Thriller movies aim to create suspense and tension through the battle between a protagonist and antagonist. Characters typically include criminals and victims, with the protagonist seeking to restore order. Camera shots are used close-up to show emotion or hide the antagonist's identity. Sound and music are essential to set mood, using tense or eerie music to make audiences uncomfortable. Editing techniques like flashbacks, quick cuts, and cross-cutting build suspense.
2. What is the thriller genre?
● A thriller usually consists of a battle between the protagonist and antagonist
characters and then their battle/relationship is portrayed throughout the story.
● Thriller movies aim to create suspense, tension and excitement for the audience.
● Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewers mood giving them a heightened level of
anticipation, surprise, anxiety and terror.
3. Characters
In thriller genres characters usually include:
● Criminals, stalkers, assassins, innocent victims (on the run)...
● The protagonist is often a strong individual who seeks to restore the equilibrium
● The antagonist will have a hidden identity that the audience will uncover as the
film progresses
4. Camera shots/movements
● Various uses of close-ups and extreme close-ups of the protagonist character,
often to show their emotion and/or to focus on props to aid narrative
● The shots of the antagonist character will be cut quickly and will aim to hide
their identity
● High and low key shots to show the power between the characters
● Dutch shots will be used to make the audience feel uneasy and build up tension
● Tracking and pan shots are used in thriller movies which creates interest of the
characters
5. Sound
● Music is essential so the audience can understand the mood of the characters
and hint the genre. In a thriller movie the music adds tension and suspense
throughout. It will often start at a slow pace and then build up to make the
shots more dramatic for the audience.
● Eerie or intense music will be played to add tension and suspense and a sense of
uneasiness for the audience, either diegetic or non-diegetic
● High pitched sound is often used as it makes the spectator uncomfortable
● Thrillers often use sound within the dialogue which creates a more direct
tension making it as if they are experiencing the film from the characters POV.
6. Editing
● Flashbacks are often used in thriller movies as it contributes to a sense of time
and space disorientation in a thriller which confuses the audience
● Quick shots and obtrusive editing are used frequently in thriller films to
accentuate the feelings of tension and suspense
● Quicks shots are often used during an important or particular thrilling scene
● Jump cuts and cross cutting are also used to create a build up of suspense
