2. What is a thriller film?
• Thriller is a genre of film that uses:
suspense, tension and excitement as the
main elements.
• Some subgenres of thrillers are: mystery,
crime and psychological thrillers.
3. Purpose
• A thriller is a film that provides thrills for the audience, it
should keep the audience engaged and on the edge of
their seats. The plot normally builds towards some sort
of climax.
• The tension usually comes when a character is placed in
a situation of mystery, or a trap which escaping may be
impossible.
• The main character is unaware they are going to be in a
situation which involves danger and sometimes death.
• The audience sometimes can empathize with the victim,
putting themselves in the characters shoes.
4. Setting
• The settings can vary between all the
different narratives. This means that when
it comes to deciding on where to set the
film, there is a lot of choice.
• However, normally the character is
isolated.
• Good examples of this is Jurassic Park as
it takes place in a jungle which seems to
never end.
5. • Thrillers will create a sense of suspense, tension
and uncertainty. They will do this by using
different lighting, music, shot types etc..
• Using there is a crime in the narrative or story
line of a thriller, it will keep the audience
captivated in the film and therefore prevent the
film from becoming boring as there will be
something out of the ordinary.
• Thrillers are usually made up of a complex
narrative, with false paths, clues and resolutions.
This will have an effect of leaving a strong
enigma by keeping the audience questioning the
film and keeping their full attention by having
them trying to solve the questions.
6. Plot
• A protagonist who is always empowered.
All thrillers have a protagonist against a
antagonist at some point in the thriller both
characters will meet and this is where the
action tends to happen. The plot usually
builds towards a climax.
7. Mis en scene
• Mis en scene is important in a thriller and
needs to be used appropriately. For
example if the character is upset put them
in a sad environments e.g. low key
lighting, slow beat music. On the other
hand if the character is happy but them in
an environment with has upbeat music,
bright lights and a cheerful scene.
8. Camera
In thrillers the main camera shots used are
close up of characters and tension is built
up the most within them as thrillers contain
a lot of tension building and tracking shots
are used to show the scene and where
people are going.
9. Stereotypical character roles:
• Ordinary citizens (usually hero)
• Innocent victims
• Criminals
• Stalkers
• Assassins
• Characters with dark pasts
• Psychotic individuals
• Police
• People involved in twisted relationships
• Cash cow (individual with a lot of money)
10. Stereotypical character roles:
• Ordinary citizens (usually hero)
• Innocent victims
• Criminals
• Stalkers
• Assassins
• Characters with dark pasts
• Psychotic individuals
• Police
• People involved in twisted relationships
• Cash cow (individual with a lot of money)
