THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL

THRILLER MOVIESDylan Koolman

CONTENTS PAGE

• 1920’s

• 1930’s

• 1940’s

• 1950’s

• 1960’s

• 1970’s

• 1980’s

• 1990’s

• 2000’s

• 2010’s

1920’S

• Technology was very limited in this time therefore mimesis

suffered.

• Following the beginning of experimental techniques in 1910, the

development of ‘Talkies’ in 1926-1927 started.

• A film with a soundtrack, as distinct from a silent film.

• ‘The Lodger’ – 1926, Alfred Hitchcock

• British psychological thriller.

• Black and white silent movie.

• Rated 12, shows that due to lack of technology the movie couldn’t be

overly scary.

1930’S

• ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ – 1932, Irving Pichel and Ernest

B. Shoedsack

• Implemented themes of ‘Madman’, ‘Escape’, ‘Psychopath’,

‘Slaughter’ which are typical psycho-thriller genre conventions.

• Certificate 12: technology is still lacking. Frequent violence

within the scenes, doesn’t emphasise the murderer or horror.

1940’S

• ‘Rebecca’ – 1940, Alfred Hitchcock

• Black and white movie.

• Didn’t appeal to younger audience due to the lack of technological

advancements.

• Parallel sound used

• Sound which conforms to the genre of the film e.g. suspenseful music

in a thriller movie.

1950’S

• During WWII which was reflected in many movies

• ‘The Man Who Cheated Himself ’ – 1950, Felix E. Feist

• Reviewed to have good cinematography, editing and soundtrack

but some frames were missing.

• Shows that technology by this point was improving.

1960’S

• ‘The Sinister Urge’ – 1961, Edward D. Wood Jr.

• No certificate rating.

• Strap line:

• “Compulsive killer strikes terror”

• “A psycho with the urge to kill”

• Draws audience in as it shows advertising in different forms.

1970’S

• ‘Sleuth’ – 1972, Joseph L. Mankiewicz

• Colour movie.

• Title of movie doesn’t directly match with genre, has potential to

mislead audience.

• Key words for movie link to the genre

1980’S

• ‘Brimstone and Treacle’ – 1982, Richard Loncraine

• Certificate rating: 18

• Extreme violence, including blood and gore, bad language, and

sexual scenes, including rape.

• Gothic/Thrilling DVD cover:

• Lady screaming.

• Man praying.

• Black background.

• Features that conform to the sinister aspect of the psycho-thriller genre.

1990’S

• ‘Silence of the Lambs’ – 1991, Jonathan Demme

• Includes psycho villain and a Hannibal.

• Certificate Rating: 18

• Advancements in technology expanded the capabilities of the

films ability to provide the audience with a psycho-thriller that

was scary.

• E.g. shows human flesh being ripped off and eaten.

2000’S

• ‘Memento’ – 2000, Christopher Nolan

• Major advancements in technology manipulates scene duration,

sequence, editing and visual effects of the film to provide the

audience with a thriller that explores the mind of the protagonist.

• Certificate rating: 15

• Shows how technological advancements don’t provide the need for

full blood and gore in order to provide a psycho-thriller

2010’S

• ‘The Call’ – 2013, Brad Anderson

• Uses of short frame duration, suspenseful music in terms of

crescendo and volume as well as McGuffin usage used in order to

create a thrilling movie that is able to create mimesis through the

use of realism within the clarity and detail as well as presenting

events that are very easily replicated in the real world

• Certificate rating: 15

• Usage of strong language, violence and struggle.