REVISED SECOND EDITION. Take the tension, desperation and anxiety characteristic of a thriller film and confine the action to a small space and you have something truly remarkable: the contained thriller. Concentrated, pressurized, however you want to describe them, they have an ability to ratchet up the tension and drama like few films can. The format has been explored by many different directors, including huge names like Hitchcock and Tarantino, oftentimes with spectacular results.
Explore this film genre and what makes it tick. It’s one of the most diverse and varied out there, but you’ll still find some common elements that end to unite these films and they’re explored here. You’ll also find a selection of films that are worth seeing in this genre, from films of the 1940s to films that came out only a few years ago. Like few other kinds of films, the contained thriller has continued to deliver for decades and the creativity that directors, writers and actors can bring to this format seems to be without end.
You’ll find plenty of variations here to explore. From defining films such as Hitchcock’s Rope to very creative variations on the form, such as Fermat’s Room, you’ll get a sampling of what’s out there. The films that have been selected should be broad enough that anyone will find something that suits their taste among them, with plenty of analysis and explanation of what went on in the film and why it works provided for additional understanding of the story and the execution.
If you’ve ever wanted to argue the merits of a contained thriller, this film will give you plenty of ammunition to do just that! It will also give a better understanding of what it takes to make one of these films and how, with very few locations and a good story, filmmakers can create something both amazing and downright terrifying.
Explore this film genre and what makes it tick. It’s one of the most diverse and varied out there, but you’ll still find some common elements that end to unite these films and they’re explored here. You’ll also find a selection of films that are worth seeing in this genre, from films of the 1940s to films that came out only a few years ago. Like few other kinds of films, the contained thriller has continued to deliver for decades and the creativity that directors, writers and actors can bring to this format seems to be without end.
You’ll find plenty of variations here to explore. From defining films such as Hitchcock’s Rope to very creative variations on the form, such as Fermat’s Room, you’ll get a sampling of what’s out there. The films that have been selected should be broad enough that anyone will find something that suits their taste among them, with plenty of analysis and explanation of what went on in the film and why it works provided for additional understanding of the story and the execution.
If you’ve ever wanted to argue the merits of a contained thriller, this film will give you plenty of ammunition to do just that! It will also give a better understanding of what it takes to make one of these films and how, with very few locations and a good story, filmmakers can create something both amazing and downright terrifying.
