Christian Metz development of genre theory is an idea that each genre goes through four different stages, these being the Experimental, Classical, Parody, and deconstruction stages. The experimental stage is when the first few films in the genre are created. This sets out a set of rules for later films to then follow. The Classical stage is where most of the famous films in the genre are created, for example in the thriller genre some of the most famous thriller films are The Silence of The Lambs, and Se7en. The Parody stage is when films are created to fun of older films in the genre (usually classic films). Finally the deconstruction stage is when two genres (A genre and another genre commonly known as a subgenre) are mixed together to make a hybrid genre. The hybrid genre can contain any two genres for example the movie saga Twilight contains Teen romance and Thriller.
Nosferatu directed by F.W Murnau is a unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Names and details where changed because they couldn’t obtain the rights to the original novel, (for example “Count Dracula” became “count Orlok”) Nosferatu is considered a experimental film. This is because of the time period it was created in. Although it was made before “Safety Last” Nosferatu is more of a Horror film with thriller elements, so thriller would be a sub genre.
Safety last was the first ever thriller film made. It was directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, and written by Hal roach, same Taylor, Tim Whelan, H.M. walker, Jean c. Havez, and Harold Llyod. This film fits into the experimental stage of Christain Metz’s genre theory, because it was the first even thriller film made. Every other thriller made after this had to have elements of this film or it wouldn’t be classed as a thriller. ,
The lodger directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a film based on the famous serial killer Jack the Ripper. This film fits into the experimental stage of Christian metz theory of genre. The lodger was one of the first thriller films to be based on an actual real life event.
Psycho, also directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a horror/thriller film based on the 1959 novel “Psycho” by Robert Bloch which was inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murder and grave robber Ed Gein. Psycho being another well known thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it falls into the Classical stage because the time period in which it was created; as well it is being based on a novel.
Cape Fear directed by J. Lee Thompson is a psychological thriller film. It was adapted by James R. Webb from the novel “The Executioners” by John D. Macdonald. It has since been remade in 1991. Cape fear is considered a classical thriller because of the time it came out, a bunch of classical thriller came out around the 1960’s. It’s also based on a novel.
Abbot and Costello meet Frankenstein (a comedy/thriller movie) directed by Charles Barton stars the comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. In the film Abbott and Costello meet a number or horror/thriller characters such Frankenstein’s monster and Count Dracula. Although this film was made before many classical thrillers, it is considered a parody because of the comedy element.
Scary movie directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans is a Horror/thriller comedy film which parodies a number of well known horror/thriller films such as The Sixth sense and Scream. Scary Movie falls in the Parody section of christian Metz Theory, this is because of the number of parodies made over certain thriller films. Scary movie has gone out to make a number of sequels.
Scream directed by Wes Craven is a Horror/Thriller/Slashe film. It’s based on a high school student who becomes a target of a mysterious killer. Scream is a deconstruction thriller because of its many subgenres
The sixth sense directed by N. Night Shayamalan is a film about a young boy who is able to see and talk to the dead, and an troubled child psychologist who tried to help him. This film is considered to be in the deconstruction stage because of its surprise and ending and the mix of the horror and suspense genres.
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