Genre Research: History of Sub Genre

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced. A common theme in thrillers involves innocent victims dealing with deranged adversaries, for example in Hitchcock's film Rebecca, where Mrs Danvers tries to persuade Mrs De Winter to leap to her death.

Common sub genres are psychological thrillers, crime thrillers, erotic thrillers and mystery thrillers. Another common sub genre of thriller is the spygenre which deals with fictional espionage. Successful examples of thrillers are the films of Alfred Hitchcock. The horror and action genres often overlap with the thriller. Thrillers tend to be psychological, threatening, mysterious and at times involve larger-scale villainy such as espionage,terrorism and conspiracy.Alfred Hitchcock set the precedent for Thriller films with manipulating his audience's fears and desires, and taking viewers into a state of association with the representation of reality facing the character.

1950's

Rear Window was a key psychological thriller from the 1950's, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. After breaking his leg photographing a racetrack accident, professional photographer L.B Jefferies is confined in his Greenwich Village apartment, using a wheelchair while he recuperates. His rear window looks out onto a small courtyard and several other apartments. During a summer heat wave, he passes the time by watching his neighbours who keep their windows open to stay cool. 

1960's

Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, a film about a secretary who goes to a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner and manager, Norman Bates, and the aftermath of their encounter. This film has included one of the most iconic thriller scenes, this would be the shower scene, where we see Marion murdered to death by a shadowy figure.

1970's

Night Flight from Moscow is a French thriller made in 1973. It was produced and directed by Henri Verneuil. It is about a Russian ambassador who places his life on the line when he steals classified documents and defects to the U.S. The papers he carries could rock the free world. Unfortunately the C.I.A must first prove that they are real.

1980's

Dead Ringers is a 1988 psychological drama film starring Jeremy Irons in a dual role as identical twin gynecologists. This was a highlight film of the 1980's and directed by David Cronenberg. The Mantle brothers are both doctors, both gynecologists and identical twins. Mentally however, one of them is more confident than the other and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he's tired of his current partner, she is passed on to the other brother, without her knowing.

1990's

Stir of Echoes was a supernatural horror-thriller with aspects of a psychological thriller. The movie was directed by David Koepp. After being hypnotised by his sister in law, a man begins seeing haunting visions of a girl's ghost and a mystery begins to unfold around her.

2000's

The Mist was one of the best rated films of the 2000's and was directed by Frank Darabont. A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.

Present (2010-2014)

Some popular psychological thrillers include:

Black Swan, Fight Club, Zodiac, Inception, The Sixth Sense, The Secret Window, Paranormal Activities, Insidious 1 and 2, The Woman In Black.