While researching the genre of thriller, I realized how many sub-genres it has. From mystery to romance and religious, they all have one defining trait that allows them to be a sub-genre of thriller. They all draw out the feeling of thrills. In the article that helped me dive into this genre, a quote from James Patterson was quoted, and it really gave me clarity not only in the thriller genre but on how I would approach my own film opening scene:
"What gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job."
This quote made me understand what needed to be my entire focus if I wanted my film opening scene, surrounding a drowning of a girl to work. I needed to build on the moment. It's advice I've received before when working on my own projects, but it wasn't until now that I realized how important it was for the specific genre of thriller. Staying in the moment allows the audience to make assumptions, to fill in the blanks left on purpose when building the suspense because they just can't wait for the shoe to drop.
So with this research I learned how the thrill comes from the unpredictability of the scene. I have to show what is happening enough for the audience to care, but not enough to answer all their questions and maintain the sense of uncertain tension.
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