For this research post, I decided to analyze Thirteen Reasons Why. I know it’s technically a TV series and not a short film, and it’s not labeled strictly as a psychological thriller, butttt it has so many elements that connect to the genre, especially in terms of emotion, mental state, and perspective.
What makes Thirteen Reasons Why so powerful is how deeply it focuses on characters and their internal struggles. The story centers around Hannah Baker and Clay Jensen, but instead of just showing events, it shows how those events affect them mentally and emotionally. That psychological focus is something I really want to incorporate into my own short film, focusing on my main characters emotion's instead of what is actually happening. On a side note I am between 2 ideas right now and it is so hard to pick one I just know there is a lot of emotions present!
One of the strongest techniques the show uses is point of view. A lot of the story unfolds through Hannah’s tapes, which means we experience events through her perspective. That automatically creates bias and emotional intensity. We aren’t seeing a neutral version of events, we’re seeing how she felt. That idea of reality is very common in psychological thrillers, where the audience questions whether what they’re seeing is fully reliable.
The show also uses editing and transitions in interesting ways, it often blends past and present together, cutting between timelines to show how memories and current emotions connect. Something I definitely know I will be using in my film. That layering makes the story feel heavier because the past constantly influences the present, I think that technique could work really well in a short film if done carefully.
Sound design is another important element in the show, It uses music to build emotion rather than action. In emotional scenes, the music is soft and slow, making the moment feel intimate and raw. In more intense scenes, the sound becomes sharper and more tense. It’s not about jump scares, it’s about making the audience feel uncomfortable or emotional. That’s something I want to focus on heavily in my own project, so finding the right music is key.
The most important part, though, is how the characters are portrayed internally. Hannah isn’t shown as just “sad.” We see her different emotions, especially her vulnerability. Clay’s reactions show guilt, frustration, and helplessness. The show spends time inside their heads, showing how small moments build into larger emotional consequences. Even though Thirteen Reasons Why isn’t a traditional psychological thriller, it deals with psychological tension constantly. The suspense doesn’t come from physical danger, it comes from emotional weight and that intensity is what I connect to most.
For my short film, I want to focus heavily on one main character and their internal state, similar to how this show does. I want the audience to feel what the character feels, not just observe it. If I can portray emotion in a way that feels raw and real, like this show does, then I know I’m heading in the right direction!
Show numero 2 - Baby Reindeer
The second TV show I’m analyzing is Baby Reindeer.... (Those who know) And honestly… I don’t even know how I feel about this show. I binge watched the entire thing in one day, and the only word I can confidently use to describe it is peculiar.
It’s not a traditional psychological thriller, but it absolutely lives in that psychological sphere. The tension doesn’t come from physical danger the way action does, it comes from discomfort and emotional instability the show portrays, that for sureee got me.
What makes Baby Reindeer so strong is how deeply it puts you inside the main character’s mind. We’re not just watching events happen to him, we’re watching how he processes them. His internal conflict, confusion, and self-destructive tendencies are constantly present. The show doesn’t try to make him perfect or heroic, It makes him human, with complicated emotions and feelings he does not know how to deal with.
The editing style in Baby Reindeer also stands out, It uses voiceovers to let us hear the main character’s thoughts, which adds a psychological layer to every scene. It makes audiences not just guess his thoughts but also hear them. But at the same time, the way events unfold makes you question reliability, you start wondering what’s reality and what’s shaped by his perception.
Sound and tone are subtle but effective, they aren’t loud or dramatic every five minutes. Instead, there’s a constant subtle discomfort. Sometimes it’s in the pauses during conversations or it’s in the silence after something awkward happens.
Emotionally, this show is heavy, It deals with trauma, shame, and obsession in a way that feels raw and almost invasive. Watching it feels personal, like you’re not supposed to be there, but you are. I like this for my film.
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