MAIN FEATURES OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL

THRILLER

Produced by Malachi Khan

Based on the films: Pi, The Machinist and Side Effects

Camera Work Showing emotions to the audience using camera

work is popular in the three films and the common shots used are Close ups Super close ups Medium shot

Some shots are used to give the audience a view of what the character is experiencing such as in ‘The Machinist’ Trever's point of view is shown by using a point of view shot

Establishing shots are rarely used in the three films and this adds to the drama and tension

Common attributes All three of the films (Side effects, Pi and The

Machinist) have many features in common;Fictional story lineSubplots - to keep action moving in the backgroundBackstories – to make more realistic or to get the audience

to be sympathetic Not complex story lines – keeps action moving while

keeping the audiences attentionMulti-main character – gives a shared point of view on the

situationComplex relationships between characters – shows the

development of the psychological problem and gives drama to the story line while an accurate representation of the situation

Psychological problems commonly used The three films use a character with a

psychological problem to give a story line, these are;Drug use – seen in ‘Side Effects’ changes the way

people behave and can cause uncontrollable problemsSleep Deprivation – seen in ‘The Machinist’ causes the

sense of reality and sanity to be lost in the characterParanoia – seen in ‘Pi’, this gives the character

indescribable feelings and causes him to be on edge constantly, the problem caused by over thinking

Instability - causes the character to doubt reality and truth (seen in all three films)

Uses of features

The three films use other features to give more entertainment such as;Drama – can be used to make more

relatable to real life or to keep the audience hooked

Mystery – adds more detail to the story line making it more interesting

Horror – creates a hybrid film and is used to keep the audience hooked in the film

Lighting and weather

Dark Lighting and bad weatherGives a more deep and melancholy look to

the film sceneUsed to show the characters mood and

emotionsGives drama to the film and builds suspense

and tension if prolonged Gives a minamalistic look to the film and

shows a more realistic view of how the situation feels in such films as ‘side effects’

Mise en Scene Small spaces are used in many

psychological thrillers as;It gives a claustrophobic look and feeling to the

audienceShows how the audience may feel with the

psychological condition (Point of view) Minimal objects used (Seen in the films‘Pi’

This gives a more simplistic look to the film and helps to show more about the character by having objects directly related to the character in the scene