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| Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers Black Swan (2010) |
Some features of Psychological thriller characters are:
* In classic thrillers, there's a clear distinction between the good guys vs the bad guys, in action as well as thoughts. Even if the antagonist is elusive, the audience will never doubt that the protagonist is good, however in a Psychological Thriller, the nature of the protagonist it is often questioned, and sometimes good or benign characters become or are revealed to be monstrous.
* Character and state of mind are extremely important in a psychological thriller. The writer will often have to have a good understanding of human psychology. The emotional and mental developments of characters in a psychological thriller must always be plausible and believable, even when they are outrageous (such as a child becoming a murderer) or come as a surprise (such as the protagonist being revealed to be insane)
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| Amanda Seyfried as Chloe Sweeney Chloe (2009) |
* The most common types of narration chosen to create psychological suspense and maintain tension and emotional stress, are stream of consciousness and deep first person POV. The main aim is to erase the barrier of the story from the audience and plunge them deep into the character's terrors.
*The most common themes it touches upon are philosophical or psychological in nature, such as identity, honesty, determinism, fatalism, sanity, dualism, and the exploration of the darker sides of the human behavioral motivation. It’s less aimed at direct entertainment, and more at provoking thought and shifts in understanding of the human mind, often making the audience question their own lives.
*With a psychological thriller, the conflict is through the mind, skills, and wit of main characters, reversing the more normal thriller “plot over character” expectations i.e. a psychological thriller reader needs to understand the character, character can sometimes be slightly more important than plot.
*Characters shouldn’t succeed in their actions using physical talents or efforts, but rather using their mind, wits or smarts.
* There are Life and death situations and certainly at the end or denouement, but this could well involve death or danger to the mind or intrinsic identity or values of the hero rather than a physical threat.
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| Guy Pierce as Leonard Shelby Memento (2000) |
Quick edits & changes in camera angle- increase the feeling of fear and shock. Often used during significant scenes.
Music(Diegetic and Non-Diegetic)- high tension, eerie, silence.
Flashbacks- time disorientation confusing the audience or showing the past to give an insight into why the characters are the way they are.
Black and white colouring- increase effectiveness of shadows.
Claustrophobic spaces- entrapment of the mind, planes or house.
Font/colour of title- may be written in a certain way to emphasise the theme of the film.
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