Conventions of a "Psychological Thriller"

Conventions of a "Psychological Thriller":
Mind- In the opening sequence of "The Secret Window" and "The Butterfly Effect", both characters are talking to themselves. In "The Secret Window" the main character is deliberating whether to turn back or move on and in "The Butterfly Effect" the main character is writing and talking about death.
Death- In the opening of "The Butterfly Effect" the main character speaks about death straightaway "I am already dead".
Location- In "The Secret Window", the audience are introduced to a remote location where the main character lives. The main character may view this location as his freedom however the audience might interpret this location as a place where the main character eventually loses his mind due to the secluded and isolated surroundings. Sometimes, a normal location is used to emphasize the abnormality of the main character. For example in the "The Butterfly Effect", the abnormality of the main character is highlighted through a drawing he made at school. The drawing shows him holding a knife and standing on a pile of bodies. The use of Evan's condition in a normal atmosphere adds to the tension of the atmosphere and it also develops the story line.
Sound- The non-diegetic sound used adds to the tension and eeriness of the movie. The opening of "The Butterfly Effect" uses non-diegetic sound in order to make the audience feel uneasy. "The Secret Window" opens with diegetic sound in order to allow the audience into the character's mind.

Overall, the Psychological Thriller genre plays with the audiences mind by allowing the audience to see things from the main character's perspective. This genre usually uses a first person narrator to allow the audience to get closer to the story.