Conventions of a Phycological Thriller.

This lesson we have been discussing psychological thrillers and watched an opening sequence to Memento!
We discussed the conventions  and analysed them...

1. Central theme of identity- Mistaken identity, stolen identity, lost identity (amnesia), dual identity, doppelgangers.
2. Perception- Often the narrative is shown from the perspective of multiple characters.
3. Reality- Confusion between what is and isn't real. The main characters idea of reality is different to the normal established within the film.
4. Memory- The torture of an individual by a traumatic memory. The traumatic search for a lost memory.
5. Stream of consciousness- The viewer is invited to identify with the psyche of a particular character.
6. Unreliable narrator- The person telling the story is discovered to be untrustworthy. This unnerves the viewer.
7. Flashback- reversing and fast forwarding of events. Non linear narrative- Editing. We feel flashbacks in black and white are often used as it establishes the fact it is a flashback and also taking the colour out of a scene can take the feeling of life out of it.
8. Imagery- The eye is a regular visual motif.