Tuesday, Feb. 23

The “Contained Thriller”

Scott Myers takes an interesting look at a relatively “hot” genre for spec scripts these days - the contained thriller. Like the man-in-a-box thriller, Buried, Killer supplies movie execs with another with another potential high-grossing/low-budget thriller IF the story is even that good.

I have no idea about this latest sale, but while Buried was very well written it still lacked the kind of argument a complete story makes. It was a tale, albeit an exciting one, but one that is quickly forgotten as soon as the curtains close.

The problem with these contained thrillers is that they often leave out the Impact Character and any kind of significant relationship the Main Character would have with them. As such, they have to invent some reason or plot device that forces them into change at the end. It feels false, often manipulative, and ultimately not very meaningful. I still think it can be done, you just have to make sure you have that alternative viewpoint on the world impacting the Main Character’s personal justifications. There has to be some emotional reason for them to grow.