Thriller Narrative Plots

All these thriller films feature similar narrative plots, they are all psychological thrillers in which their characters have a mental disorder such as multiple personalities. Also they are all portmanteau films that contain non linear narrative structure.

Traditional thriller narrative structure:

• Equilibrium • Disruption or

disequilibrium• Equilibrium re-

established

Identity directed by James Mangold is a thriller portmanteau film. It consists of portmanteau elements as there are more than five main characters who reveal their individual stories but turns out these stories and themselves are fiction constructed within an individuals mind.

Portmanteau films can be defined as a collection of inter related stories in a single vessel. They can also be referred to anthology films, theses movies typically consist of four or five short narratives connected by a frame story which is the main plot. These films for an alternative way of telling the narrative towards the audience, usually the narrative is used to portray events and actions happening to the characters told within a liner chronological time and narrative structure. As these films are non traditional they are non linear narrative structure aspects as flashbacks, dream sequences and scenes that are separate start from the same point in time.

In 6 souls its clear that this is a thriller portmanteau film as it has lots of flashbacks from different characters perspectives.

In Fight Club directed by David Fincher is a thriller portmanteau film as it highlights more than one narrative it portrays several sub plots within time and through different characters.

Even though these are all portmanteau films they still consist of traditional thriller plots elements in order to create suspense for the audience and tension throughout the narrative, this is shown through the use of enigma codes and McGuffins in order to establish the sense of mystery.