Thriller Conventions

Conventions of the thriller genre

 

Camera work is huge part of the thriller genre as used effectively it can create the mood for the film. It is used in thrillers to create excitement particularly in action thrillers and suspense in all forms of thriller film. Typical shots in thriller openings consist of mid shots and close ups. These two shots are used to show the emotions, expressions and reactions of key characters. The close up shot can also be used to conceal certain things to create suspense and keep the audience guessing. Close ups can also be used to give a sense of claustrophobia, particularly in action thrillers. The composition and framing of shots is also vital in thriller films to create suspense and tension. The exclusion of objects can also have this effect. Camera angles are crucial in thriller films to show the audience which characters may be powerful and which characters are vulnerable. A low angle shot on a character will give them a sense of power and dominance. A high angle shot on a particular character will show vulnerability as the audience are looking down on them.

 

Editing is a key part of all films and TV and in thriller films it used to great effect to create tension and set the pace of the film. The typical transitions used in a thriller film include dissolves, fades and quick cuts. A dissolve can be used to link events together. Fades to black or white can be used to show flashbacks. A fade to white can also be used to show a death. Quick cuts are predominantly used in chase scenes or fighting scenes to show panic, pace and action. Editing can also be used to structure the narrative of a film. If it is non-chronological it can create tension. A dual narrative can cross cut between a victim and a villain.

 

The opening to a thriller has the same key elements to most films. The titles will show actors, directors and other key information. There will always be a key event in the opening to a thriller and an introduction to a plot. This will make the audience engage with the film and want to watch the rest of the film to see how it pans out. Key characters will also be introduced at this stage.

 

One of the most important components of a thriller is the sound whether it is diegetic or non-diegetic. The non-diegetic sound is used to build the atmosphere of the film. In particularly tense moments of a film a low pitch sound may be used to build suspense among the audience. During climactic scenes high pitch sound will be used to give a sense of the pace and urgency.  In thriller openings there is often no dialogue as the main plot begins after the titles.  

 

Mise en scene is a huge element of thriller films. Thriller settings vary largely between sub-genres. For example, action thrillers will tend to be set in urban areas where more props can be used such as buildings and vehicles. Supernatural thrillers will often be set in rural or woodland areas as those places are associated with scary goings on. Props in thriller openings can usually be a hint towards the plot of the main film. Weapons can be a big giveaway to a plot that involves murder and violence. In most films gender plays a huge role. Often, males are cast as the dominant character, either a hero or a killer. More often and not the female character is a victim or the person that the male hero saves. Costume is also important to the atmosphere of the film. A darker costume can add to a dark atmosphere.

 

It is common for the narrative of a thriller to be based on a revenge story or perhaps a justice theme. The narrative of a thriller could be a dual narrative where the action cross cuts between two characters or scenarios. This could be done to create a psychological effect.