Why are crime thrillers being set in the past?

Filmmakers are setting crime thrillers in the past to circumvent modern technology like CCTV and phone tracking, offering a broader narrative canvas and fostering emotional connections with audiences.

How do past settings enhance crime thrillers?

Past settings provide a wider narrative scope, allow for more nuanced character development, and add enigma to crimes, encouraging audiences to suspend disbelief and engage more actively.

What are some recent examples of past-set crime thrillers?

Examples include the 2025 film 'Sirai', set in 2003 with a 1997 murder, and the 2023 movie 'Por Thozhil', which deals with serial killings that occurred in 2010.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Beyond CCTV: Past Settings Boost Crime Film Intrigue

Beyond CCTV: Past Settings Boost Crime Film Intrigue

12 Feb

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Summary

Filmmakers use past settings to circumvent technology in crime thrillers.
Nostalgic settings connect viewers emotionally and provide narrative freedom.
Past eras offer a blank slate for character depth and crime enigma.

Beyond CCTV: Past Settings Boost Crime Film Intrigue

South Indian filmmakers are reviving the crime thriller genre by setting stories in past decades. This approach offers a creative escape from the omnipresence of modern technology like CCTV and phone tracking. By transporting viewers to bygone eras, storytellers aim to foster deeper emotional connections and provide a wider narrative scope.

The allure of the past allows for more nuanced character development, especially for villains, and lends an enigmatic quality to crimes. This narrative device helps circumvent the limitations of high-tech surveillance, enabling protagonists to construct cases organically. Filmmakers believe this method encourages audience participation in solving mysteries.

This trend is evident in films like 'Sirai' (2025), set in 2003 with a 1997 murder, and 'Por Thozhil' (2023), dealing with 2010 serial killings. Beyond bypassing technological constraints, these past settings also serve as a form of world-building, appealing to audiences who may find comfort in 'simpler times'.

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