Focusing on the Genre (Jodie)

Taking a step back from researching the specifics related to our media film opening, I (Jodie) wanted to relook at the the genre of psychological more in depth to see how it works and to make sure the group has the true understnading of it in order to perfect our project. I used to a wide range of websites to obtain a mixture of views and theories.

Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the wide-ranging thriller genre. However, this genre often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre in addition to the typical traits of the thriller genre. Also, occasionally this genre will border into the also wide-ranging Horror genre.

Psychological thrillers are often slightly more challenging than other (relatively) mainstream movies. In part, this may be because they reverse, to some extent, the traditional 'thriller' balance of plot and character. A standard thriller emphasises plot; psychlogical thrillers, understandably, emphasise character equally or more.

Within psychological thrillers, suspense is created through playing with characters minds whether that being the character doing it to themselves or to someone else. While researching the genre, I discovered that there is usaully extreme focus of philosophical theories and issues such as metaphysics and ethics. However one theory which became real interest is the Kübler-Ross model

The Kübler-Ross model
The Kübler-Ross model is sued to describe the 5 stages you may go through when dealing with death or tragedy. In was discovered by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross after carrying out the research on 160 people in the USA. The 5 stages are;

1.Denial — Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of situations and individuals that will be left behind after death.
2.Anger — Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy. Any individual that symbolizes life or energy is subject to projected resentment and jealousy.
3.Bargaining - The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle.
4.Depression — the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect oneself from things of love and affection. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.
5.Acceptance — This final stage comes with peace and understanding of the death that is approaching. Generally, the person in the fifth stage will want to be left alone.

We can use this theory within our film opening as we portray the main character as just witnessing a tragedy. Although people do not necessarily follow the stages in the above order, our character can be going through the denial stage which can be shown through the washing the blood off the hands as well as the voices in his head. Also typically these stages are experienced over a long period of time, the last shot of the opening cuts just as the main character expresses his anger at the mirror's reflection which can demonstrate stage two of the Kubler- Ross model. By incorporating this theory into our opening, it shows we have really looked at genre.