Thriller Conventions

Sub-genres

Examples of Thriller sub-genre:

Sub-genre	Example	Convention
Action	Speed	Explosions, violence
Crime	The Silence of the Lambs	Sometimes from P.O.V of criminal, sometimes from P.O.V of protagonist working against them
Psychological	The Sixth Sense	Conflict is mental, not so much physical. Situation could damage sanity of protagonist
Conspiracy	FlightPlan	Confronting a powerful organisation
Disaster	Poseidon	Enormous disaster takes place
Eco	The Day After Tomorrow	Protagonist has to stop a threat to the environment
Legal	Cape Fear	Based in courtroom, lawyers
Medical	Contagion	A virus spreads
Mystery	Fight Club	Someone or something has to be found
Political	The Constant Gardener	Government is involved
Religious	The Da Vinci Code	Myths, religion, religious objects
Romantic	True Romance	A relationship grows between two of the leading characters
Spy	Skyfall	Adventures involving agents, gadgets
Supernatural	Inception	Psychic skills, good vs. evil, ghosts, vampires
Sci-fi	Alien	Aliens, perhaps imaginary ideas, futuristic
Dystopian	Rosemary’s Baby	Rebellion, oppression, an environment or situation similar to hell, post-apocalypse for example

 

Camera Work

Establishing shot-location

Mid-shot- characterisation

Close-ups- Disorientation/claustrophobia

Composition and framing:

Key props, framing creates suspense

 

Use of camera movement/angles:

High/low angle shots to show power/status

Use of perspective- 1^st/3^rd person:

1^st person=empathy

Editing

Dual narrative- shows complex narrative/ tension

as story converges. Editing- straight cuts- pace=tension.

Use of flashbacks.

Thriller Opening Conventions

Drama: Tension

Use of music

Titles- name of film-actors/directors; company name

Confusing questions

One significant event  

 

 

Sound

Use ambient sounds- music/noises- fade in/out= atmosphere.

Diegetic/non-diegetic.

Voice over to create back story

Avoid dialogue

 

 

 

Mise-en-scene

Setting- realistic, isolated

Costume- realism

Weapons-realism, everyday items

Lighting- Shadows etc.

Actors- males-Protagonists/Antagonist

 

 

Narrative

Disorientating- Starting halfway through an event- audience questions

Chronological?- flashbacks/forward