Thriller Genre research

1. THRILLER GENRE
BY JODIE TURINI

2. WHAT IS A THRILLER?
Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television that uses suspense, tension, and
excitement as its main elements. Thrillers influence the viewer's moods, giving them a high
level of anticipation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be
adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.
THEMES OF THRILLERS -
• Conspiracy
• Suspense
• Anticipation
• Supernatural
• Murder mysteries
• Terrorism
• Crime
• Pursuit
• Romance
• Mind Puzzles
• Assassination
• Investigations
• Chase
• Spies

3. GONE GIRL

4. MISE EN SCENE
Amy's character is seen to be dressed
fashionable, with well kept hair, a toned
figure and wearing minimal make up.
Then once she leaves town her
appearance changes she no longer takes
pride in her appearance she becomes
chubby, badly dressed, no make up and
wearing glasses.
The contrast in costume and appearance
makes her unrecognisable.
The use of props such as the enveloped clues
left behind from Amy are crucial in the film.
The police investigation relied on where and
what the clues led them to for evidence.
The young girl Andi, who Nick was having
an affair with came to the house dressed in
provocative attire, suggesting the two
would later sleep together.
The setting of the film is in a
small town in America, the size
of the town is important to the
film, as when Nick is seen in a
bad light on TV the whole town
turn against him.

5. CAMERA
FLASHBACKS
Throughout the entire film we are
shown flashback after flashback so
that the audience can piece
together what has happened to
Amy.
Early in the film we see flashbacks
of the couple when their
relationship was healthy. As the
film progresses the flashbacks
beyond darker.
The opening scene to the film is the same
scene that the film ends with. We are
shown the last scene at the start to
encourage speculation among the audience.
From the very beginning the audience can
sense there is something off about their
relationship.
Simple tracking movements are used to
follow the characters in the film. Close ups
are often used to show the emotional state
of the characters at different times.
An example of a close up of is Amy faces
when she is lying about what happened to
her, she appears unfazed. This reveals that
her characters personality does not see
what she has done as being wrong.

6. SOUND
• As soon as the first credits appear soft music
begins to play into the background.
The music then fades slightly and we are presented
with a scene where Nick is stroking Amy's head.
The scene fades out and the music comes back in
as the main characters name slide in and out of the
screen followed by the title.
• During some flashbacks there is a voiceover from
Amy of her thoughts and feelings at certain times.
Also, with each flashback wary music is quietly
played in the background constantly creating an
uneasy atmosphere.
• Sound effects of birds are used throughout the film to signal
another day since Amy has gone missing.
• When Amy is calling a friend at a time of need the telephone
call is muted to the audience, in replace we hear tension
building music, leaving us wondering who is on the other end
of the phone.
• Sound is also used to signal the police cars are coming
through the use of sirens and the sound of cameras taking
pictures to show the media are not leaving the house.
• In the climaxing scene where Amy commits murder a loud
drum sound is played in the lead up to the moment she slits
his throat. After the music fades out and is replaced by Amy's
heavy breathing.

7. EDITING
The director includes a series of cross cutting
as this builds up suspense which if crucial.
An example of this is a turning point in the film
when the police find a hidden diary. Then we
see a scene where Nick is on to something, for
the next minute we are shown snippets of
each scene back to up until they both find
something.
Montage editing is also used in the
film, specifically when Amy is about
to kill. This technique is used by
gathering several short cuts and
putting them together to condense
time, space and information.
This gives the audience a strong
feeling on uneasiness and puts them
on the edges of their seats awaiting
for what is going to happen.
Quick shots are used throughout
the film to increase the feeling of
suspense and tension within the
audience, leaving they unsure if
Amy will strike again or not.
Also, jump cutting is used to add
information that the audience may
not be aware of but is essential to
the film.

8. LUCY

9. MISE EN SCENE
The police and Chinese mob all carry
guns as props suggesting there will be a
lot of killing and violence taking place.
The business men who deal with the
transportation of the drugs are always
dressed in suits, looking well groomed.
The setting begins in China and then
changes to Rome, we can see this by the
different accents and different landscapes
shown.
The scientists who will be
experimenting on Lucy are dressed
in white lab coats, wearing glasses
and in a professor's room.
Once the drugs take over Lucy's
body her character changes, she
doesn't react as other humans do,
she behaves abnormally and has
powers.
The professor called to help Lucy
dresses in a suit always and speaks
with a loud and clearly projected
voice as a professor would.

10. CAMERA
Throughout the film we are
constantly shown close ups of Lucy's
face to see how she is reacting the
different situations.
Here is an example of Lucy being
upset while on the phone to her
mother.
There are also close up where the
director wants the audience to focus
on, for example when they remove
the drugs and wash the blood of
them in the hospital.
They also use a bird eyes view approach
when showing the mass of dead bodies
lying on the floor while the Chinese man
disregards them and leaves.
High angle shots are also used
especially when they police cars crash
and the vehicles go flying over the
market.
Long shots are also used when they are
driving in the car and they park up
outside of the hospital, we see the car
from a distance away with the sign of
the hospital.
Paning is used in the film to show different
landscapes, facial expressions of crowds,
cars driving and to show Lucy's extended
vision.

11. SOUND
• The film opens with music playing just loud enough
for the audience to hear, then the credits start
appearing followed by the title.
• The first scene we see an ape drinking from a river,
his slurps are the only sound we hear followed by
that of a few birds chirping.
• Then we have a voiceover of the main character
explaining how overtime humans are destroying
earth.
• The sounds of cars speeding, people talking,
animals making sounds and other everyday sounds
are sped up and made louder to add emphasis.
• When Lucy is blindfolded and
taken in a car the sound is
focused on her heavy
breathing and we hear her
talking to herself in her head,
which only the audience can
hear as well as the faint sound
of traffic in the background
As the drugs are entering Lucy's
body we have sound effects that
suggest the chemicals are rushing
round her body at high speeds,
taking over her blood and mind.
In the scene where Lucy awakes
it is silence and stays quiet apart
from some dialogue. Once Amy
hits the man action, tension
building music is played.

12. EDITING
Special effects are used throughout the
film, as it has supernatural elements in it.
An example of this is when Lucy visits her
friend and her body lights up under her
touch, as well as the computer working at
an unbelievable speed as she gathers
information.
Shot reverse shot is also used a lot in the
film during conversations with
characters, this is also part of continuity
editing, ensuring the film is realistic.
An example of this is Lucy faced on with
the Chinese mob, pointing their guns at
her.
Slow motion is used during one of the
main action scenes, where Lucy storms
in firing shots at all the men.
Also, jump cutting is used to add
suspense and tension. An example is
when they are racing in the police car,
we see several jump cuts of them
dodging traffic and people they cross
their paths.
Also, special effects are used when
Lucy's body reacts to the drugs and her
face begins melting away.
Through editing scenes were
added in which we see the
drugs entering Lucy's body and
running through her blood.

13. DIVERGENT

14. MISE EN SCENE
Another prop is the leaderboard this
is referred to constantly throughout
the film and it is Tris's aim to make
the top section.
The use pf costumes is very important in
this film as the 5 different types of people
have their own unique clothing.
At the beginning Tris is dressed in plain
loose fitted grey clothing as she is part of
Abnegation. This is in contrast to other
fractions who wear tight leather or suits.
Dauntless have loud, outgoing, fast,
energetic personalities, they stand
out from everyone else.
Another prop used is the shot of
liquid each person has to drink to
determine where they belong.
The use of props is a crucial when the
young people choose their factions.
They have 5 different pots symbolizing
each faction, they have to put their
blood where they wish to stay.
The setting where the new
Dauntless crew will stay in simple,
plain and appears unpleasant
which is the effect they desire.

15. CAMERA
Close ups are constantly being used
in the film to show the emotions of
the characters, their fears and anger.
There are also close up where the
director wants the audience to focus on,
for example when Tris is holding her hand
over the Abnegation pot, the audience
are wondering whether she will choose
them or not.
Also, high angle birds eye view shots are
used when Tris is free falling into the
Dauntless headquarters.
High angle shots are used as a sign of
power, for example when Four is
annoyed he talks down on the girl to
intimidate her.
Long shots are used when the director
wants to show large groups of people
or places or to show the distance they
need to travel.
Panning is used in the film to show
different landscapes. For example in the
opening sequence we see panning and long
shots of the city where they live.

16. SOUND
• The film opens with soft music playing as
the production company passes by on the
screen and then the title. The music
continues play and then begins fading out
as we hear the sound of people talking
followed by a voiceover of the main
character.
• Certain sounds are emphasises,
for example the cheering of
dauntless when Tris chooses
them and then the sobbing of her
mother.
Music is constantly used during most
scenes to create an atmosphere and to
build up suspense and tension.
An effective example is when Tris almost
doesn't jump in time to get on the train.
The dialogue varies with different
fractions. Dauntless can appear
rude and argumentative, whereas
Adnegation are constantly nice
and polite.
The volume in which the characters
talk also varies. In a confidential
conversation in the tattoo shop,
quiet music is played under their
whisphers to each other.
Sound effects are added during the
film in situations like: the dog attack,
fight scenes, screams, cheering and
gun shots.

17. EDITING
Special effects are used when each person
drink the fluid and has to find an escape
from their situation. Anything can happen
so they have to edit to make it look
realistic.
Shot reverse shot is also used a lot in the
film during conversations with
characters, this is also part of continuity
editing, ensuring the film is realistic.
An example of this is when Four is
making Tris take the test and she
questions him.
Also, jump cutting is used to add
suspense and tension. An example is
when Four is throwing the knives
around Tris' body, the shots are cut
from Four to Tris to the knife then
back to Tris all in a matter of seconds.
Sound effects are added, for example
the sound of Four flicking the knife in his
hand is made louder and clearer so that
the audience focus on the sharpness of
the blade.
Montage editing is use to condense a
series Dauntless training into a few
minutes. From this the audience
knows a lot of training took place
without have to watch large clips of
it.