Genre Research

History of Crime/Thriller

This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasise action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include serial killers/murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, heists and double-crosses. Some examples of crime thrillers involving murderers include  


Conventions


Crime characteristics:
Female police characters usually struggle their home life with their career, they're out to prove a point in a male dominated job. Shows like Prime Suspect and Cagney & Lacey. Sometimes masculinise the women police officers.

Typical conventions i.e. 'corrupt cop’ cause and effect chains Camera angles.
Realistic techniques, hand held camera, natural dialogue, real locations. The Bill uses this.

Representation of characters stereotypes.
Sub genres of the crime show, how it is established.
Typical plotlines.

Production values: channel it's broadcasted on, star appeal (Richard Dyer star appeal theory), cinematography, cast, writer Audience appeal, crime shows are popular and have been for around 50 years, apparently 25% of drama scheduling is devoted to crime. Likeable characters i.e. Starsky & Hutch, Gene from Life on Mars. High production values. Subsidiary market for channel - DVD sales, satellite, Pay per view. Hybrid genre appeal.
Social relevance creates presige drama. Retro appeal - Miami vice etc. Ensemble cast.


Conventions of slasher films

•The slasher film is a sub-genre of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer (often wearing a mask) who stalks and graphically murders a series of victims in a random, unprovoked fashion, usually teenagers or young adults.

•The killer almost always uses unconventional weapons such as blades, chainsaws, cleavers, and blunt objects; very rarely, if ever, using guns. There is often a back story that explains how the killer developed their violent mental state, and why they focus primarily on a particular type of victim or a particular location.

•Often, the attacker is able to withstand most or all of his victims' attempts to defend themselves. Even after being shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, electrocuted, burned, or drowned, he is able to continue stalking his victims.

•Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) is sometimes described as the mother of all slasher films. Although there are only two murders in the story, the idea of a disguised and insane killer came to prominence with this film..