2. This task is to look at representations used in Thriller films and to use the information I
gather in future works and productions. Representation is the portrayal of a person,
object or situation that the media creates. I will be looking at clips of thriller films and
will be paying close attention to the camera work, editing, sound, Mise en scene and
stereotypes to figure out the conventions of these types of media. I need to know
these conventions and representations for future reference when I create my Thriller
opening sequence. By knowing the conventional portrayals I will be able to use the
correct symbols and signs to connote the meaning of the object/person when the
time comes.
I hope to find some interesting representations that will give me ideas for my own as I
plan my opening sequence. I also hope to see which conventions are used in these
types of films so I can decide which I would like to repeat and those that I would like to
challenge as in the words of Neale is the way of success with a genre. I will use this
information by picking out certain conventions that I would put my spin on things but
I would also pick the ones that I would like to change to add a bit of difference and
variety to the already growing genre.
3. Costume - She is in quite ordinary
clothing with a white vest top.
This could represent the
innocence of conventional
female roles in Thrillers. Her hair
is also messed up showing that
she could have been previously in
a struggle.
Props -The fact she is tied
up shows she is a damsel in
distress which is
conventional in female roles
in the genre.
Facial Expressions -The scared look on
her face shows that she is the victim in
this particular scene, following the
conventions of a Thriller Film
Lighting –The lighting in this
scene highlights her but casts
shadows in the background,
giving the impression that
she’s the protagonist in an evil
location.
Camera Angles –The angle used is a long shot to show us her
predicament, this could also be seen as a low angled shot which
usually shows strength and intimidation which is a contrast to
her current situation which shows her as weak. Throughout the
film, there are a lot of close-ups to show the facial expressions of
the characters. High angled shots are also commonly used to
make her seem weak and fragile
4. Lighting –There is a lot of low
key lighting that casts
shadows across his face, giving
us the impression that he is a
mysterious and possibly
dangerous character.
Costume – He is currently in a
dark shirt and throughout the
film he is often seen in dark
clothing. This is a contrast to
Elissa’s characters as darkness
usually represents the
antagonist of the film.
Camera Angles – This is a low
angled shot which is
conventionally used for the villain
or the antagonistic sidekick of the
film as it shows intimidation and
strength. It is also a close up
which is typically used to show us
a character’s facial expression so
we get an insight in their
emotions. These are conventional
in the horror genre.
Facial Expressions – In this
shot he has a stern but also
scared look which both makes
him looks strong but
vulnerable at the same time.
His vulnerability contradicts
the conventional image of a
male character but the
strength portrays it.
5. ELISSA
Elissa is constantly shown as a
conventional female role as
throughout the film she is seen
in pale colours and is usually lit
up, showing her innocence. She
is also portrayed as the victim
through her facial expressions
and camera angles.
She is very pretty and shows
some skin which follows Laura
Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory. All
of these combined give her the
conventions of a typical female
character in the Thriller Genre.
RYAN
Ryan shows both signs of a
conventional male role but also
challenges some of the stereotypes
involved in a Thriller genre. He is
constantly shown in dark colours
giving him a more dangerous edge
than is necessary in a male lead but
he also shows strength which is
conventional in a male Thriller
character. In some scenes he also
seems sad or scared which
challenges the stereotypical strength
that the man must have in these
types of films. The camera angles
used show him as strong and
intimidating, these combined make
an interesting character profile which
is a bit conventional in a Thriller
Genre
6. Lighting –There is natural
lighting, giving the impression
that this character is an
protagonist but this challenges
the conventions of the Thriller
genre.
Facial Expressions – He has
quite a stern look on his face
that makes him seem strong
which is a conventional virtue
in a male lead.
Props –The weapon on the
table is a conventional feature
when it comes to male
characters in this genre as they
are meant to be the
protectors.
Costume – He is currently in a
dark shirt and jacket and is often
seen in dark but casual clothing.
This challenges the conventions
of a protagonist as darkness
usually represents the
antagonist.
Camera Angles – This is a low-angled shot which is
conventionally used with the male character or the antagonist as
it makes the person in the frame seem strong and/or
intimidating to both the audience and other characters. It could
also be classified as a long shot which has been used to show us
the props on the table as well as his reaction to them.
7. Lighting –There is natural
lighting in the majority of the
scenes that she appears in.
This shows that she is most
probably a protagonist of the
film.
Costume – She is wearing a
pale top which could
symbolize innocence which is
conventional in the female
character of Thriller films.
She is also showing skin in
this shot. Throughout the
rest of the film she can be
seen in casual dress.
Props –The pom-poms are
stereotypical for a preppy
female who is conventionally a
victim but the fact that she is
the female protagonist is
challenging to the conventions
of a Thriller film.
Camera Angles – This is a long
shot which is used to show us
her attire and face, giving us an
idea of her everyday life. This is
one of the less conventional
shots but it is still used often.
8. NATHAN
Nathan is the conventional male
lead in the Thriller genre. His
facial expressions and the camera
angles show strength and
determination which are key
characteristics in this type of role.
However his costume is quite
dark which is usual for the
antagonist but not for the
protagonist so this shows
examples of Neale’s theory that
some conventions should be
repeated and others challenged.
KAREN
Karen is the conventional female
role in a Thriller film, she is often
seen in pale clothes which would
show her innocence which is a
conventional trait in this kind of
role. She is also very pretty which
follows Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory
as that states that pretty girls are
only there for male amusement.
Also the fact that there is natural
lighting surrounding her shows that
she is a protagonist and is quite soft
in character which is a trait in the
female role of Thriller Films.
9. Lighting –There is low key
lighting in this shot, casting
shadows across his face. This
conventionally represents
the antagonist of the film.
Body Language – In this shot
he is hunched over this could
represent pain or
intimidation on another
character. A stereotypical
villain is normally hunched
over or intimidating to
smaller and weaker
characters.
Facial Expressions –
Throughout the film he is
facing insanity and that
shows in his face, especially
in this shot. He seems both in
pain and angry which could
represent him trying to fight
the crazy but could also show
that he is on the breaking
point.
Costume – He is dark
clothing which is
conventional for the
antagonist in Thriller films
because the stereotype for
those in dark clothes is
usually that they are
dangerous.
Camera Angles –This is a close up which
is a conventional for Thriller films as they
are used to show the emotions felt by
the characters whether it be fear or
intimidation.
10. Lighting –There is a bit of
high key lighting to show
that she is the protagonist of
the film as it highlights her
face, this is a conventional
feature of Thrillers.
Props –The character herself
is holding a knife which
shows she is being attacked
and wants to defend herself.
The axe is also visible, letting
us know that she is the victim
in the situation instead of the
attacker.
Facial Expressions –You can
tell she is the victim because
of her shocked expression
and her wide eyes. Wide eyes
are stereotypically related to
fear, shock or surprise.
Costume – In this shot she is
in her pyjamas showing that
she was caught at a
vulnerable moment as she
was asleep when her attacker
came. Throughout the rest of
the film she can usually be
found in at least one bit of
pale clothing which could
represent her innocence.
Sound/ Dialogue – Most of
her dialogue is either worried
words or screams which are
conventional for the victims
of Thrillers.
Camera Angles – This is a medium shot
which is normally used to show us the
attire of the character and their
emotions.
11. JACK
Jack is the stereotypical
antagonist in Thriller films. He is
often seen in dark clothes with a
crazy gleam in his eyes. The
shots to show him are usually
either low angled shots or close
ups which are conventionally
used for this type of character in
this genre. Also the lighting used
to show his character is almost
always low key which represents
evil and darkness, showing the
audience that he is the villain of
the tale.
WENDY
Wendy is the stereotypical
victim in this type of film. She is
almost always in pale clothes
showing her innocence and is
often found screaming or
yelling. Her voice is also soft
showing that she is no danger.
The lighting used to highlight
her shows that she is either the
victim or the protagonist as it is
either high key or natural.
