Analysis of Comparable Thrillers

Research into examples of comparable products

Theory 1 ~ [C.K.Chesterton] - The Transformed City

New York City, a common setting
for many thrillers

Chesterton was an author of thriller stories in the 20th century. His theory demonstrates a modern genre, set mainly in urban and current environments. It transforms the ordinary into the supernatural. The modern city is a good place for an exciting plot as it is always moving, there is always a lot going on, also the tall buildings contribute, thus creating momentous  and tense opportunities for murders and police chases. In the film 'Se7en' there are establishing shots of the city buildings showing the urban environment which is the setting of the film.

Theory 2 ~ [Northrop Frye] - The Heroic Romance

Northrop's theory claims that the hero is always an average citizen, like 'us'. In certain situations the character acts in superstitious ways due to their circumstance, but still staying within the boundaries of mortality. 'Se7en' demonstrates this by having ordinary characters like Mills as heroes. Also the murders are connected by the careful choosing of the victim, each victim repeatedly committed a deadly sin. Some scenarios in the film put characters out of their comfort zones or awkward situations.

Theory 3 ~ [John Cawelti] - The Exotic

'Inception' is an incredibly
done film filled to the brim
with mazes and labyrinths.

John said that the exotic was almost like a foreign body, it doesn't belong in its surroundings, therefore becoming similar to a target or goal. This can be an object, artefact or even a person. In 'Se7en' the wife of Mills, Tracy, is the exotic, she doesn't fit in with the city or the film, she has no friends, she sticks out, and ends up being killed in the end.

Theory 4 ~ [W.H.Matthews] - Mazes and Labyrinths

Matthews declares that human beings like to be faced with a challenge, as it is very self-rewarding when completing one. The same goes for thrillers, it is pleasing for the audience to part take in the storyline to try and figure it out, which is why this theory is used a lot, hence the popular thrill genre. The hero is often faced with a predicament, like the mystery of a cold blooded killer. He will be thrown into all sorts of situations in order to reach the villain. The theory could be literal or a metaphor for narrative. In 'Se7en' the seven deadly sins create this maze of mystery which needs to be solved by them, they keep finding dead ends and thrown into different directions during their investigation.


Theory 5 ~ [Pascal Bonitzer] - Partial Vision
Pascal theory is the whole idea of keeping important information hidden away from the audience. Blind spots are introduced in order to build tension and leave unanswered questions for the audience, this then grips the audiences attention. The things which we see in the film are just as important as what we do see in the film. The character is thrown into an unlimited prison. In 'Se7en', when a death is shown, the killer leaves a sin engraved or drawn with blood somewhere, the actors see this before the audience does. Then the audience sees it. Also at the end of the film their is a package, which we don't see into at all, but through the dialogue the audience realises what was in there.


Theory 6 ~ [Lars De Sauerberg] - Concealment and Protraction
Suspense can work in two ways in order to pull the audience in various ways. 'Concealment' is when something is deliberately hidden from the audience, for example in the film 'Se7en', at the ending there is a package which the audience don't get to completely see, but through dialogue we are made clear as to what is in the package. 'Protraction' is when something is intentionally delayed, for example in the film 'Se7en', the audience are made to wait for the final two deadly sins, the audience know that they're coming but the question is 'When?'.


Theory 7 ~ [Noel Campbell] - The Question and Answer Model
The audience are presented with uncertainty with the story, making them question what will happen to the characters, 'Will they live or die?', 'What is their identity?', 'Who is the murderer?'. A probability factor is whether something is sure to happen or not, although a definite outcome is not as exciting as a battle against odds. A moral factor is introduced when the character has to make a difficult choice, this increases involvement with the audience. In the thriller 'Se7en', there is a point at the end of the film which forces the audience to question whether Mills would be right in shooting the serial killer.