Genre Research

Genre Conventions – Genre

The mystery genre is all about solving puzzles and uncovering secrets. Even though it sounds complicated, mystery movies and books are very popular with audiences. People enjoy trying to figure out the clues and see unexpected twists in the story. The excitement of finding out the truth keeps viewers interested. This genre is a favorite for many filmmakers and writers.

Genre Conventions – Content

Mystery films are all about solving a puzzle or crime. They usually center around something unexplained or a crime that needs solving, like a missing person, a hidden identity, or even a murder. These movies often feature detectives, and policemen. The main character follows clues, pieces together evidence, and encounters twists and surprises along the way. Fake clues are common, meant to mislead the audience and make the truth harder to guess. Audiences are encouraged to guess with the main character, trying to figure out who did what before the big reveal.

Genre Conventions – Production Techniques

Mystery movies rely on certain techniques to build suspense and keep viewers engaged. Lighting is usually low and shadowy, creating a dark and secretive atmosphere that mirrors the story’s secrets. Directors use a lot of close-up shots to capture characters’ facial expressions, hinting at emotions or motives they may be hiding. Quick and sharp edits are often used to show flashbacks or reveal clues, helping viewers piece together information over time. Mystery movies are often slower-paced at first, building tension and suspense before big reveals or twists. Sound design is also crucial—these films use eerie or mysterious background music, along with sounds like creaks, whispers, or sudden loud noises to build a sense of mystery and unease, especially before major plot twists.

Institutional Conventions – How the Genre is Marketed

Mystery movies appeal to a wide audience, from teens to older adults. They are popular because they engage people’s curiosity and challenge them to figure out the plot. Marketing materials, like trailers, often highlight intriguing aspects of the plot without giving away too much. Trailers may use snippets of dialogue or questions that encourage the viewer to wonder about the mystery and who’s involved. Posters for mystery movies often feature dark images or symbols, like magnifying glasses, dark alleys, or mysterious characters in shadow. Taglines on posters often challenge viewers to “solve the mystery” or hint at a big question that the movie will answer. Some marketing even uses interactive clues or riddles, giving viewers a chance to solve part of the mystery themselves before they even watch the film.

Film Sample #1 – Gone girl (2014)

Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher, is a mystery film about a man named Nick Dunne who becomes the prime suspect when his wife, Amy, suddenly disappears. This film uses the mystery genre’s classic elements, like multiple perspectives and clues to keep the audience guessing. The lighting is dark and moody, especially in scenes focused on Nick. The film also uses flashbacks, revealing Amy’s side of the story piece by piece, helping the audience slowly learn the truth her disappearing. Eerie music plays during key moments, and many shots are shadowy and tense, emphasizing hidden truths and betrayal, making the audience wonder about Nick’s innocence.

Film Sample #2 – Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out, directed by Rian Johnson, is a fun and clever mystery about the death of a wealthy family’s patriarch, Harlan Thrombney. Detective Benoit Blanc is called in to investigate, interviewing each family member, each of who may have a reason for wanting Harlan gone. The film uses closeups of each character to show insight on who might have done it. Close-up shots focus on facial expressions, and adding to the suspense. The pacing allows viewers to see each suspect’s perspective, and the editing builds tension as clues are revealed. Knives Out mixes suspense with humor, keeping the audience guessing while also entertaining them.

Additional Mystery Film Examples

1. Sherlock Holmes (2009) – A detective story with Sherlock Holmes solving a series of mysterious crimes.
2. 
   The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) – A journalist and hacker team up to solve a woman’s disappearance.
3. 
   Murder on the Orient Express (2017) – A famous detective tries to solve a murder on a luxury train.
4. 
   Zodiac (2007) – Based on the true story of a journalist and detectives trying to find a serial killer.
5. 
   Shutter Island (2010) – A detective investigates a psychiatric hospital and uncovers chilling secrets.