Research Into Genre

Research Into Genre

The genre of film that my group are intending to explore for our opening sequence is the mystery/thriller/horror genre. There are various conventions to this genre that I will further research and discuss.

(Sherlock Holmes poster)

When the audience is first introduced to the genre, they may initially think of the colours associated with that genre. For example, dark, muted colours may be a convention for mystery films. Dark colours, such as black, may be seen as ambiguous colours due to their various connotations. For example, black could connote death and mourning, however, it could be interpreted to show mystery, strength and authority. When looking at the Sherlock Holmes movie, the majority of the cover is black, emphasising the mystery aspect of the film whilst also connoting the idea of death and authority. The use of the colour white in the title could be used to show a positive force as the colour is generally represented as a pure, innocent and truthful force. This could show that within the movies of the mystery genre the general conventions could be the apposing forces between the good and bad.

Another convention of the mystery/thriller genre could be the use of misc-en-scene. For example, it may be conventional to see a gory, perhaps dead figures, lurking shadows or various scenes with blood. For example, within the movie ‘Zodiac’, it shows the conventions of blood, gore and death within the scene. It is also very common that movies from this genre use props that are linked with violence and danger. For example, within the earlier part of the sequence, the image of a gun had been shown, as well as on the Sherlock Holmes cover, showing that death or injury is almost inevitable. The main theme of this genre would be the mystery surrounding a murder, so it may be a convention to use weapons within the film. If the genre was an action thriller/mystery, the audience may expect a lot of guns and explosions as a convention of action films are the use of weapons and other harmful objects such as gas bombs.

(The ski mask from 'Friday the 13th')

The costumes within this genre are perhaps one of the most important aspects in identifying the genre of the movie. Costumes used in mystery films are generally formal and dark appose to bright colours. The use of dark costumes could be to show the mystery behind the killer or those associated with it. The protagonist may wear formal clothing, as it is most likely they are apart of a positive force such as the police. For example, the main characters in ‘Hot Fuzz’ were policemen and both retained their formality throughout the film. The antagonist is most likely to wear a mask to cover their identity so that it is harder to catch them once they have done something wrong. For example, in the movie ‘Friday the 13^th’ the evil character wears a ski mask to hide his face when killing his victims.

(Jaws poster)

Music is also a vital element apart of the mystery/thriller genre, as it tends to build suspense and tension when the audience are watching. The sounds created tend to be sudden and at a high range, making the audience aware that something may happen. Some soundtracks are iconic and create the brand and identity for the film; for example, the music used in jaws is known worldwide and creates tension within the audience. Another example could be the use of the soundtrack in ‘dawn of the dead’ that includes various violins and faint piano sounds. The use of violins within the music is a convention of the horror/thriller genre as it creates an eerie atmosphere and builds suspense as the audience watch.

The font of the title shows the audience what genre the movie is and perhaps what may occur. For example, a children’s movie may be shown in bright bubble writing that suggests the movie is positive and ends happily. However, when looking at the mystery genre, various fonts may be used. For example, in the ‘National Treasure’ movies, the font is old fashioned and fancy, suggesting the mystery may be to do with what had happened in history and how that revolves around the movie. The same writing style had been used within the Sherlock Holmes movies showing how the mystery is set in the past and the way in which people used to write in those times. This emphasises the genre to the audience as they are introduced to the film.

The characters within this genre also tend to shift from different extremes. The victims and good characters commonly dress normally within the films. They are also seen as generally normal people like those within the audience and so no stereotypical view is placed upon them. The fact they are like normal people may build suspense to the audience as they could be reflected as those within the film. The bad characters tend to be suspicious and shady. This is shown by the way they dress and how they act in front of the other characters in the film. This allows the audience to make consumptions about the shady character and suspect them of being bad or guilty.

These are a list of some of the conventional actors who have played within many thriller/mystery films:

(Conventional Film Actors and Actresses) 

• Tom Cruise
• Harrison Ford
• Bruce Willis
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Robert Downey Jr
• Brad Pitt
• Rachel McAdams
• Angelina Jolie
• Nicole Kidman
• Janet Leigh

Some conventional film directors of the thriller genre also include:

(Famous Film Directors)

•  Steven Spielberg
•  James Cameron
•  Alfred Hitchcock
• Quentin Tarantino
•  Joss Whedon 

Many famous companies also work within the thriller/mystery genre such as:

• Paramount Pictures
• DreamWorks
• 20^th Century Fox
• Relativity Media
• First Look Pictures

These genres of movies are popular as they tackle themes such as murder, danger and mystery. Audiences may enjoy watching these films as they may find it entertaining, as there is a sense of tension that is retained when watching the films. This means that the audience are always on edge and are constantly wondering how the film may develop. More people may enjoy watching these films appose to horrors as they build suspense but to an extent that would not terrify the audience. The mystery aspect may also be interesting for the audience as they can piece together the film before it is revealed, making them think about what has happened and how it could be solved. This genre is also successful as it fulfils the audience’s need for entertainment when referring the uses and gratifications theory.

Some examples of famous Mystery or thriller films include: 

•  Zodiac
• Scream
• Sherlock Holmes
• The Godfather
• Paranormal Activity
• Seven

(Film Posters of Mystery/Thriller/Horror Films)