AICE Media Studies Blog: The Genre Database

Mystery Genre The genre mystery is one genre that has been prominent in the movie industry for a long time.

The mystery genre can be defined as a production involving the main character being a detective in a certain crime or murder. The detective can be a professional detective or an ametueur trying to solve the case, that may affect their life personally or the lives of people in their community. The mystery is developed through the plot being in certain phases or steps, with certain surprise events, that can keep the viewer guessing what may happen next. Moreover, the genre emphasises the work of the detective versus the lawmakers in place, and how the work of that detective can be more logical and efficient than what the government officials may do.

In the context of production of the mystery films, they contain a variety of shots. One example is the zoom in or extreme zoom in, which can be used to emphasis a certain object, person, or place that advances the plot in either a positive or negative way. Moreover, the often cutting between shots can show the anticipation of a certain event in the plot, or bring attention to an important “piece of the puzzle” to the case trying to be solved. Lastly, the use of dolly zoom can add the shock factor to a certain scene, when one of the characters has a revelation or is presented with a situation suddenly.

The demographic for mystery movies can range from age 35-50 years old, as many mystery movies contain a complicated plot, that needs some experience and understanding of thinking a step ahead. Moreover, the content of the story can contain crimes involving murder, with characters speaking explicit language. In a recent study, the mystery genre of movies was one of the top 5 most viewed movies, with both men and women watching this genre being statistically equal. In terms of marketing, the use of trailers and common movie advertisement is used, with the use of important scenes in the movie to get the target audience to come and watch.

Embodying the Genre

The movie Zodiac(2007) is a movie about a serial killer, The Zodiac, who is living and rampant in the city of San Francisco. The investigators and reporters, played by Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhall, and Robert Downey Jr, become invested in the Zodiac and bringing them to justice, and stopping the certain attacks in the city. This movie embodies the mystery genre as the main characters are detectives and related jobs, who embark on the journey to solve a crime or murder that continues to occur, with not an exact reason or logic behind it. Moreover, it contains zoom in shots to emphasize a change in the mood or a distinct change in plot, that can cause an overall shift in the storyline.

The movie Sherlock Holmes (2011) is about a nemesis that is potentially attacking England, and Sherlock Holmes and his partner go on a quest to solve the problem and bring the threat to justice. This movie embodies the genre of mystery because it contains the plot with a detective becoming invested in solving a certain crime in the city. Moreover, it has a more complicated storyline, which works well with the target audience of the genre.

Other Movies in the Genre