The Convention of a Thriller Film

In order to gain a deeper knowledge of how to successfully produce a thriller film, I have researched what a thriller film actually entitles. The conventions and codes of the genre thriller are the key features to producing a realistic film, and therefore in order for me to fully understand how a thriller film is created, I researched the main conventions of the genre.

Sound and Editing: Quick cuts and plenty of different camera angles as well as many changes. Jump cuts and elliptical editing is used quite frequently in thriller films to maintain the audience’s suspense, and to build tension. Music that further delivers the feeling of tension is also frequently used, with a major key tone, as a pose to minor, which are mainly used in horror films. As the majority of thriller films consist of an action scene, racy music is also used to add to the affect of the action on screen.

Lighting: The use of shadows, mirrors and stairs are also conventions of thriller movies that can possibly be implemented in. a particularly effective elements which we will include in our film, is the shot of an unidentified woman positioned in front of a cyclorama, with the light behind the screen, therefore her face will be shadowed by the light. Here is an example.

Narrative: Thriller films are normally shown from the perspective of two characters; the first being that of the protagonist, which involves the audience in events and creates empathy for the character, and the second, influencing the protagonist in their situations. As thriller films aim to hook the audience, and give them excitement, they often consist mainly of action.

The themes of thriller films are commonly based around societes current fears and worries. They may be isolation, entrapment, murder, pain or terrorism etc, although pain and murder are usually more associated with the horror genre.

Iconography: Shadows, street lamps, confined spaces, running water, bars on windows, Cities/ Town, foreboding trees, night-light.

Setting – The locations isn’t necessarely in a specific area in a thriller film, as they can take place in urban areas, isolated surbuban settings, and cities or quiet country villages.

Mise-en-scene – Mise-en-scene is essiential in showing the genre of a film. Thriller films ususally consist of dim lighting to hide parts of a character, suggesting that they are mysterious, large threatening weapons for props e.g. large knives, guns etc. Camera shots are normally point of view shots, frames within frames, or close ups. The camera movement are often tracking shots, and panning to show a wider range of landscape. Elliptical editing is also used to show the passage of time between shots, but is also used to enhance the audiences anticipation whilst watching the film. Colours are also used to signify different emotions such as red which connates blood or danger, and blue connoting a cool feeling, further reflecting mystery or death. These colours can be shown through props and costume, but also through framing.