1. Thriller convention
After researching further, I found some more thriller conventions, which are
shown below:
Usually non-diegetic music is used in the beginning of the movie e.g. seven, vertigo,
the inside man etc.
The opening titles, editing cuts are quick e.g se7en.
The use of colour suggests the themes of the film e.g. red can represent
murder/danger.
A crime usually takes place in the narrative.
Enigmas, Cliff hangers and Red Herrings are used to create more suspense for the
audience.
The film usually starts from the point of view of the protagonist or antagonist.
The antagonist and protagonist are usually binary of opposition, e.g. In Hannibal there
was an inspector and a serial killer.
Usually identity is questioned e.g North by North West, Bourne Identity etc.
Usually an innocent protagonist is drawn into a violent, criminal world by the
antagonist, or police to go undercover and tackle the evil schemes of the protagonist.
The protagonist is empowered by the antagonist with weapons and his henchmen - hit
man, gangsters etc.
Voyeurism - watching something when your not supposed to.
Protagonist has a weakness which the antagonist takes the advantage of.
Complex dilemma.
Dramatic irony.
There is a mystery.
The editing is quick during the action but slow during the suspense of the film.
The music fits with the scene, in action thriller scenes the music would be upbeat but
in suspense scenes the music will be slow and deep.
Most people ask what are the difference between a murder mystery and a thriller, in a thriller
you mostly know who the antagonist is, and you have to tackle obstacles to take him down.
But in a murder mystery you do not know who the killer is until the protagonist unravels it.
The narrative of a thriller goes through 4 steps.
In the beginning of a thriller everything is Equilibrium - everything is normal and balanced,
then a Disequilibrium occurs - events or actions that occur, to disrupt the balance and
normality. Then a Resolution takes place - the problem is solved. Finally a new Equilibrium
is established - where everything is normal and balanced again but it is different from the
Equilibrium in the beginning.
In North By North West, Equilibrium - Thornhill's life is balanced and normal,
Disequilibrium- he is mistaken for his identity, Resolution - he saves Eve, New Equilibrium -
his life is normal and balanced but is married to Eve.