History of 'Psychological Thrillers'

‘The lodger’ was a British psychological thriller made in 1926 by Alfred Hitchcock. It is a black and white silent movie, and the rating is a 12. This can show that it may not be as scary or thrilling, and due to the lack of technology but at the same for its release it was frightening at the time.

‘The Most Dangerous Game’ was produced in 1932 by Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack it is a 78 minute movie. Keywords for this movie are “madman, escape, psychopath, slaughter” these are typical conventions of a psychological thriller, however the certificate rating of 12 show that only frequent violent scenes are used, therefore we are unable to see the emphasise on murders or horror scenes.

'Rebecca' was a famous film made in 1940 by Alfred Hitchcock, it is a black and white movie, due a lack of technology it doesn’t appeal to a younger generation. The music however flows with the genre because it creates the tension and suspense needed to make it fit with the style of film.

‘The sinister urge’ is a 1961 psychological thriller directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. there is no certificate rating for this movie, however the caption for the poster to this movie is “compulsive killer strikes terror” and “a psycho with the urge to kill”. 

‘Brimstone and Treacle’ was released in 1982 by Richard Loncraine. It has a certificate rating of 18 this means that extreme violence is allowed to be shown, including blood and gore, also bad language, and even sexual scenes such as rape, which is actually part of the movie. The DVD cover looks very gothic and thrilling as there is a lady screaming and a man praying on a black background.

Silence of the Lambs’ 1991 by Jonathan Demme is probably one of the most infamous psychological thrillers. This movie includes a psycho villain and a Hannibal, and a certificate rating of an 18. The perspective of the movie is very good as it incorporates a lot of aspects needed that may not have been used in earlier films. For example it shows ripped of human skin being eaten.