Genre Research: Psychological Thriller - Suspenseful Depths
Long time no see, aye? All jokes aside, I’m exploring Psychological Thrillers today; a genre that is piquing my interest for my final genre decision. Though I have more genres to consider, making note of the disfavored and appealing conventions of the genre is particularly important. I’ve opted for Psychological Thrillers over Thrillers because they have more moral ambiguity (which I am keen on exploring in my Final Task project). However, the broader genre of Thrillers allows for an intense, suspense-driven centric I am aiming to achieve. Psychological Thrillers as a subcategory prioritizes the depth of the human psyche via a blurred perception of reality. Oftentimes delusions can be the source of psychological tension. These thrillers delve into a character's emotion, going beyond the surface level, which aligns symbiotically with my respective pitch. The obscurity of this genre is so unique, leading me to be undeniably drawn in. In comparison to Dark Comedies, there is a vast variety of movies that fall into this classification. Personally, a Psychological Thriller I enjoy is Run (2020). I consider myself quite the expert in this genre as my friends and I had an annual tradition to watch a psychological thriller during a sleepover which led to analyzing each detail of many films over time. Parasite (2019) was another one of these movies but it is better known as a groundbreaking Psychological Thriller that ended up winning various accolades as an ode to the director, Bong Joon-ho. This film offers murkiness of inner conflict with multiple subjects which juxtaposes the typical foundation of a film of its sort. This perfectly ques to my leading question; what makes up the foundation of Psychological Thrillers?
Psychological Thrillers employ a variety of camera angles to better intensify the suspense of scenes. From what I’ve seen, eye-level and high-angle shots are most frequently used. Eye-level angles are often coupled with a camera movement like a zoom to create tension within a scene. High angles are used predominantly to show how the subject (often the protagonist) is powerless. In these thrillers they are used a bit differently, instead, it can create a feeling someone is being watched creating an underlying sense of intimidation. Notably, low and canted angles are used, just not at the capacity as the previous angles discussed. Low angles are used to make the antagonist clear and assert dominance. Canted angles are used to generate an unsettling mood.
Next to discuss is the camera movements of Psychological Thrillers. Movement is key in fabricating the emotions of characters to unveil their inner psyche. Tracking shots are the most prominent since they can show how a character is being followed which is common to occur in a thriller of this type. Zooming and panning are also used but slowed down. By slowing down these elements, anticipation from the audience is evoked creating higher engagement. Notably, unconventional framing causes an imbalance in composition, which is used to better enhance the psychological pull of certain scenes.
Camera shots are infused to narrate recollections. At the basic level, medium close-up shots are used to better grasp an idea of what is going on with the characters. This is why a majority of Psychological Thrillers are taken in medium close-up shots. Even just the trailer of Run (2020) is medium closeup shots. (Take a look at the trailer below)Moving on, I found that long shots are used similarly to establishing shots to show a set or to show the protagonist in a larger context emphasizing a feeling of vulnerability. Point-of-view shots play an important role in the immersion of a character's experience. Most importantly a range of close-up shots are used to focus more on identity in detail. This is most commonly seen in an extreme close-up shot of an eye that offers a parallel experience of a previous scene in a point-of-view narrative. Close-up shots in general allow for a heightened look at the expressions and gestures of characters, playing a role as a rhetorical device.
Sound:
As I explore more genres I find that sound is one of the most important conventions; this same logic can be applied when exploring Psychological Thrillers. Diegetic and nondiegetic sounds are paired to manipulate the audience. Diegetic sound typically follows its nature but sometimes silence is used strategically to break up the scene. When silence is used the impact can evoke an uneasy mood. Thus when sudden stingers and jolts are inserted the jarring disorientating effect is impeded by the audience. Sometimes these sound effects can be non-diegetic or diegetic but they are certainly not ambient. For example, some sound effects can be echoing, whispers, footsteps, creaking doors, and distorted noises. All of these subtle sound cues signal danger and make a scene more startling. Music is used a lot to evoke the audience further through the succession of rapid crescendos and tempo to cause dissonance within a scene.
Editing:
Time is perceived from an altered view in Psychological Thrillers. Hence intricate use of temporal distortion paired with quick cuts or slow editing is key. Quick cuts such as jump cuts, shot reverse shots, montages, and flashforwards/flashbacks add depth by increasing tension. On the other hand slow editing such as elgoated takes build anticipation. In this genre, it is very important that the sound and editing are synchronized to convey the utmost emotional impact.
Mise-En-Scene:
Costumes and make-up act as mirrors to the characters’ inner emotions. They reflect the characters’ personalities, mental states, and depth with physical alterations. A mere switch in costumes or makeup can signify a switch in states whether it be mental or physical. Parasite (2019) conveys this switch very well. In the movie, the struggling family, the Kims become involved with the affluent family, the Parks. As the families per-say “get to know each other”, the Kims one-by-one transition out of their casual “home attire” to professional garments. There is a clear disparity between their ill-fitted, mismatched, sweat-stained clothes, oily hair and lack of makeup and the refined, sharp, delicate appearance of the Parks hints towards a class difference. These choices in makeup and costume further show how the change in the characters' states is linked with audience perception.
The Kim family. A Psychological Thriller explores dark themes so naturally the color design will have darker tones. Symbolically the colors red and blue are sprinkled in as they evoke themes of danger to humans. The lighting remains low-key to maintain a moody aura. Sometimes a contrasting light will obscure the predetermined aura to add a sense of tension to the plot line. This most commonly occurs when depicting the protagonist and antagonist; as seen in Gone Girl (2014) and Black Swan (2010).
An example of color/lighting design in Black Swan (2010). Acting is done so in a lucrative manner. Since the plot is based on an internal conflict, nuanced emotions, and subtle expressions are the basis of the acting seen in a Psychological thriller. This adds many hidden layers and depths to the psyche and an interesting psychological intrigue for the audience.
Props serve as narrative devices — they tell stories. Everyday objects that show significance in the plot line carry a deep meaning. However, some unnatural things can cause a stark divergence in the story. The props act as a catalyst for foreshadowing, allowing for a revelation of the character's mental state. For example, in Black Swan (2010) and Run (2020) the main subjects have scars that are a gateway to a prior mentally disturbing event. Though the event may not be fully foreshadowed, the appearance of these scars unveils a layer of psychological depth.
The set in which a Psychological Thriller is filmed typically corresponds to the emotions of the character in that particular scene. The design of the set is created to reflect the character's mental status. Most of the time the scenes air on either contrasting side; isolated or claustrophobic. The claustrophobic side can be seen in the home of the Kims in Parasite (2019). The isolated side can be seen in the Parks’ home in Parasite (2019) and for a large duration of Run (2020).
All in all, Psychological Thrillers focus on the human psyche of the characters and the audience collaboratively. Many elements of cinematography are well blended throughout many films of the genre. As for specific features, the idea of having the majority of the film shot in a medium close-up is something I would be sure to use since it is nicely composed and easy to attain on a low budget. I would use eerie noises because they enhance the film to a greater level. I could feel a tonal shift based on sound alone in Run (2020). Also in Run (2020), the isolated set created an eerie mood (something I will be sure to incorporate in my Final Task). Though, this would be difficult to allocate considering my location in a metropolitan and the cost involved in renting one. Before researching this genre, I said this was a top contender for my Final Task, but as I go on I'm not as sure. Maybe I am too familiar with this genre due to my coveted movie nights with friends or maybe the genre is just boring? Also, the key features of a successful Psychological Thriller come with a hefty price tag. Therefore, I've concluded this genre is not for me. So the quest to find a well-fitted genre for my Final Task is continued!
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