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Character annalysis

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This document discusses typical character types found in psychological thriller films. These include stalkers, convicts, criminals, and psychotic individuals who are the feared characters that create unpredictability. Innocent victims and characters with innocence or vulnerability are also common to generate sympathy from audiences. Authority figures like police are sometimes subverted when they turn out to be psychotic themselves or unable to help. Many characters have dark pasts or obsessions that drive their present criminal behavior.

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Convicts,criminals,stalkersorassassins Characterswitha dark pastPolice FBIor a personof authority Psychoticindividuals MenacedwomenInnocentvictims Typical characters present in a psychological thriller film: Sy fromOne Hour Photo. Stalkers,convicts,criminalsetc. are the fearedcharacterof psychological thrillersandgive the filmsthe edge of unpredictability and the thrill factorthat the audience expect. Cole Searfromthe SixthSense. Innocence andvulnerabilityin characters create sympathyand almostcausesthe audience torelate to the character whichputsthe audience ata vulnerable position waitingforsomethingbadtooccur. AmyDunne fromGone Girl From genderstereotypeswomen are supposedlyperceivedas innocentandcaring,whentheyare portrayedto be derangeditcreates an extreme senseof fearforthe audience evenmore thatif itwere a male estrangedcharacter. Sara GoldfarbfromRequiemfora Dream. These type of characters are usually obsessedwithbeingorbecoming somethingtheyare not.Theyare usually not acceptingof theirmental state and the audience isoftensympatheticto theirsituations. SomersetfromSe7en Authorityfiguresare perceivedbythe audience togive filmsasense of order. Howeverdue tothe nature of the genre itis usuallyconcludedthatthese so-calledauthorityfiguresare usually no helptoanyone bythemselves. Evan fromThe ButterflyEffect. The dark past of these charactersis oftenthe motive fortheirpsychotic actionsinthe present,usuallythe moviesfocusistryingtofigure outwhat was sobad in the pastthat has caused the character to behave the waythey do. Oftencharactershave more than one trait (onprevious page) inordertomake them more interestingandcreate amore excitingstoryline forthe audience tofollow.Take TeddyDanielsfromShutterIslandforexample.He beginsasanFBI officer,itisthen revealedthathe hasa dark past and that he isobsessedwithwhathappenedwhich explainshiscompulsive behaviour.These twoconventionsof acharacter are perfectly normal for the audience tocomprehend.Howeverthe majorplottwistof the filmisthat the character is actuallya psychoticindividualthat isn’tactuallyanauthorityfigure atall. Thisconfusionof conventionsforone charactercreatesanimpulsivestoryline forthe audience totry andcomprehendaswell asbewilderthem, whichistobe expecteddue to the genre.

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Character annalysis

  • 1. Convicts,criminals,stalkersorassassins Characterswitha dark pastPolice FBIor a personof authority Psychoticindividuals MenacedwomenInnocentvictims Typical characters present in a psychological thriller film: Sy fromOne Hour Photo. Stalkers,convicts,criminalsetc. are the fearedcharacterof psychological thrillersandgive the filmsthe edge of unpredictability and the thrill factorthat the audience expect. Cole Searfromthe SixthSense. Innocence andvulnerabilityin characters create sympathyand almostcausesthe audience torelate to the character whichputsthe audience ata vulnerable position waitingforsomethingbadtooccur. AmyDunne fromGone Girl From genderstereotypeswomen are supposedlyperceivedas innocentandcaring,whentheyare portrayedto be derangeditcreates an extreme senseof fearforthe audience evenmore thatif itwere a male estrangedcharacter. Sara GoldfarbfromRequiemfora Dream. These type of characters are usually obsessedwithbeingorbecoming somethingtheyare not.Theyare usually not acceptingof theirmental state and the audience isoftensympatheticto theirsituations. SomersetfromSe7en Authorityfiguresare perceivedbythe audience togive filmsasense of order. Howeverdue tothe nature of the genre itis usuallyconcludedthatthese so-calledauthorityfiguresare usually no helptoanyone bythemselves. Evan fromThe ButterflyEffect. The dark past of these charactersis oftenthe motive fortheirpsychotic actionsinthe present,usuallythe moviesfocusistryingtofigure outwhat was sobad in the pastthat has caused the character to behave the waythey do. Oftencharactershave more than one trait (onprevious page) inordertomake them more interestingandcreate amore excitingstoryline forthe audience tofollow.Take TeddyDanielsfromShutterIslandforexample.He beginsasanFBI officer,itisthen revealedthathe hasa dark past and that he isobsessedwithwhathappenedwhich explainshiscompulsive behaviour.These twoconventionsof acharacter are perfectly normal for the audience tocomprehend.Howeverthe majorplottwistof the filmisthat the character is actuallya psychoticindividualthat isn’tactuallyanauthorityfigure atall. Thisconfusionof conventionsforone charactercreatesanimpulsivestoryline forthe audience totry andcomprehendaswell asbewilderthem, whichistobe expecteddue to the genre.