3. Does my thriller follow conventions of a thriller?
• I used low-key lighting
during most of the scenes
including the murder scene
and the antagonists return
scene which is conventional
to the thriller genre as it is
expected for the lighting to
reflect the dark atmosphere
and foreshadow the frightful
events to come.
• My chosen characters are also
conventional to the thriller genre as I have
a protagonist, antagonist and an anti hero.
Although my antagonist and anti hero are
females which may slightly challenge
thriller conventions as it is more likely for
these characters to be taken on by males,
existing thrillers do consist of female anti
hero's and antagonists. My female
characters still behave conventionally as
the anti hero commits a murder and the
antagonist is seen to take revenge.
Therefore, my chosen characters are
conventional to the thriller genre.
Protagonist
• The settings used throughout my
thriller are conventional to the thriller
genre as I used a small white room
reflecting a mental institution, quiet
roads for the affair and murder scene
and a white room reflecting a
professors office.
Anti Hero
Antagonist
Lighting Characters Setting
4. In the thriller film ‘The Grudge’ the antagonist is a young
female who has pale skin and wears a white dress
contrasting with her long, dark hair covering her face. She is
conventional to the thriller genre as she commits various
murders making her frightening and making the audience
perceive her as a dominating character. In my thriller the
antagonist is also a young female, and she supports these
conventions through her appearance of a white dress and
long dark hair. By following these conventions my antagonist
received the same reaction from the audience as she evoked
fear and mystery.
In the thriller film ‘Lucy’ the protagonist ‘is a middle aged
male who is seen to take on the role of a professor.
Professor Samual Norman wears a dark suit with a tie
making him look professional and determined. He is seen
to support the anti hero using his knowledge and
profession. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is
expected for the protagonist to look dominant and act
confidently making the audience hopeful and trusting the
protagonist to defeat the antagonist. This can be compared
to my thriller as my protagonist is also seen to wear a suit
supported by a white lab coat. He is also perceived to help
the anti hero by trying to understand her mental state.
Insanity The Grudge
Lucy
Insanity
5. In ‘The Exorcist ’, most of the scenes consist of low lighting, for example, when the antagonist is
locked in the
room and is seen to act aggressively. The lighting is conventional as it is expected for it to reflect
her state of
mind and her behaviour which is aggressive and dangerous. Similarly, in my thriller when the anti
hero is
acting mad there is also low lighting used which is conventional to the thriller genre.
In ‘Se7en’ the setting in which the anti hero shoots the antagonist is a suburban, outside location
which is
conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for murders to take place away from people and
places to
prevent the individual from escaping or the murderer being identified. In my thriller, the setting
where the
murder takes place was also an isolated road which was used to prevent the anti hero from being
caught,
which is conventional to the thriller genre.
Setting:
Iconography:
Low-key lighting:
6. I ensured that my thriller was conventional to the genreas I followed the generic
conventions and the presentation of the micro elements and Mise En Scene I
included.
I ensured I used various shot sizes, movements and angles that reflected the
character and the atmosphere, for example, before the anti hero shot the antagonist I
captured a low angle of the anti hero making her look deceiving and capable of
danger. I also used a high angle shot on the anti hero during the flashback pregnancy
scene portraying her vulnerability at the decisions she may have to make.
Furthermore, I used close-ups and mid shots of the anti hero allowing the audience to
see her facial expressions and emotions clearlyunderstanding her immediate mood
changes. On the other hand, I usedlong shots and high angles on the protagonist
allowing the audience to understand his positive intentions and caring persona.
Finally, I used a panning shot on the antagonists arrival placing the camera at her feet
and moving upwards which created tension and suspense for the audience who were
able to predict the outcome.
Cinematography
7. I followed generic conventions as my editing was conventional to the thriller genre as…
I used slow editing during the build up towards the final scene before antagonist entered the
room
heightening the tension and suspense for the audience who were unaware of what to expect.This
is
Conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for slow editing to be used before something
happens
to increase the fear and evoke emotion from the audience. Slow editing is evident in ‘ I spit on
your grave’ when the antagonists talk to the victim before kidnapping her which takes place at a
normal pace, however, creating suspense.
I have used fast editing when the anti hero is acting mad in order to reflect her mind set and
educate the
audience about her illness. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for fast
editing to be
used during intense and dramatic scenes
I used a shot reaction shot when the anti-hero holds a gun to the antagonist, their individual
8.
9.
10. Conventional iconography found in thriller films consist of knives, guns and blood as they add
fear for the audience and are responsible for the deaths that occur. Similarly, in my thriller, the
iconography used includes a gun, a laptop and a rose which uses the conventions of a thriller film
.
The use of a gun is used by the anti hero to kill the antagonist while the rose is given to the anti
hero from her lover. A gun and a rose are symbolic of danger and death as a gun is conventionally
used to kill people and although a rose has positive connotations of love which reflects the
relationship between the anti-hero and her lover, the colour red also supports the negative
connotations of danger and death.
The laptop is used by the protagonist to observe the anti-hero’s behaviour which is conventional
to the
thriller genre as it is a source used to collect data or information.
11. In a thriller film it is conventional for low lighting to be used reflecting the dark events
that occur and the negative impact they will have. It is also conventional for dark
colours such as black, grey and reds to be used.
In my thriller film, low lighting is evident in most of the scenes, including when the anti
hero
murders the antagonist and when the antagonist returns to seek revenge from the anti
hero. This
is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for low lighting to be used during
murder
scenes and when something g bad is going to happen as it increases the tension and
suspense
and adds to the excitement for the audience.
Dark colours are also used throughout my thriller, for example, black and grey are used
on the
anti hero to symbolise her persona and her past, and is also used during the flashbacks
12. In a thriller film, it is conventional for the protagonist and victims to be wearing light colours reflecting their
innocent
personas, while the anti hero and antagonist wears dark colours reflecting their dark intensions and personas.
In my thriller film, the protagonist is evidently perceived to be wearing a light coloured suit with a white
lab coat on top promoting his innocence and positive intensions of saving the anti hero from her
psychological state, he also wears glasses promoting his intelligence and has blonde messy hair supporting
the image of a conventional professor. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the
protagonists outfit to determine their positive personality and intensions.
The antagonist wears a white dress which is unconventional as white connotes innocence therefore, in a way it
challenges conventions. However, in this case it suggests that she was innocently killed and is back to seek
revenge. This is supported
by her long, dark hair which promotes danger and the antagonists dark intentions. Therefore, this is
conventional to the
thriller genre as it creates fear for the audience as they cannot determine the outcome of the events.
The anti-hero wears a grey top and cardigan with dark jeans, the use of the colour grey is neutral and suggests
that the anti hero is a victim of her own mind but is capable of murder as a result of her state. The anti hero also
has dark frizzy hair and smudged makeup reflecting her illness and dark persona. This is conventional to the
13. In a thriller, it is conventional for the protagonist to have upright body language and confident facial
expressions making the audience feel confident about the antagonists defeat, it is also conventional for the
antagonist and anti hero to have slouched or upright body language with dark facial expressions making g
them look fearful. Finally, it is conventional for the victim to have slouched body language and a frightened
facial expression making the audience feel sorry for them.
In my thriller, the protagonist is perceived to have an upright posture supported by intrigued and Confused
facial
expressions which highlight his knowledge and suggest his determined to identify the anti hero's state. This
is
conventional to the thriller genre and uses the generic conventions as the protagonist is expected to give the
audience
confidence and look powerful and dominating through his body language and facial expressions.
The antagonist in my thriller is perceived to have a relaxed body language before she catches the anti hero
and her lover having an affair which causes her to react and for her body language to change becoming
weak. However, when she returns she is seen to have a straight posture with her head bent and a sinister
facial expression to support this, this is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the
antagonist to look aggressive and capable of murder causing the audience to feel concerned regarding
others live and safety. The anti hero's body language is also an upright posture and stern facial
14. Existing thriller films are evidently seen to have a 15 age certificate targeting the teenage
audience and older consisting of both females and males. This is conventional to the thriller
genre as it is likely for thriller films to appeal to the young audience as they are more likely to be
able to relate to certain situations such as love and relationships that may be ongoing themes.
The content involved in these thrillers are likely to be the same consisting of mild violence and
swearing which creates a response from the audience without affecting them.
For example:
• The ‘Butterfly Effect’ which is a psychological thriller has a 15 rating due to the violence and
sexual
references that are evident.
• ‘The Grudge’ also has a 15 age rating due to the mild language and sexual references.
As a result of the majority of thrillers having a 15 age certificate, I also decided to make my
thriller a 15 rating due to the themes and content It has which was appropriate for the teenage
audience and appealed to them without causing them harm in any way. My thriller has a lack of
language and sexual references and is therefore, appropriate for a 15 audience.
