Codes and conventions of the thriller genre by Shania Foster

1. Codes and Conventions of the
thriller genre
By Shania foster

2. Key conventions of a thrillerKey conventions of a thriller
Shadows and blurry figures
Rising music to build tension
Tilted Shots
Black and white camera shots
Bring feelings of suspense
Montage of shots
Quick shots

3. CinematographyCinematography
Thriller films tend to use a lot of close ups of the main
character to allow the audience to familiarise
themselves with the character and to pick up on
emotions of the character. In comparison the
antagonistic character isn’t shown often and are likely to
be seen through silhouettes or deep focus shots ,
because directors want to cover their identity. Hiding
this identify can create suspense , as audiences are likely
to question who they are.
Additionally high and low angle shots are frequently used
to show status between characters
Moreover zooms in and out are used to release tension and
then bring it back

4. EditingEditing
A lot of jump cuts are used in thrillers to help
engage the audience as it helps the tension of
the film rise to its climax
Also quick shots are often used to create
suspense
Moreover in psychological thrillers flashbacks are
used to help explain to the audience why some
characters act the way they do.
Futhermore slow motion shots tend to be used
during the climax to help prolong key scenes

5. Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene
• Low key lighting is often used to reflect the
negative atmosphere of the film
• The film is usually black and white to give off
an eerie feel
• The main character tends to wear casual
clothes to look normal , whereas the
antagonist character is likely to be wearing
dark clothes to help them appear
unnoticeable

6. SoundSound
Diegetic sounds tend to be used , in particular
sounds of someone breathing to help the
audience feel as if they are in the scene. They
are also used to make the film more realistic
As the climax is approaching fast paced music
tends to be used to help grab the audiences
attention and makes them wonder what’s
going to happen next

7. Examples of thriller films