"Thriller is a loose genre term reffering to any film that generates
suspence and excitement as a major aspect of it's narrative."
Theories about Thrillers
G.K. Chesterson - The Transformed City
In the early 20th century he wrote thriller stories. He also argued that thrillers took urban settings and transformed them into exciting locations for dramatic stories.
e.g. The Dark Knight, The Terminator, The Bourne Identity, Collateral, Sin City.
Northrop Frye - Heroic Romance
Frye argued that thrillers were stories that took ordinary people and threw them into extraordinary situations.
e.g. The Matrix, Transformers, Derailed, War of the Worlds, Die Hard.
John Cawelti - The Exotic (different)
Cawelti argued that thrillers took the elements of ordinary life and added an exotic element.
e.g. Wanted, Jumper.
W.H. Matthews - Mazes and Labyrinths
Matthews wrote about how human beings have a fascination for physical puzzles often seen in mazes & puzzles. He also wrote how thrillers often used the idea in a confined location that feels like a labyrinth.
e.g. Indiana Jones, National Treasure, The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, The Mummy, Tomb Raider.
Pascal Bonitzer - Partial Vision (mystery, suspence)
Bonitzer discusses how in thrillers, the audience get a partial view of things, with important details being obscured.
e.g. Sixth Sense, Cloverfield.
Noel Carroll - Question & Answer
Noel argued that thrillers are structured around a series of questions for which the audience is led to want answers.
e.g. Flightplan, Fight Club
Roland Barths - Enigma Codes (puzzle, mystery)
Enigma codes moment in a narrative where the audience is led to ask a question. In thrillers, enigma codes are very important for telling the story in a suspenceful way.
e.g. Flightplan, Fight Club.
