Conventions of theThriller Genre

Narrative

The General story revolves around a mystery or investigation in which the main Protagonist is drawn into.

Sticking to stereotypes the Protagonist is the only one to solve the mystery.

The Protagonist and Antagonist will sometimes share some character traits will in some examples which could ultimately become the climax of the piece.

An example of this is ‘Seven’ , Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt use each others traits to solve a mystery.

Location

Thriller films are usually filmed in a built up Urban cityscape Eg. The Dark Knight.

Cities are highly populated, which highlights the fact that you don’t know who anybody is which increases the mystery

surrounding people as a whole.

Representations

The Genre will usually give insights into different institutions in Society …

Law and Order

Crime Organizations

Government

Age and Class

Civilians

Camerawork

The majority of the shots are either Tracking shots or Pans

When the action is about to come into place zooming is used to intensify the rising tension.

Long shots are also used to highlight the location this allows the audience to comply evidence against the mystery.

Close ups play a part in telling the story they are generally used to show the emotion on the characters faces.

The camera usually has low levels of framing to emphasize the suspense.

Lighting

The lighting in thriller films is usually low key to help reiterate the atmosphere of the scene. It also

usually gives the film a darker narrative.

Openings

Jump cuts are more commonly used in the openings of Thriller films, the rate of the cuts will gradually build up to reach the climax of the opening scene.

Establishing shots will generally be used to give the audience an insight into where the action takes place.

The framing of the shots are usually inaccurate by a margin, its shows the disorientation of the action.

Titles and Soundtrack help create the suspense through the font or tone.

The End.