very popular in thrillers as they seem less professional and so add a realistic touch to the clip as it seems more spontaneous. The realistic touch can relate then to the audience as they can imagine getting chase and what that must feel like. As well as this the jerky images created as a result of only someone’s hand being used to support the camera adds to the urgency of the scene. From being unclear this then helps to portray that the scene is a chase scene and express how desperate the boy is to get away. Through the camera being jerky this then appears to be how shaken up the actor or actress is as if they were to be holding the camera the shots would be both unclear and shaky which adds to the sense of fear shown by the character. 

Research into Age Certificates and The BBFC (Miss Georgiou)

In the blog post I will be looking at the BBFC and the work it does in order for us to be able to view a film that is appropriate to our age group. I will then, whilst considering the necessary guidelines met by each film to then interpret their work in oder to be able to label my future film clip and understand the different age categories available.

1) What is the BBFC?

The BBFC also known as The British Board of Film Classification is a non-governmental organisation which is responsible for the national classification and censorship of films with in the UK. It is also required to classify all videos, DVD's and some video games under the Video Recording Act 2010. It was establish in 1912  and began operating in 1913.

2) Why is the BBFC important?

The BBFC is important to the film industry because it helps avoid controversy when a film is released. It allows alot of people to view the film and vote which allows a majority rules decisions. These opinions are made by film experts who would rather label a film to high then too low. By having the BBFC inplace it ensures no one watches anything that is that can cause mental harming regarding inappropriate violence, language and events within a film. By reviewing the film first it ensures that certain ages are not be permitted to view the film even if this is because of one particular unsuitable scene.

3) Research into the different age certificates (define each age group- include examples to support the points I make referring to films and scenes)

Overall there a seven film categories that a film can be labelled as. These include U, PG, 12, 12A, 15 and 18 and 18r. The film categories 12 and 12A and 18 and 18r are very closely interlinked as have hardly any difference between them but have just extra features on the if a film is linked inbetween and so needs extra justification.

U- The symbol U in a film stands for universal. In order for a film to be classified as a U it needs to include no violent or scary footage that could mentally scar a child. These films are often animated. The guidelines for a U film also suggests it should also be suitable for audiences aged four years and over however, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child so the film is design with a majority of children in mind.

PG- PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for everbody, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. Because of this a PG tag is put on the film to ensure a child is accompanied by an adult. This is to make sure the company suffers no backlash if a parent complains that their child was mantally scarred. However a PG film should still not disturb a child aged around eight or older. Through putting a PG label on a film it is then down to the parents to judge whether the content might upset younger children.

12 and 12A- 12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film unaccompanied. The A stands for 'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied by an adult (eg someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them. The 12 certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays. 12A is for films at the cinema only.

15- In a 15 no-one under the age of 15 is allowed to see the film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD. This is due to them not being suitable for anyone under that age. In a 15 film screening people that seem questionable to the staff are allowed to be ID even if they are with a parent. In a 15 the film will include features such as;

strong violence

frequent strong language (eg 'f***').

portrayals of sexual activity

strong verbal references to sex

sexual nudity

brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence

discriminatory language or behaviour

drug taking

18- Films rated 18 are for adults only. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. A 18r includes the same context but the person buying the film has to have a lisence. Again anyone questionable can be ID and anyone who cannot provide proof may be turned away as a percaution. The reason a film is classified as 18 is because it will include most if not all of the following;

very strong violence

frequent strong language (eg 'f***') and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’)

strong portrayals of sexual activity

scenes of sexual violence

strong horror

strong blood and gore

real sex (in some circumstances)

discriminatory language and behaviour

4) Decide what age certificate your film will be and why? (content of narrative and target audience)
Personally, when creating my film I will be aiming my content to be classified as a 15. This is because it allows my film to target a larger group of people than an 18 and there fore will allow my film to target a larger target market. As well as this I am hoping my film is focused around the element of suspense and trying to make the audience jump which would classify my film as a 15 as to be an 18 the film usually contains more gory elements which makes the audience wince and feel sick as opposed to feeling on edge.