Thriller films aim to keep audiences on the edge of their seats through anticipation and suspense. Low-key lighting, shadows, mirrors, and flashbacks are used to build tension, mystery, and guide audience attention. Sound effects and diegetic/non-diegetic sounds add atmosphere and meaning. Black and white can set time periods and accentuate dark, eerie tones through shadows and suspense. These techniques reveal character traits, create uncertainty, and intrigue audiences to satisfy their curiosity.

1. Codes &
Conventions
GEORGE DALY

2. WHAT IS A THRILLER FILM?
 Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense.
 The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their
seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a
mission, or a mystery.

3. LOW LIGHTING
 Low-key lighting is a lighting effect that uses a hard light source to
enhance shadows in your scene. Unlike high-key lighting (in which
shadows are minimized).
 Low-key lighting is typically used when the director wants to either isolate
a subject or convey drama. Just because a scene is shot with low-key
lighting doesn’t necessarily mean it must be scary, but, if you want your
audience to be uneasy, low-key lighting is a great place to start. low-key
lighting helps to minimize distractions in your frame, so it really helps to
guide your audiences eyes where you want them to be.
This is an example of low lighting in
the film Inception (2010) which is used
to create tension and mystery for the
audience. The use of low lighting also
causes suspense as the character
doesn't know what's going to happen
next, which makes it even more
interesting for the audience.
Inception (2010)

4. MIRRORS
 Mirrors in Films, are often used to reveal the different traits and personality
of a particular character. This is used for the audience to gain a better
understanding of that character.
 Mirrors also create a sense of claustrophobia within the audience, due to
tension it builds.
The use of mirrors becomes more
significant in the shining goes on, which is
a reminder that reality to slipping away
and the uncertain is taking over. Because
most of the film is not filtered through a
mirror, the audience is left to sift through
the fantasy, to find their way through the
maze in order to satisfy their curiosity
about what happened to the Torrance
family at The Overlook hotel.
The shining (1980)

5. SHADOWS
 Shadows is used to create uncertainty within the scene and film for the
audience. Shadows also help identify the film as a thriller film for the
audience, because of the shadows links to ambiguity and mystery.
 Shadows often create an inner image and identify of a particular character,
adding tension and elements of eeriness to the film.
Shadows are used in this film
to show the characters
anonymity within the film and
also connotes the idea of
darkness, which helps add
tension to the scene and
between audience and film.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: GAME OF SHADDOWS (2010)

6. FLASHBACKS
 Flashbacks contribute to a sense of time and space orientation in a thriller
which help bemuse the audience.
 The majority of flashbacks in thriller films, display the past of a character
which is affective, as it helps provide the audience an understanding of a
character in greater detail.
 The use of flashbacks in a thriller film, also make the film more exciting and
intriguing for the audience to watch, as it is a unique and obtrusive editing
technique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THqi-pLvyB8
MEMENTO (2001)

7. SOUND
 Sound effects can be used to add mood or atmosphere to a lm by
creating a soundscape that accents or adds another layer of meaning to
the images on the screen.
 Pitch, tempo, and volume of the sound may be altered also ,to indicate
how the filmmaker expects the audience to respond to a given noise.
 Non Diegetic Sound - Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen
nor has been implied to be present in the action
 Diegetic Sound - Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose
source is implied to be present by the action of the film

8. BLACK & WHITE
 Black and white is a thriller convention because it accentuate the use of
shadows and can often be dark and eerie, as well as suspense.
 Black and white can also determine the time period of when the film is set,
giving the audience a clearer understanding of the film itself.
The Artist (2011)
The use of Black and White in this
film helps gives the impression of
that this film is of a specific time
period which gives the audience a
clear understanding of the film.

9. Evaluation
 Having completed this task, I have learn the key components and elements
from a thriller film, therefore making it easier for me when creating my
opening sequence to make it the best possible.
 Flashbacks are instrumental when forming an opening sequence, as they
add identity to characters especially the protagonist, as it creates a clearer
understanding for the audience
 The theme would be a murder
 I would like to include shadows as they add elements of eeriness and
tension to the film in a sufficient way