Thrillers: The Art of Keeping Audiences on the Edge of Their Seats. Exploring Gripping Films in the “Watcher” Podcast

What makes people so fascinated by stories that send chills down their spine?

Almost any modern film or series with a dark, tense atmosphere can be labeled a "thriller." When we see this genre tagged on movie websites, streaming platforms, or online cinemas, we expect little to no humor in the scenes. Surprisingly, the very first thriller in cinema history was actually a comedy! Find out more about this fascinating fact in our latest episode.

In this podcast, hosts Alex Khromov and Michael Volny delve into defining the term "thriller," recalling the genre's rise to popularity in the 1990s and how it nearly pushed horror films off the big screen. They also discuss whether high-quality thrillers can be produced in Russia.

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00:53 — What is a thriller in brief: its origin and rise to fame.

06:48 — How to define genre boundaries and when action, romance, or sci-fi becomes a thriller.

13:17 — Why movie sites, critics, and viewers often label anything mysterious or supernatural as a "thriller."

18:06 — Why the film "Barton Fink" is considered a perfect example of the genre.

22:50 — How thrillers almost replaced horror movies in the 1990s.

31:17 — Discussion of "Cargo 200" and Russian attempts at mastering the genre.

Recommended Films

Here is a curated list of movies mentioned in the podcast:

• "Finally Safe," directors Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, 1923.
• "The Lodger," director Alfred Hitchcock, 1927.
• "M," director Fritz Lang, 1931.
• "Spies," director Fritz Lang, 1928.
• "Drive," director Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011.
• "Se7en," director David Fincher, 1995.
• "Hot Fuzz," director Edgar Wright, 2007.
• "Mulholland Drive," director David Lynch, 2001.
• "Dead Man," director Jim Jarmusch, 1995.
• "Barton Fink," directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1991.
• "Fargo," directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1996.
• "No Country for Old Men," directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 2007.
• "Scream," director Wes Craven, 1996.
• "Manhunter," director Michael Mann, 1986.
• "Cargo 200," director Alexei Balabanov, 2007.
• "The Needle," director Rashid Nugmanov, 1988.

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