the thriller genre

1. The Thriller Genre
Tommy Zheng

2. Narrative Conventions
 Todorov believed that there was a theory to be applied to narratives: starts
with an equilibrium (e.g. normal life) and then is disrupted (which upsets the
equilibrium), which is then fought against to return to the original normative
state, easily applicable to most thriller genre films.
 Plopp believed that there are many character roles to be applied to most
films, where the characters all fit a certain category which he states.
Although this was proven to fit films such as Star Wars, many more recent
films do not, such as Pulp Fiction.

5. Psycho (1960)
 Psychological thriller famous for
the classic shower scene which
inspired many other films
 Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
 Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet
Leigh, Jeanette Norman and
Vera Miles
 Thriller movie which followed
Todorov’s narrative theory
precisely, other than the new
equilibrium was slightly twisted

6. Se7en (1995)
 Crime and Psychological thriller,
famous for it’s trademark spelling
‘Se7en’
 Directed by David Fincher
 Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan
Freeman, Kevin Spacey, John C.
McGinley and Gwyneth Paltrow
 Thriller movie which followed
Todorov’s narrative theory
precisely

7. Black Swan (2010)
 Psychological thriller famous for
the transformation scene and it’s
twisted, psychological feel
 Directed by Darren Aronofsky
 Starring Natalie Portman, Vincent
Cassel and Mila Kunis
 Thriller movie which loosely
followed Todorov’s narrative
theory other than some
alternations

8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
 Superhero thriller film, the
sequel to the first film ‘The
Dark Knight’
 Directed by Christopher
Nolan
 Starring Christian Bale, Heath
Ledger and Michael Caine
 Thriller movie which followed
Todorov’s narrative theory
precisely