They also have Hybrids, such as:
- Action Thriller (Taken, Mission Impossible, Bourne Identity) This is when a thriller has a lot of action inside it and therefore making it an action thriller.
- Supernatural Thriller (What lies beneath, White Noise.) This is when a thriller contains an object or person which is not usual - such as the paranormal, ghosts, etc.
And many more...
G.K. Chesterton (The Transformed City) argued that thrillers took urban settings and transformed them into exciting locations for dramatic stories. E.g. Se7en, Cloverfield, I am Legend, Superman, 28 Days Later, The Day after Tomorrow.
Northrop Frye (Herioc Romance) argued that Thrillers were stories that took ordinary people and threw them into extraordinary situations. E.g. White Noise, Seven pounds, enemy of the state, Flightplan, Phone Booth, Death sentence, Red Eye, Panic Room, The Green Mile, Saw, when a stranger calls.
John Cawelti (The Exotic) argued that Thrillers took the elements of ordinary life and added an exotic element.
W.H. Matthews (Mazes and Labyrinths) writes about how human beings have a fascination for physical puzzles - often seen in mazes and labyrinths. Thrillers often use the idea of a mysterious quest in a confirmed location that feels like a labyrinth. E.g. Saw, The Mummy, The Da Vinci Code, National Treasure, Jamanji, Resident Evil, Cube, etc
Pascal Bonitzer (Partial Vision) discusses how in thrillers the audience is given a partial view of thing - with important details being obscured. E.g. Saw, Se7en, Disturbia.
Noel Carroll (Question and Answer) argues that thrillers are structured around a series of questions for which the audience is led to want answers. E.g. Sixth Sense
Roland Barthes (Enigma Codes) analysed all narratives in terms of codes that operate moment by moment. Enigma Codes - moments 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 suspenseful way. E.g. The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter.
Se7en: Thriller Theories
Setting: It is set in a big city which is not named, unlike most films which make a scene of where it is set. It is also urban decay, such as the slums of a big city. The setting is always important during a thriller because it could signify what kind of thriller it is, such as se7en is set in Manhattan, which shows it will be a crime thriller, because a lot of crime happens in Manhattan.
Style: It is eerie and dark which is an example of film noir, which is when it is very difficult to see every single detail, making it dark and mysterious. The dim-lighted surroundings make it scary but also gloomy and miserable, which also signifies there might not be a happy ending to the story.
Character: Mills and somerset are the detectives but they completely different people, such as:
The killer is also very similar to Somerset, clever and mysterious. He feels like hes fixing a problem, like God would. He feels like he has a mission, like a preacher.
Narrative: The story has twists and thrills, but it is a simple and linear structure. It was a good concept - based on the seven deadly sins, rather than based on a certain character or place, which makes it different to most thrillers.
Graphics (Titles and Music): It involves a mystery character which is doing various actions in different cut scenes, such as cutting off his finger prints - which immediately indicates that he doesn't want to be caught of a crime and could also signify that the killer is a perfectionist and everything has to be done correctly. They use black and white for the title screens which shows contrast which could resemble mills and Somerset being opposite characters, but could also connote good and evil. "Eyes are the windows to the soul" comes to mind because he puts a black marker over the victims eyes, which also dehumanises the person. This could show that his identity has nothing to do with the storyline.
There are red flickers in the title which could connote blood, or danger, but also adds contrast to the black and white. The font is child-like handwriting which looks distorted, creating a sense of unease and discomfort. There are screams in the music, but they are distorted which makes the audience feel uncomfortable and uneasy. At the end of the title screen, there are lyrics which say "You bring me closer to god" and he also cuts "god" out of the dollar where it says "In God we trust", which could resemble that he thinks this has nothing to do with God, and doesn't him to be involved.
The motif of a metronome connotes that time is passing and it causes suspense. There is also a scary and trippy remix of 'Nine Inch nails - Closer', which creates a strange and unfamiliar feeling. Overlapping images and clips in the titles creates a professional look and shows what the killer is doing before all the murders he commits.
How successful for you think Se7en is as a Thriller?
I think it is very successful because it has all the fundamental needs for a thriller, such as opposite characters (contrast), mystery, an eerie feeling and twists. The narrative is based on a concept rather than a character or place, which makes it more interesting to watch.
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