Thriller Film Audience Research

What I want to find out:

• expectations of thriller films
• Previous films seem and enjoyed
• want people want to see more of
• Opinions of various Femme Fatales

How am I going to find out?

• Use internet, such as using imdb
• questionnaire
• asking general questions
• other student's blogs
• interview

What I expect to find:

• What thrillers they have seen and enjoyed
• What conventions used in thrillers which they think particularly work
• What conventions in thrillers they do not like
• opinions of thrillers in general
• opinions of various Femme Fatales 

Example of our questionnaire:

1. what are your personal expectations of independent thriller films? such as Red Road, London to Brighton and Tell no one.

2. What are your personal expectations of mainstream thriller films? such as Kill Bill, Essex Boys and Casino Royale?

3. Give your personal opinions of the films mentioned above or any other independent/ mainstream thriller films

4. What previous thriller have you seen and particularly enjoyed?

• Kill Bill
• Essex Boys
• Casino Royale
• Sin City
• Psycho
• Jaws
• other (please state) 

5. What conventions do you not like in Thriller films?

• Run down location
• split personality characters
• use of soundtrack
• Chiaroscuro lighting
• confined spaces
• claustrophobia
• being watched 

6. What conventions do you believe are effective in Thriller films?

• Run down location
• split personality characters
• use of soundtrack
• Chiaroscuro lighting
• confined spaces
• claustrophobia
• being watched 

7. In Thrillers, do you believe traditional Femme Fatale (such as Gilda) or a contemporary Femme Fatale (such as the bride in Kill Bill) more effective and why?

What did I find out from the  questionnaire? 

I found out that people expect Independent thrillers to have urban or well known locations that are real life, not set up, to have a low budget with not well known actors. In comparison, they expect mainstream to be action packed, have a fast pace, expensive locations, use well known actors and actresses. One person stated that they particularly enjoyed the use of location and characters in London to Brighton, similarly with Essex Boys with shot types. I found out that the most popular thriller film amongst the people I interviews was Kill Bill, with 5 people saying this was their favourite film,  however, Essex Boys, Casino Royale and Jaws also being favourites. 

I asked what conventions of a thriller people thought were effective, and the majority said that confined spaces and playing on people's fear of claustrophobia worked the best in thrillers. I also learnt that two people surveyed thought that traditional femme fatales worked the best, but a majority thought that a contemporary femme fatales worked the best as it breaks the norm, suits the time better and you can relate to them more.