THE thriller the genre lends itself exceptionally well to stories involving journalism, and some of history’s best thrillers have something to do with the Fourth Estate. The genre has evolved over the past five decades to become a distinct entity outside of action and horror. Thrillers can sometimes feature elements of the aforementioned genres, but never too much.
Given the importance of journalism in modern history, it makes sense that the profession appears frequently in thriller films. Major historical events are often closely linked to the profession of journalism, and political intrigue is a key element of thrillers. This opens the door to compelling cinematic stories, whether fictional or real.
Filmmakers have used journalism as a backdrop for many heady themes, and the thrillers in question are generally richer than their counterparts in terms of style and substance. What’s most amazing about journalistic thrillers is the sheer variety within the niche subgenre. No two films are the same, which cannot be said of most films that can be classified as thrillers.
State of play (2009)
State of play was specially designed to pay homage to the political thrillers of the 1970s.but instead of Watergate, he modernized his approach to the Aughts. After a congressman’s aide is assassinated, a journalist uncovers a massive conspiracy behind the murder. Beneath its contemporary commentary lies a thriller full of twists and turns that can be enjoyed in isolation.
A strong performance from Russell Crowe is central to the film’s success, and the storyline is a streamlined affair that never becomes too confusing or difficult to follow. State of play was a critical success, but its box office was disappointing. It largely faded into the background of cinema in the late 1970s.but deserves more attention for its prescience.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy revolutionized the print thriller, and David Fincher’s film version of The girl with the dragon tattoo did justice to his twisted novel. A former financial journalist is hired to solve a long-running murder mystery, and he teams up with a strange woman to solve the case. Journalism is only tangentially relatedbut it plays an important role.
Made with Fincher’s distinctive visuals and methodical storytelling, The girl with the dragon tattoo is thoughtful and slow. However, it still manages to be exciting with a rich story that has many layers. Without being too overt, the film implies much more than it shows, which challenges the viewer to engage with ideas that might make them uncomfortable.
Nightcrawler (2014)
In most journalistic thrillers, the fourth estate is considered sacred, but Nightcrawler pokes holes in the infallibility of the profession. A desperate man discovers a new career shooting video showing gruesome crime scenes and goes to great lengths to obtain the footage. Dripping with neo-noir excellence, Nightcrawler borders on horror at times, which is appropriate given its subject matter.
The film stands out so much from other media because of its cynicism. The subgenre thrives on a certain optimism about the power of journalism to change the world, but Nightcrawler he throws that out the window. In the age of social networks, the realistic thriller is intact in its ability to summarize broad societal issues without being too obvious.
Broken Glass (2003)
Even though it bombed, Broken glass deserves a place among the great modern journalistic thrillers. Based on a true story, the film concerns a popular young journalist who is accused of inventing the sources for his biggest stories. Journalistic thrillers rarely deal with the inner workings of the profession, and Broken glass It’s all about the ethics of reporting.
Hayden Christensen delivers the performance of his career, and film clips at the pace of a gripping thriller despite its low stakes. Instead of international conspiracies or political intrigue, Broken glass aims at journalism itself. However, it still manages to be poignant by subtly alluding to the disintegration of truth in the political climate of August.
Absence of Malice (1981)
Although neglected, Absence of malice is one of the great underrated thrillers of the 80s. A naive young journalist is drawn to publish a story about a man accused of a crime, and she must confront the power of journalism to influence legal proceedings. Digging into the details of law and journalism, Absence of malice is complex and thoughtful.
Although it lacks overt action or thrilling thrills like other thrillers, Absence of malice is no less captivating. It is because of the amazing performances from Sally Field and Paul Newman, which bring humanity to detailed history. It’s also a great legal thriller, so Absence of malice ticks a lot of boxes.
Network (1976)
The rise of television journalism has revolutionized the profession, but it has also opened the door to a series of complex challenges. Network satirizes television news and tells the story of an aging anchor whose unscripted speech inspires the network to try bolder programming. The Oscar nominee for Best Picture is It is now remembered as one of the defining films of the 1970s.
Network was nominated for nine Academy Awards, win four.
Network is undoubtedly a thriller, but this also falls into the black comedy category. In an era of serious thrillers that directly addressed corruption in journalism and government, Network laughs at the madness of the whole affair. Even after 50 years, Network‘s predictions have continued to come true.
Zodiac (2007)
Examining the history of a decades-old cold case presents a series of narrative challenges, but Zodiac deciphered the perfect structure. At the height of the Zodiac Killer’s reign of terror, journalists and police desperately try to solve the case. By sharing attention between law enforcement and journalists, Zodiac covers the entire spectrum of mystery.
Arguably the best film about a serial killer ever made. Zodiac never goes too far to draw conclusions about an unsolved case. Instead, it focuses on the paranoia and abject horror of a city gripped by fear, and how obsession can drive someone to ruin their life. Almost a horror film at times, Zodiac is one of the scariest journalistic thrillers.
The Parallax View (1974)
Journalism was at the height of its power in the mid-1970s thanks to the Watergate scandal, and The parallax view represented the cinematic reaction to such turbulent times. An ambitious journalist investigates the assassination of a prominent political candidate, and it leads him to a powerful corporation that pulls the political strings.
Almost Hitchcockian in its rhythm, The parallax view is a thriller in every sense of the word. It features violent storylines and political commentary, and journalism is central to the story. Although there were many political thrillers in the 70s, the direct approach of The parallax view makes it unmatched in its accessibility.
The Post (2017)
When The post office arrived in 2017, the journalistic thriller was not in fashion, so it got ahead of the emerging trend. It tells the true story of Katherine Graham, the first female editor of the Washington Post who worked tirelessly to expose the famous Pentagon Papers. Box office success is as much a character drama because it is a journalistic thriller.
While the film doesn’t offer much in the way of deeper meaning, it’s a gripping true story with a stellar cast. It manages to be exciting without having to be too complicated, and Steven Spielberg’s direction gives it a magical and optimistic quality. The post office a hit at the time, but remains forgotten among the director’s other gems.
All the President’s Men (1976)
Based on the book of the same name by Woodward and Bernstein, All the President’s Men is the definitive cinematic document on the Watergate scandal. Two determined journalists investigate a burglary at the Watergate Hotel and discover that it leads to the Nixon administration. While the book offers plenty of intrigue, the film also brilliantly finds strong character threads.
Make full use of sound design, the film captures the paranoia of the era with subtle clues and frightening thrills. Given the outsized impact that Watergate had on political thrillers for decades, All the President’s Men was under a lot of pressure to succeed. Fortunately, it’s one of the best thrillers of all time, journalism or otherwise.
