Research into Genre: Crime Film Subgenres

Crime films are films which showcase criminals and their lives.  Crime films are mostly fast-paced and glamorise the crime lifestyle.

One of the reasons why crime films attract a large audience is because it offers an escape into the thrilling world of crime.

There are many subgenres within the crime film genre. Some include:

• Heist Films - The Town, Heat, Resevoir Dogs
• Mob Films - The Godfather, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco
• Crime Thrillers - Se7en, Silence of the Lambs
• Crime Comedies - In Bruges, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Heist Films

Heist films are often centred around a group of criminals who specialise in theft or robbery. As well as this, many heist films show the consequences of the risky life the criminals have. Most heist films revolve around a 3-part structure - The preparation for the heist, the carrying out of the heist and the consequences of the heist. In addition to this, many heist films feature a nemesis that the film's characters most overcome or beat

Mob Films

Mob films are based around organised crime, and in particular, the mafia. Mob films became hugely popular in the 70s with The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. There was a resurge of Mob films in the 90s, with Martin Scorsese being instrumental in this after directing Goodfellas and Casino. As well as this, mob films saw some actors becoming 'typecasted' for their roles. For example, Robert De Niro is well known for his roles in Goodfellas, Casino, The Godfather Part II where he portrays figures involved in crime. In addition to this, Al Pacino could be seen as being typecasted for his roles in mob films. Al Pacino starred in mob films such as The Godfather trilogy, Scarface, Donnie Brasco and Carlito's Way.

Crime Thrillers

Traditional thriller films can often combine with crime films. The main purpose of Crime Thrillers are to excite the audience by using suspense. The most notable examples include Se7en and Silence of the Lambs. These films are alike in that they show an insane, psychopathic character and the pursuit of the protaganists and the struggles they have to overcome to put an end to the psychopath's madness.

Crime Comedies

Despite being centred around crime, crime comedies often portray a darker, but humorous side to crime,  with many films focusing on incompetent characters and dark humour. For example, In Bruges was about 2 hitmen being told to go to Bruges after a 'job' goes horribly wrong, showing Colin Farrell's disapproval at the city he finds himself in.