Uses and Gratifications Theory

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Uses and Gratifications Theory

People watch thriller films for a range of reasons. Some of these include entertainment, information, social interaction, escape from daily life and personal values. All of these combined contributes to the popularity of the Thriller genre. People watch thriller films in order to escape from reality and become engrossed in the life of those who live much more entertaining and interesting lives. On top of this, thrillers tend to provide a mental challenge for the audience, meaning the film is not empty entertainment, which causes the audience to be much more active when compared to other genres like dramas and comedies. Thrillers also help to increase social interaction as they can force the audience to theorise the ending of the film and discuss with their friends. An example of this would be Shutter Island, as it leaves us guessing what’s happening for the whole film. The psychological aspect of a thriller also impacts this, as people like to show off that they managed to work out the ending of the film before their friends or the characters. Some thriller films help to inform its audience, as it shows us the impact that our actions can have on the world around us, like ‘A Day After Tomorrow’, which shows the consequences of global warming. 

Uses and Gratifications theory does help us to analyse why Thriller films are so popular, but it doesn’t give us an explanation to all aspects of the film. It helps us to know why we watch and engage with Thriller films, particularly when these films can be considered grotesque, like ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. However, it doesn’t tell us anything about the filming of these films, or why directors feel compelled to make them, especially extremely mentally challenging films like ‘Inception’.