An example of a popular and successful physiological thriller is the 1999 film 'Film Club' directed by David Fincher and staring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter. The story is of a unnamed man, played by Norton, who is going about life as an 'average Joe' working in an office. He soon forms a friendship with Tyler Durden, a cool, smart soap salesman (played by Pitt) and after creating a strong bond due to their mutual hate of consumerism, they set up a 'fight club', a secret club where men can go and brutally fight each other, in order to gain respect. Norton's character also becomes emotionally involved with Marla, played by Bonham Carter, however the relationship is a very love-hate one and Tyler also becomes involved with Marla. As more fight clubs form across the country, under Tyler's leadership, they become an anti-materialist and anti-corporate organization called "Project Mayhem". Tyler then disappears for a prolonged period of time and after a member of the organization is brutally killed, Norton's character (who also acts as the narrator) tries to track down Tyler. However, on his journey many people refer to him himself as 'Tyler' including Marla and it is at that point that Durden (Pitt) explains to Norton's character that they are dissociated personalities in the same body and Tyler controls the narrator's body when the narrator is asleep. 'Fight Club' is described by its director as a 'coming of age' film and has since gained a huge cult following. While studio executives worried that Fight Club was going to be "sinister and seditious", Fincher, the director, sought to make it "funny and seditious" by including humor to temper the sinister element. Screenplay writer, Jim Uhls described the film as a "romantic comedy", explaining, "It has to do with the characters' attitudes toward a healthy relationship, which is a lot of behaviour which seems unhealthy and harsh to each other, but in fact does work for them—because both characters are out on the edge psychologically.” The unreliable narrator is not immediately aware that Tyler Durden originated in him and is being mentally projected. He also mistakenly promotes the fight clubs as a way to feel powerful, though the narrator's physical condition worsens while Tyler Durden's appearance improves. Overall, 'Fight Club' is a very strong example of a psychological thriller, as it probes at the audience, helping to provoke a response throughout the film, without giving any surprises away until the end. The narrator has many ideas which questions the audiences approach to life and has a strong philosophy which helps to the film's appeal in such a genre. The video embedded helps to give a feel for the narrator and Tyler's thoughts and how the film acts as an excellent psychological thriller.
