Target Audience

The research I have done into different Thriller openings has given me an idea of what types of things an audience would look for in a Thriller film.
I have analysed the following openings of these films:
Double Indemnity - PG
The Others - 12
The Interpreter - 12
What Lies Beneath - 15
Gothika - 15
Duel - 15
Speed - 15
Silence of the lambs - 18
The Usual Suspect - 18

I have used a range of ratings in the films i chose to analyse because it would help me to gain further knowledge and understanding about what content would be used and how it differs with each rating.
There is defiantly a clear difference in the openings of the films which have been rated differently for example, Silence of the Lambs (18) is quite eery, dark and mysterious, it also doesn't have a change in mood in the opening however The Others (12) has a cartoon in the credits and tells a mini-story which is suitable for the age group it's aimed at, it also has changes in moods within the cartoon but still keeping the conventions of a thriller.

There are also different types of Thriller as this is a very broad genre:
Psychological Thriller: This sub-genre has elements of mystery in it and also tends to focus on the psychological aspects of the main characters rather than their physical aspects. There suspense usually comes from the main character trying to resolve conflicts with their own mind. The conflict is usually an effort to understand what is happening to them, these conflicts are made clearer to the audience in a physical form and as the character figures out the mystery so does the audience, which makes them feel more involved in the film. Examples of this sub-genre include, "The Ring", "The Sixth Sense", "The Number 23", and "What Lies Beneath".

Action Thriller: This sub-genre tends to be very fast paced and involves fights, shootouts, stunts, car chases or explosions. The main character is the "hero" and the action typically involves them, this genre also includes the typical stock characters and the narrative follows Vladimir Propp's theory. Examples of the sub-genre include, "Blade", "Mission Impossible 1, 2, and 3", "The Fast and The Furious", and all of the James Bond films.

Crime Thriller: This sub-genre tends to involve the FBI or some sort of police investigation in it. The main character is usually part of the police force and is trying to solve a crime or several crimes which have been commited. Examples of this sub-genre include, "Sin City", "Collateral", and "Cellular".

Horror Thriller: This sub-genre tends to be very physical and mostly gory, it also is meant to appear terrifying and horrific to watch. They usually include a central villian, and they don't always have a main hero to follow. Examples of this sub-genre include, "Saw", "28 Days Later",

Supernatural Thriller: This sub-genre tends to have supernatural goings on in the film. Usually the main character is getting haunted and the supernatural being is trying to contact the living world with messages so they can be helped in some way. Examples of this sub-genre include, "White Noise", "Gothika", "What Lies Beneath", and "The Forgotton".