Murderous

Passion
Charles Derrys sub-genre
The Thriller of Murderous Passion must
consist of:
*A love-triangle, traditionally involving a married couple and a lover.

*The plot often ends with a murder whether it be one member of the
triangle or two, with the motivation of jealousy and passion - hence the
title of Murderous Passions.

How does Fatal Attraction conform to the thriller conventions?

*Alex Forest, the antagonist, becomes obsessive over her lover from
an affair, Dan Gallagher - who she eventually murders.
A key example - and a thriller that
influenced our own opening
Fatal Attraction.

The summary of the plot is the protagonist, Dan

Gallagher, a married man with a daughter, and the
antagonist, Alex, share a weekend affair. However, the
intention of this was not to establish an official affair,
but a simple mistake; a mistake he would regret
greatly. Alex, decides that one night was not enough
and his rejection from continuing to pursue an affair
leaves her psychotic. Her pursual becomes more and
more sinister as she threatens the welfare of her
family.
Analysis of The Film The
Poster
red background foreshadows the danger
and romance within the thriller between the
protagonist and antagonist, as well as
insinuating at a theme of bloodshed. The
colours position being central to the two
characters highlights the violent approach
that surrounds their relationships.
The binary opposition of the films title Fatal
and Attraction serves as evidence to the
extremity of their attraction. The title also
describes the protagonists attraction as
Fatal as this is positioned above him, which
indicates his fate. Furthermore, the titling of
Attraction is titled above the antagonist
which hints at the extremity of her attraction
which leads her motivation. Moreover, the
binary opposition reflects the opposition of
the emotions felt by the characters. As the
man only wanted a one night stand whereas
The Trailer of Fatal Attraction
The director has incorporated a fast paced cross-cut scene change
throughout the trailer in order to evoke disorientation from the
audience, as this leads to suspense and mystery - both of which
conform to Alfred Hitchcocks traditional thriller conventions. The cross-
cutting of the protagonist having dinner with the antagonist to the
traumatic and twisted later events provokes further suspense and
trepidation, similar to the opening of Heavenly Creatures.

The director also chooses to accompany the feature film with a non-
diegetic voice-over with sinister statements such as a mistake he will
regret for the rest of his life. The sinister tone of the voice-over is
accompanied by dark sinister lighting which reinforces the sense of
mystery, suspense and danger.
The Trailer analysis continued
The extremity of the danger is highlighted through further use of sound,
as diegetic sound is incorporated through children shouting Daddy.
This is, therefore, indicative of children being affected by the danger.