Abstract: Since the 21st century, the issue of media and technology has become increasingly prominent in the film theory research on the whole, leading to constant research transformation, as is evident in the research of genre films. Film theorist Thomas Elsaesser published three papers on“Mind-Game Film”, viewing it as a new genre closely related to media and technology. His research is not only a full consideration of the impact of media and technology as a new powerful discourse on genre film research, thus an active move to seek new research directions, but also an indication of his adherence to the classical approach to Western genre film studies, which is a defining feature of his research. Media and technology as a powerful discourse has been the status quo faced by many humanities researchers since the new century, and the current discussions on Metaverse have pushed this trend to a climax. The humanities community as a whole tend to further emphasize and exaggerate the power of media and technology. However, Elsaesser chooses to combine the tradition and the new trend through the research of“Mind-Game Film”, which is an inspiration to other humanities researchers under the influence of media and technology. 

Key words: Thomas Elsaesser, Mind-Game Film, genre film studies, new media, technology