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Romantic thriller

Not to be confused with Erotic thriller.

A romantic thriller is a narrative that combines elements of both the romance and thriller genres. The goal of romantic thrillers is to entertain audiences by evoking discomfort through moments of suspense, along with heightened feelings of anxiety and fear. While the concept of a thriller is more widely recognized, it often transcends the boundaries of a single genre. Thrillers can range from comedy and melodrama to adventure and romance, with all thrillers inherently blending different genres. The suspense that defines thrillers tends to pair more effectively with certain genres, such as crime, sci-fi, and romance, which allow for greater suspense than genres like screwball comedies or musicals.[1][2]

A romantic thriller merges the romance and thriller genres, setting it apart from established cinema movements such as Gothic horror or Golden Age detective films. The genre operates on two levels: 1) a specific theme is established, and 2) general relationships, patterns, and structural elements are woven into this theme. This framework allows for a wide variety of visual styles and story structures within the romantic thriller genre.[3]

History

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In Northrop Frye's Anatomy of Criticism (1957), he suggested four archetypal categories in literature: comedy, romance, tragedy, and irony or satire. In a romance, the protagonist is portrayed as only slightly superior to others, capable of remarkable actions in a world where the "ordinary laws of nature are slightly suspended."[4]

A key element in a romantic plot is adventure, often involving a quest where the hero faces challenges or monsters. There is typically a sense of two worlds—the mundane reality and the mysterious unknown. The concept of a maze is frequently used in romantic thrillers, symbolizing a journey filled with blind spots, false turns, and hidden elements, making the path to the solution difficult to navigate.

In the 1935 release of The Thirty-Nine Steps, protagonist Richard Hannay leaves a theatre with a mysterious and attractive woman, and they embark on a romantic adventure involving spies, double agents, and espionage. Author John Buchan pioneered the spy thriller genre, blending romance and adventure within the emerging context of political conflict. In Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation, the possibility of romance between the mysterious woman and the decent gentleman was a minor consideration compared to the larger plot of intrigue.[5]

Based on Raymond Chandler’s first Detective Marlowe novel, The Big Sleep (1946), starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Martha Vickers), the film exemplifies two key elements of the romantic thriller: adventure and dual worlds. The protagonists are brought together in an effort to save Bacall’s younger sister, played by Vickers. The main plot, centered on a sleuthing adventure, sees the characters navigating both together and separately.[6] In a common theme of the genre, the characters come from different social classes, typically preventing them from mixing. Their romance appears hopeless, but as the adventure unfolds, their relationship navigates its own labyrinth of truth and deception, ultimately overcoming mistrust. The story revolves around a private detective, hired by a wealthy family, investigating a complex case involving murder and blackmail, all while possibly falling in love. Chandler’s Marlowe is often described as a "knight in dark armor rescuing a lady."[7]

Film adaptations of Chandler's novels varied, with different directors and producers highlighting certain traits of the character, much like the varied interpretations of James Bond. Where Marlowe engaged in quick, bantering exchanges filled with sexual tension, Bond relies on a more physical style of seduction.

The 2020s have seen a resurgence of romantic thrillers, especially through Netflix originals like Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022), starring Emma Corrin, and Dark Desire (2020), starring Maite Perroni. Other popular Netflix titles include Obsession, 365 Days, Elite, and You. Additionally, non-Netflix romantic thrillers such as Tooth Pari: When Love Bites (2023) and Love Lies Bleeding (2024) continue to explore this genre.

Films

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Casablanca (1941)
 
The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Opinions vary on what films are in this category; this is only a sampling. The first list is Hollywood movies, while the second is broader and includes international films.

Broader list of examples:

References

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  1. ^ "Historians' themes and genres". Writing History 7-11. Routledge. pp. 19–29. 2014-06-05. doi:10.4324/9781315767796-10. ISBN 978-1-315-76779-6. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  2. ^ Altman, Rick (1995). A Semantic/Syntactic Approach to Film Genre' in Film Gere Reader. Austin University of Texas Press. pp. 26–40. ISBN 0851707173.
  3. ^ Ruben, Martin (1999). Thrillers: Genres in American Cinema. Cambridge University Press. p. 260, 261. ISBN 0-521-58839-1.
  4. ^ Frye, Notrthrop (1971). Anatomy of Criticism; Four Essays. Princeton University Press. p. 139, 40. ISBN 9780802092724.
  5. ^ Ruben, Martin (1999). Thrillers: Genres in American Cinema. Cambridge University Press. p. 228, 229. ISBN 0-521-58839-1.
  6. ^ Maltin, Leonard (2005). Classic Movie Guide. Penguin Books. p. 47. ISBN 0-452-28620-4.
  7. ^ Ruben, Martin (1999). Thrillers: Genres in American Cinema. Cambridge University Press. p. 89. ISBN 0-521-58839-1.
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