Wikipedia

Psychological thriller

(Redirected from Psychological suspense novel)

Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting.

In terms of context and convention, it is a subgenre of the broader ranging thriller narrative structure,[1] with similarities to Gothic and detective fiction in the sense of sometimes having a "dissolving sense of reality". It is often told through the viewpoint of psychologically stressed characters, revealing their distorted mental perceptions and focusing on the complex and often tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters.[2] Psychological thrillers often incorporate elements of mystery, drama, action, and paranoia. The genre is closely related to and sometimes overlaps with the psychological drama and psychological horror genres, the latter generally involving more horror and terror elements and themes and more disturbing or frightening scenarios.[3]

Definition

edit

Peter Hutchings states varied films have been labeled psychological thrillers, but it usually refers to "narratives with domesticated settings in which action is suppressed and where thrills are provided instead via investigations of the psychologies of the principal characters."[4] A distinguishing characteristic of a psychological thriller is it emphasizes the mental states of its characters: their perceptions, thoughts, distortions, and general struggle to grasp reality.[5]

According to director John Madden, psychological thrillers focus on story, character development, choice, and moral conflict; fear and anxiety drive the psychological tension in unpredictable ways. However, the majority of psychological thrillers have happy endings. Madden stated their lack of spectacle and strong emphasis on character led to their decline in Hollywood popularity.[6] Psychological thrillers are suspenseful by exploiting uncertainty over characters' motives, honesty, and how they see the world.[7] Films can also cause discomfort in audiences by privileging them with information they wish to share with the characters; guilty characters may suffer similar distress by virtue of their knowledge.[5]

However, James N. Frey defines psychological thrillers as a style, rather than a subgenre; Frey states good thrillers focus on the psychology of their antagonists and build suspense slowly through ambiguity.[8] Creators and/or film distributors or publishers who seek to distance themselves from the negative connotations of horror often categorize their work as a psychological thriller.[9] The same situation can occur when critics label a work to be a psychological thriller in order to elevate its perceived literary value.[8]

Literary devices and techniques

edit
  • Plot twist – Films such as Psycho and The Skeleton Key have advertised the fact that they contain plot twists and asked audiences to refrain from revealing spoilers. Psychological thrillers with poorly received plot twists, such as The Village, have suffered in the box office.[10]
  • Unreliable narrator – Andrew Taylor identifies the unreliable narrator as a common literary device used in psychological thrillers and traces it back to Edgar Allan Poe's influence on the genre. Criminal insanity may be explored as a theme.[11]
  • MacGuffin – Alfred Hitchcock pioneered the concept of the MacGuffin, a goal or item that initiates or otherwise advances the plot. The MacGuffin is frequently only vaguely defined, and it can be used to increase suspense.[12]
  • Red herring – The term was popularized by William Cobbett and is defined as a kind of fallacy that is an irrelevant topic introduced to divert the attention of the audience. A red herring is used to lead the audience to make false assumptions and mislead its attention.[13]

Themes

edit

Many psychological thrillers have emerged over the past years, all in various media (film, literature, radio, etc.). Despite these very different forms of representation, general trends have appeared throughout the narratives. Some of these consistent themes include:[5]

In psychological thrillers, characters often have to battle an inner struggle. Amnesia is a common plot device used to explore these questions. Character may be threatened with death, be forced to deal with the deaths of others, or fake their own deaths.[5] Psychological thrillers can be complex, and reviewers may recommend a second or third viewing to "decipher its secrets."[14] Common elements may include stock characters, such as a hardboiled detective and serial killer, involved in a cat and mouse game.[15] Sensation novels, examples of early psychological thrillers, were considered to be socially irresponsible due to their themes of sex and violence. These novels, among others, were inspired by the exploits of real-life detective Jack Whicher.[16] Water, especially floods, is frequently used to represent the unconscious mind, such as in What Lies Beneath and In Dreams.[17]

Psychological thrillers may not always be concerned with plausibility. Peter Hutchings defines the giallo, an Italian subgenre of psychological thrillers, as violent murder mysteries that focus on style and spectacle over rationality.[18] According to Peter B. Flint of The New York Times, detractors of Alfred Hitchcock accused him of "relying on slick tricks, illogical story lines and wild coincidences".[19]

Examples

edit

Screenwriters and directors

edit

Film

edit

Television

edit

Literature

edit

The most popular Psychological Thriller Author is Jodi Picoult

Anime and manga

edit

Video games

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Dictionary.com, definition, psychological thriller (definition)[permanent dead link‍], Accessed November 3, 2013, "...a suspenseful movie or book emphasizing the psychology of its characters rather than the plot; this subgenre of thriller movie or book – Example: In a psychological thriller, the characters are exposed to danger on a mental level rather than a physical one....",
  2. ^ Christopher Pittard, Blackwell Reference, Psychological Thrillers, Accessed November 3, 2013, "...characteristics of the genre as 'a dissolving sense of reality; reticence in moral pronouncements; obsessive, pathological characters; the narrative privileging of complex, tortured relationships' ( Munt 1994)..."
  3. ^ "Defining the Thriller Genre in Movies and TV". 5 November 2020.
  4. ^ Hutchings, Peter (2009). The A to Z of Horror. Scarecrow Press. p. 253. ISBN 9780810870505.
  5. ^ a b c d Packer, Sharon (2007). Movies and the Modern Psyche. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 87–90. ISBN 9780275993597.
  6. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (2012-01-23). "John Madden on Psychological Thrillers". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  7. ^ Whitney, Erin (2012-11-15). "Gretchen Mol Returns to the Stage in 'The Good Mother'". Backstage. Retrieved 2013-08-21. element of a psychological thriller because ... suspenseful feeling of who did what, who's being honest ... about perception...
  8. ^ a b Frey, James N. (2010). How to Write a Damn Good Thriller. Macmillan Publishers. pp. 15–19. ISBN 9781429913638.
  9. ^ Barton, Steve (2008-05-27). "Six Things that Still Drive Me Psycho". DreadCentral. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  10. ^ a b Breznican, Anthony (2005-08-11). "This Shocking Twist Is ... Secret". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  11. ^ a b Taylor, Andrew (2009-01-16). "The DNA of detection". BBC. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  12. ^ Santoski, Teresa (2012-08-13). "The Week in Preview: "I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body in the coach." – Alfred Hitchcock". The Nashua Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  13. ^ "Red Herring". 2020.
  14. ^ Holden, Stephen (2011-04-14). "Romance or Film Noir? Both, and a Thriller". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  15. ^ Wright, Chris (2011-07-31). "Your Psychological Thriller". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  16. ^ Summerscale, Kate (2008-04-04). "The Prince of Sleuths". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  17. ^ Indick, William (2004). Movies and the Mind. McFarland & Company. p. 70. ISBN 9780786480920.
  18. ^ Hutchings, Peter (2009). The A to Z of Horror Cinema. Scarecrow Press. pp. 141–143. ISBN 9780810870505.
  19. ^ Flint, Peter B. (1980-04-30). "Alfred Hitchcock Dies; A Master of Suspense". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  20. ^ Anderton, Ethan (2010-05-14). "Brad Anderson Helming an Amnesiac Serial Killer Film 'Jack". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  21. ^ Hutchings, Peter (2003). "The Argento Effect". In Jancovich, Mark; Reboll, Antionio Lázaro; Stringer, Julian; Willis, Andy (eds.). Defining Cult Movies: the Cultural Politics of Oppositional Taste. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 128–132. ISBN 978-0-7190-6631-3.
  22. ^ Vilkomerson, Sara (2010-12-10). "Darren Aronofsky: The Swan King". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  23. ^ Morgan, Jason (2008-04-08). "Aronofsky Thrilled by Psychology". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  24. ^ French, Philip (2013-03-02). "Stoker – review". Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  25. ^ French, Philip (2012-02-11). "A Dangerous Method – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  26. ^ Canby, Vincent (2004). "Dressed to Kill". In Nichols, Peter M.; Scott, A.O. (eds.). The New York Times Guide to the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 9780312326111.
  27. ^ Crowther, Bosley (1941-11-21). "Suspicion a Hitchcock Thriller at Radio City". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  28. ^ de Semlyen, Phil (2010-08-27). "Satoshi Kon Dies At 46". Empire. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  29. ^ Jensen, Jeff (2006-12-01). "David Lynch wants to get in your bloodstream". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  30. ^ Breznican, Anthony (2010-07-16). "With 'Inception,' Chris Nolan's head games continue". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  31. ^ Johnston, Sheila (1995-04-13). "Great Minds Share a Cesspool". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  32. ^ "Martin Scorsese". Psychological Thrillers. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  33. ^ "The 25 Best Psychological Thrillers of All Time". Collider. 2021-01-02. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  34. ^ "Alice, Sweet Alice (1977) - Alfred Sole | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  35. ^ Ahmed, Nafees (2018-08-13). "American Psycho Explained". High On Films. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  36. ^ Taylor, Jasmin. "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, an attempt at innovation or a total fail?". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  37. ^ MacAulay, Alastair (2011-02-10). "The Many Faces of 'Black Swan,' Deconstructed". The New York Times.
  38. ^ "The Brave One". 2007-09-30.
  39. ^ "New Haruki Murakami Adaptation 'Burning' Is A Feverish Psychological Thriller". Adelaide Film Festival. 2018-10-09. Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  40. ^ "Cape Fear". 1991-11-15.
  41. ^ "Cat's Eye (1985) - Lewis Teague | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  42. ^ Bean, Travis. "Exploring The Meaning Of Gaspar Noe's 'Climax'". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  43. ^ TheHaughtyCulturist (2020-04-19). "The Conversation (1974) and the art of betrayal". The Haughty Culturist. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  44. ^ "Cure (1997) - Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  45. ^ "Dead Ringers | Synopsis & Analysis". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  46. ^ "Why Donnie Darko Was So Ubiquitous In The Early 00s". Creepy Catalog. 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  47. ^ "'Don't Worry Darling' is a psychological journey for the modern thriller fan". 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  48. ^ Enemy, retrieved 2021-09-27
  49. ^ Kronberg, Joe. ""Eraserhead" – a surreal and psychological thriller that will keep you guessing". The Black & White. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  50. ^ Wiggins, Brent (November 4, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Why it's Still One of the Best Thrillers After 35 Years". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  51. ^ Frazer, Bryant (1999-10-19). "Fight Club". Deep Focus | Movie Reviews for the Internet. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  52. ^ Evangelista, Chris (7 September 2017). "David Fincher's "The Game" Turns 20 | Features | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  53. ^ Leydon, Joe (25 September 2017). "Film Review: Gerald's Game". variety.com/.
  54. ^ "'Get Out' an outstanding, twisted psychological thriller". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  55. ^ Ebiri, Bilge (8 August 2015). "The Gift Lives Up to the Term 'Psychological Thriller'". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  56. ^ "Gone Girl: what makes Gillian Flynn's psychological thriller so popular?". the Guardian. 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  57. ^ "Goth (2003) - Brad Sykes | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  58. ^ Sims, David (2016-10-21). "'The Handmaiden' Is a True Cinematic Masterpiece". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  59. ^ "Hard Candy (2005) - David Slade | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  60. ^ Hagen, Kate (2019-10-30). "Essential Psychological Thrillers: Mallika Pal on HEREDITARY". Medium. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  61. ^ Variety Staff (December 31, 1988). "Hider in the House". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  62. ^ "The Hitcher 1986 Captured the Essecnce of Terror on the Open Highway". 20 June 2019.
  63. ^ "Horse Girl Explained - What really happened". This Is Barry. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  64. ^ Kohn, Eric (2020-09-04). "Charlie Kaufman's Guide to 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things': The Director Explains Its Mysteries". IndieWire. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  65. ^ "Inception: Making Christopher Nolan's Psychological Action Epic". Empire. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  66. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Insomnia movie review & film summary (2002) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  67. ^ "The Jacket (2005)". FilmAffinity. March 4, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  68. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Jacob's Ladder movie review & film summary (1990) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com/. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  69. ^ Randi Altman (2019-11-25). "Director Robert Eggers talks about his psychological thriller The Lighthouse". postPerspective. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  70. ^ Oksenhorn, Stewart (7 December 2004). "'The Machinist': a haunting psychological thriller". www.aspentimes.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  71. ^ "Martha Marcy May Marlene – review". the Guardian. 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  72. ^ "Film Advent Calendar: Memento is a psychological thriller that finds the perfect way to tell its story | The Northern Quota". thenorthernquota.org. 22 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  73. ^ "Misery (1990) - Rob Reiner | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  74. ^ "Mulholland Drive at 20: David Lynch's audacious puzzle remains a mystery". the Guardian. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  75. ^ Gelbart, Bryn (2021-08-13). "Movies Like Nightcrawler Psychological Thriller Fans Need To See". Looper.com. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  76. ^ "Nocturnal Animals - Understanding That Ending". This Is Barry. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  77. ^ cinephiliabeyond (2016-05-02). "'Obsession': When De Palma Stepped Out of Hitchcock's Shadow • Cinephilia & Beyond". Cinephilia & Beyond. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  78. ^ La, Christina (2020-10-21). "4 Korean Psychological Thriller Movies To Watch This Spooky Season". KPOP Foods. Archived from the original on 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  79. ^ Brei, Elizabeth (2020-05-28). "Paprika: 5 Reasons Why It's The Perfect Psychological-Thriller Anime (& 5 Better Alternatives)". CBR. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  80. ^ Stringfellow, Jonathan. "Parasite: Home Invasion on a New Psychological Level". The Uproar. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  81. ^ Kurland, Daniel (2021-11-06). "Perfect Blue: 10 Ways It's Still The Perfect Psychological Horror Movie". CBR. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  82. ^ cinephiliabeyond (2017-01-19). "'Persona': Ingmar Bergman's Psychological Masterpiece as the White Whale of Critical Analysis • Cinephilia & Beyond". Cinephilia & Beyond. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  83. ^ Rutherford, James (2019-06-08). "'Pi': A Brilliant Psychological Thriller From the Mind of Darren Aronofsky". brooklynfilmfanatic. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  84. ^ "How Alfred Hitchcock film 'Psycho' changed horror forever". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  85. ^ cinephiliabeyond (2016-05-11). "'Rear Window': Hitchcock's Cinematic Exploration of Voyeurism Disguised as a Top-Notch Thriller • Cinephilia & Beyond". Cinephilia & Beyond. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  86. ^ "Repulsion". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  87. ^ "Jared Leto Was Never The Same After Requiem For A Dream". Slash Film. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  88. ^ "The Screaming Skull (1958) - Alex Nicol | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  89. ^ "Seven (Se7en)". Psychological Thrillers. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  90. ^ "Why 'The Shining' is the best psychological horror film". www.yourclassical.org. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  91. ^ Goyal, Sarthak (2016-07-09). "'The Silence of the Lambs': The Quintessential Psychological Thriller". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  92. ^ Rickey, Carrie. "Sisters: Psycho-Thriller, Qu'est-ce Que C'est?". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  93. ^ "The Sixth Sense". www.filmcritic.com.au. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  94. ^ Meyer, Joshua (2021-09-17). "Shutter Island Ending Explained: Scorsese's Psychological Thriller Delivers A Masterful Twist". SlashFilm.com. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  95. ^ "Spider : Production Notes". www.cinema.com. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  96. ^ "Stoker: A Tale of Female Maturescence with a Tinge of Hitchcock | Re:Views Magazine". reviewsmagazine.net. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  97. ^ "Taxi Driver". Psychological Thrillers. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  98. ^ Greene, Vincent (2020-03-25). "The Thing (1982): Suspense-filled, Psychological Horror at Its Savage Best | 25YL". Horror Obsessive. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  99. ^ "Why you should watch: 'Tom at the Farm'". SBS Movies. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  100. ^ Emma (2019-03-22). ""Us" Review: A Terrifying Awesome Psychological Thriller". FanBolt. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  101. ^ Tomastik, Joseph (2022-04-03). "Vertigo (Review): Hitchcock's Perfect Descent into Madness". Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  102. ^ McNamara, Mary (2007-07-24). "This lawyer earns her fee". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  103. ^ Barney, Chuck (2008-02-15). "There will be blood on CBS via 'Dexter'". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  104. ^ "Fox takes chances with Fringe, Dollhouse". 2008-07-14. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  105. ^ "Exile, BBC One, final episode, preview". Daily Telegraph. 2011-05-03. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  106. ^ Ng, Philiana (2013-01-21). "'The Following': Natalie Zea Previews Fox's Psychological Thriller From Kevin Williamson". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  107. ^ Levin, Gary (2011-09-29). "At heart of 'Homeland' is a psychological thriller". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  108. ^ Boone, John (2015-11-20). "Everything You Need to Know Before Binge-Watching Marvel and Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  109. ^ de la Fuente, Anna Marie (2011-08-31). "DirecTV Latin America nabs 'Mad Dogs'". Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  110. ^ Eyerly, Alan (2015-05-29). "TV Preview Wealth disparity, hackers and cyber threats in 'Mr. Robot'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  111. ^ "Netflix Thriller 'You' Is Part Gone Girl, Part American Psycho And It's Back For A Second Season". GQ. January 14, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  112. ^ Feroze, Towheed (2012-07-28). "The night of eternal stars is yours . . ". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  113. ^ Unsworth, Cathi (2011-07-13). "Blue Monday by Nicci French – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  114. ^ "Patricia Highsmith; U.S. Mystery Novelist". Los Angeles Times. Reuters. 1995-02-05. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  115. ^ Korbren, Gerri (1992-01-26). "Private Eyes". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  116. ^ Levesque, John (2002-01-24). "Stephen King's miniseries makes about as much sense as our traffic". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  117. ^ Cogdill, Oline H. (1997-03-23). "Homeless, Home to Die". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  118. ^ Alter, Alexandra (2024-06-22). "How a Boston Physician Conquered the Thriller Genre". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  119. ^ jeager32 (2014-04-02). "Death Note: Gold Standard for Psychological Thriller Anime". Comp Stomp. Retrieved 2021-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  120. ^ "Madoka Magica: Beginnings May Be Better Than the Series". Kotaku. October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  121. ^ Han, Karen (2021-08-13). "Why Neon Genesis Evangelion Is One of the Greatest Anime Ever Made". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  122. ^ Lammers, Dirk (2010-06-01). "'Alan Wake' combines psychological thriller with shooter". North Jersey Media Group. Associated Press. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  123. ^ John, Tracey (2009-12-29). "Choose Your Own Adventure in Psychological Thriller 'Heavy Rain'". Time. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  124. ^ "'Hotline Miami' takes players on an acid trip into a realm of depravity". PopOptiq. 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Psychological_thriller&oldid=1253061275"