Research: Themes

Narrative Themes:

These are the Ideas that are represented in the movie. The Ideas are mainly represented by the characters. This allows the audience to feel emotion with the character which is the reason why it is important for the audience to Identify themes..

Themes in thrillers:

The main themes that are represented in thrillers are:
 .Death
.Crime
.Vengeance
.Obsession

DEATH:
The theme of death will create a emotion of sadness from the audience. Death Is usually a terrible experience, therefore it brings a emotional reaction of sadness from the audience and anger as well.

THEME OF DEATH PORTRAYED:
The Scream Quadrilogy mainly portrays the theme of death. The audience will be more saddened at the fact that death will occur from the starting conversation on "what's your favourite scary movie?" or watching a scary movie. Death is set to happen in the film, due to the dialogue that is said and the connotation of the victim and antagonist in the same scene. Also, the because of the tension that is created by the film with the use of sound.

CRIME:
Crime is another theme in a thriller, what I mean by crime is action that takes place and is criminal activity. For example, a rape scene that takes place in a thriller would be criminal activity, therefore bringing an emotion of fear as well as anger to the audience, making them think something else more drastic is going to happen next crime is always carried out by the antagonist.  At times in thrillers, crime may be used as a tool to make the audience unexpectingly turn against the protagonist. Crime is a theme that can be complex to the audience at times.

EXAMPLE OF CRIME BEING PROTRAYED:
American Gangster is a crime thriller that mainly portrays the theme of crime. The audience are drawn by the film, to sympathise with the main character who is morally a anatagonist because of his actions and motives. Crime in this film is used to make the audience saddened and emotional, for they will probably have sympathy and care for the character due to his family, but he still is commiting crimes.

VENGEANCE:

Vengeance is another theme that is common in a thriller, it will bring tension and anxiety to the audience. The theme of vengeance is usually carried out by the antagonist.  The audience will propbably see the motive for carrying out the vengeance, but the fact remains that the vengeance is most likely to be deadly.

EXAMPLE OF VENGEANCE SHOWN IN FILMS:

The theme of vengeance is shown in the movie Taken. Where the daughter of a bodyguard is kidnapped by thugs. In fury, the bodyguard has to save her and he will commit vengeance by killing the people who were involved in his daughter's kidnapping.


OBSESSION:
Obsession is another common theme in thrillers, specifically pschological. This theme is probably the theme that gives the audience the most anxiety and tension, because obsession generally (in real life) has an impact on people's lives. Therefore, obssesions in thrillers would be likely to end in a deadly consequence, obsession is a perfect collabarating theme with death. The misery is a good example of a film that involves the theme of obsession.

OBSESSION PORTAYED IN FILMS:
The movie the Misery mainly portrays the theme of obsession, when a nurse does all she can to kidnap and kill, a famous author she adores and most importantly obsessed with. As always, there is a natural consequence of a obsession of anything. In this film, the obsession that the nurse has of the author who she has tied to the bed will lead to a consequence of pain and a consequence of death for either characters.

MORE THEMES:
Due to sub genres  of thriller more themes can be identified. Romance is another theme that can be associated with thrillers, but in a negative context. It is more likely that romance would be potrayed as the cause of death or murder. Humour is another theme that occurs from sub genres of thriller but it would also be portrayed in a negative context as humour tends to link with or foreshadow the death that later occurs.

I will need to introduce themes in thrillers otherwise I won't be gaining emotion from my target audience making my thriller not appealing to them. The themes I would introduce in my thriller is death, obsession and romance.