Research into sub-genre/ iconography

Crime thriller

Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually centers on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt. As opposed to traditional crime films, the storyline focuses both around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers use both action and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense. Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge. They usually have conventions to show their audience of the genre which include suspense, violent scenes a fast paced tempo and an enigma.

Reservoir Dogs
Props- Audiences expect to see certain conventions in crime thrillers, such as guns, knifes, crime scene tape and a magnifying glass which they would associate to see at a crime investigation. The weaponry has connotations of blood, death and brutality, this makes the audience feel un-easy.  The props in crime films give the audience something to focus and they can connote or indicate a characters intentions or emotions.

The Silence of the lambs/Pulp fiction
Characters- All crime thrillers have a protagonist and an antagonist who the plot usually centres. The protagonists in crime thrillers are usually detectives, cops, superhero or an every day person where as antagonists in crime thrillers are usually criminals, serial killers, drug dealers. The antagonists usually leave the protagonists in a deadly and dangerous situation, which involves a lot of suspense. The antagonist(s) stereotypically usually has some sort of mental problem which leaves them with a murderous desire/alter ego issue. The protagonist(s) usually are committed and determined to solve the crime/mystery in any way possible.






The Shawshank redemption
Narrative- The narrative of a crime thriller generally centres a dangerous and deadly crime/mystery, in which the protagonist has to solve. The plot doesn't give much away about the story which makes it ambiguous and leaves the audience in suspense/anticipation. As the story progresses it gives away clues and hints to reveal a twist in the story and to give the characters and audience a sense of realisation. The narrative is constructed at a fast pace but does slow down for dramatic effect to emphasise important parts of the story. Throughout the story the audience are guessing and questioning how and weather the protagonist will catch the antagonist/solve the crime and whether the antagonist will be victorious.


The Departed
Setting- Crime thrillers are often set in dark, dangerous and exotic inner cities to give a sense of realism to the audience.

Point break

Sound- The sound in crime thrillers are usually used at specific and important parts in the film, or the scenes leading up to a twist which has a lot of non-diagetic sounds in them. Non-diegetic sounds are mostly used in crime thrillers and are prominent during the film as they create a sense of tension and suspense. Examples of non-diegetic sounds in crime thrillers would be when weaponry is in use and surround sound to create a sense of realism.