Thriller films aim to keep viewers constantly on edge through suspense. They typically feature a protagonist opposing an antagonist or trying to solve a threatening problem. Cinematography in thrillers uses quick cuts, close-ups, and shots that hide identities to build fear and suspense. Editing relies on rapid cuts between scenes to heighten anxiety about what will happen next. Tension-building non-diegetic music and diegetic sounds also create an atmosphere of fear. Mise-en-scene with low lighting, realistic locations, and costumes further the suspenseful tone. Stereotypical characters include a strong protagonist resolving the threat and a mysterious antagonist revealed at the end.

1. Codes and Conventions of
a Thriller film
By Daisy

2. What is a Thriller film?
A thriller film uses contains suspense, making the
viewers always on edge in order to grip the
audience. The protagonist is usually against the
antagonist or is trying to solve the problem. This
could include an escape, something which is scary to
the audience (paranoia), or solving a problem which
is threating. The audience will usually feel anxious,
scared, or even excitement while watching a film
within the thriller genre. the plot will usually be
relatable so that they feel this could also happen to
them making them fearful and scared as they can
put themselves into their situation.

3. Cinematography
• The shots will often be quick and short to hide
their identities, or long shots showing them far
away (i.e. showing a dark figure)
• Close ups and extreme close ups will be often but
mainly of the protagonist to express to the viewers
their emotions, this is important in thriller films in
order to create a heightened sense of suspense
and fear.

4. Editing
• Rapid editing is a big part of
conventions in thriller films to
heighten fear.
• Jump cuts/cross cutting to make the
audience scared of what the next cut
is going to be and what's going to
happen next which is vital for a
thriller films.

5. sound
• Non diegetic tension building music is
vital in order to create suspense and
fear.
• The music will often start slow and
become more dramatic towards the end
• Music stings may be connected to
characters and danger to heighten
suspense and fear.

6. Mise en scene
• The lighting will often be very low to
hide their identities.
• The location is also vital to make the
audience feel on edge and go with the
plot to make it realistic for the viewers.
• Composition
• Costumes are important to portray the
correct character and make it realistic
for the viewers
• Make up

7. Stereotypical characters
• The protagonist is usually a strong male
who wants to resolve the threating issue
or antagonist to restore peace.
• The antagonist is usually a mystery to the
audience to make them on edge and
fearful. The audience wont usually find out
who they are until the end and will only
see part of them (e.g. in a horror hybrid).

8. Conventions of a thriller film
• Low key lighting
• Quick cuts (rapid editing)
• Tension building non diegetic music
• Changes in angles which shots are taken from
• Diegetic sound of breathing (creates a sense of
fear with its connotations)
• Black and white shots
• Montage of shots
• Protagonists is against the antagonist