Who Are Some Of The Most Popular And Well Known Directors Associated With The Genre?

Alfred Hitchcock 1899-1980 (seen on the right) was a British Producer and Director and known as one of the best/ possibly the best Director Britain has ever had.   Hitchcock is mostly recognised for his Physiological mindset, as this is what all his films were categorised as. His most famous films are Virgo andPsycho, which are still very much popular today. They are now referred to as 'classics' for their psychoanalysis and sexual overtone. 





Steven Spielberg 1946- current (to the left) is an American: Director, Screenwriter, Producer and Entrepreneur. Unlike Hitchcock, Spielberg is not tied down to any particular Thriller genre, as he is known for many different genres. His most noticeable and popular movies are Jaws and Bridge Of Spies, for their built tension and conclusion gripping endings. 





Martin Scorsese was born in 1942, known for a ground-braking career which spans over more than 53 years! He is regarded as one of the most significant and influential filmmakers in cinematic history. Scorsese has many roles including being a: Director, Film Historian, Producer, Actor, Editor and Screenwriter. His films come under the Psychological category  and are mostly notorious for depicting violence. Scorsese's films have been legendary and will continue to be highly noticeable. Mean Street, Taxi Driver, Shutter Island, Cape Fear and The Departed are just some of his most prominent films. 







Last but not least, Brian De Palma 1940-current (to the left) also has a huge career, spanning over 40 years. He is an American Director and Screenwriter and is best recognised for his psychological and crime based films. Palma has directed many popular Thrillers, from the horrifying works of Carrie, to Scarface, The Untouchables and Dressed to Kill.

What Are The Characteristics Of A Thriller Film?

Location in Thriller films is a vital aspect as it coincides with the twisting plot. Without the typical haunted house, or smoke-filled forest, Thriller's therefore would not contain the same dramatic atmosphere, aiming to keep audiences on their seats. 

Thrillers are known for having unravelling plots and complex mind games, hence audiences being so gripped and tense. Plots also tend to be addictive, making the target audience excited to see what happens next. 
Many stereotypes are seen in Thriller characters. such as: the girl tends to be slightly imbecilic, the heroic protagonist tends to be a white English or American male, or the sidekick is commonly black. 

As well as the character stereotypes, Thriller's in general tend to have certain expectations. For example, audiences expect to be 'thrilled' and have a large number of violent scenes.  

What Is A Thriller?

A thriller is a particular genre, found typically in either a novel, play, or film with an exciting plot which tends to be involving subgenres. These thrilling films usually contain a plot rooted around a villain, where the main protagonist must overcome certain situations. Thrillers are commonly known for inflicting feelings of anticipation, tension and sudden jumps of surprise. The obvious Literary Devices such as 'cliffhangers' and 'plot twists' are incorporated, to keep their audiences intrigued and tantalised.

Many successful Thriller films have been made, such as: Cape Fear, Psysco and The Woman in Black, as they are known for their strong build up and background music, creating an atmosphere filled with suspense. 

Who Am I?

Welcome, my name is Lauryn Edwell and I am currently studying Media A Level, as well as Business and English. I am very excited to show you all my journey through the two year course.