History of thriller

 History of Thriller 

 

The genre of Thriller originated from German expressionist cinema. During this period of cinema, films portrayed tension and produced a shock factor for an audience. Alfred Hitchcock was well known in the 1930s for his spy-thrillers such as The Secret Agent and The Man Who Knew Too Much. Thrillers have detailed and complex storylines, aiding character development. Alfie Hitchcock influenced the development of the thriller genre and paved the way for future generations of filmmakers around the world. Classic thriller films include Rear Window and Pyscho, both directed by Alfie Hitchcock. The original thriller films are still considered the most popular and most vital for the development of films in the 20th century. The 70s and 80s brought a new wave of thriller films. For example, The Shining (1980) directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King’s novel.  

 

Pyscho by Alfie Hitchcock tells the story of a secretary who is on the run after stealing a huge amount of money from her employer. Janet Leigh visits the Bates Hotel where she meets the notorious psychopath, Norman Bates. This film changed the film industry as the use of new techniques, buildup of suspense and psychological terror changed the thriller genre. This movie represented how there is fear in everything and terror could appear in places you wouldn’t expect it to. The famous shower scene, where Janet Leigh was stabbed, terrified her so much she never showered again. This highlights how even the actors felt horrified whilst acting in these scenes. Psycho remains popular to this day as it was a film which pushed the boundaries of traditional filmmaking and introduced eerie settings and lighting techniques which emphasised shadows and glares. Hitchcock’s manipulation of perception through perspective is one of his signature techniques, manipulating audience perception from what he shows the viewers and how he shows it.  

 

The Shining (1980) produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick is based on the novel. Starring actors such as Shelley Duvall, the film tells the story of a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who gets a new job as a caretaker in a haunted resort hotel. The shining is considered one of the greatest movies of all time and this is due to many factors. The visual style of the film is captivating as every scene is thought out to create imaginative and forward-thinking imagery. The pace of the film is slow, which often isn't favoured by viewers, however in The Shining the slow pace accompanies the story of man losing himself to insanity. The complexity of this film means audiences today still interpret the storyline in different ways. This is vital for keeping an audience engaged as every time you watch a scene you see it from a conflicting perspective.