Thursday, 9 October 2008

Thriller Directors and Actors

In this post I will highlight some of the main contributors to the genre of 'thrillers'. I will look at both Actors and Directors.
  • Alfred Hitchcock - Hitchcock is seen as one of the pioneers of Thriller films and British cinema. He directed two of the definitive thriller films: 'Psycho' and 'North By Northwest' and the first British Talkie film; 'Blackmail'. Often referred to as the master of suspense, Hitchcock is said to have made his best movies in the 1950's.
  • Ridley Scott - Ridley scott is a good example of a director that exhibits sub plots within the wide genre that is Thriller. 'Alien' is a good example, It is science fiction as the story takes place in a future where humans are space traveling and as the title suggests it has aliens in. Another example is Blade Runner. Hannibal is an example of Horror Thriller, there are some very gory moments but it remains a thriller as the suspense of the pursuit of hannibal keeps you on the edge of your seat.
  • Tom Cruise - One of the most instantly recognisable actors in modern cinema and has appeared in such thriller films as 'Collateral', 'A Few Good Men' and 'Minority Report' Tom Cruise is often playing the hero, due to his good looks but has played villians (Collateral). 
  • Samuel L Jackson - has appeared in such films as 'Unbreakable', where he plays a disabled man convinced that there are levels of fragility in humans and one man is virtually indestructible. 'The Caveman's Valentine', Where he plays a homeless man convinced that the people of New York are being mind controlled, and the cult classic 'Pulp Fiction' where he plays a hitman. Jackson often plays the role of the bad guy in thriller films, but more recently has appeared as an action hero. 
Sources
Internet Movie Database - Links given. Last Accessed 20th October

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