Info on Psychological Thrillers

Films typically focus on story over character, but psychological thrillers reverse this convention by getting into the deepest and darkest human thoughts. This means that most of the suspense and drama comes from within one key character, who is very troubled.

Even though psychological thrillers usually focus on thoughts instead of actions, the uneasy mind of the main character can often manifest in movements or activities that represent what they are feeling - at the end of Black Swan, Nina's perfect dancing shows that she has reached the very pinnacle of her madness.

During the finale of a psychological thriller, the main character does not rely on bodily strength or brute force to win against the enemy, but rather mental power.

Common elements of the psychological thriller include mind games, stalking, confinement, horror-of-personality, obsession and paranoia.