The document discusses the codes and conventions of the thriller genre in film, TV, and writing. It aims to arouse feelings of ambiguity, shock, anxiety, fright and anticipation through the use of exciting, mysterious, tense, and suspenseful elements. Key conventions include the protagonist facing death, a focus on their point of view, credible representations of action and characters, themes of justice and morality, the presence of innocence in a corrupt world, and a mystery that must be solved. Locations, lighting, camera work, editing, sound, props, and costumes are all used to build atmosphere and suspense.

1. Codes and Conventions of
Thrillers
Revised Genre

2. Thrillers
Thriller is a genre of Film, TV and Writing the aim of theses genre
pieces is to arouse feelings of ambiguity, shock, anxiety, fright and
anticipation. This is done through use of elements of an
exciting, mystifying, tense and suspending nature.
When done successfully there is heightened excitement and suspense
for the audience.

3. Main features of a Thriller
o The protagonist faces death
o The films narrative’s main focus is the protagonist point of view
o All action and characters must be credible realistic/natural in their representation on screen
o The two major themes that underpin the Thriller are the desire for justice and the morality of individuals
o The presence of innocence in what is seen as an essentially corrupt world
o The main plotline focuses on a mystery that must be solved

4. Codes and Conventions
Location Typical Locations:
• Dark
• Gloomy
• Isolated
• Derelict
• Blind spots
The use of and combination of these element in a Thriller location help
create the tension as for example the darkness of an isolated derelict
building may foreshadow and imply that something or some one mysterious
luring in a blind spot is about to do something to an innocent and unknowing
victim.

5. Lighting Lighting in Thrillers help create the
• Low key light atmosphere and also accentuate the
characteristics of roles within the film. Dim
• Dimmed/Extremely bright lighting can show a sinister and evil
• Shadows element to a fairly normal looking
character.
Camera angles and positions can for
Camera angles/positions instance with over the shoulder shots give
• Establishing shots the sense of some one being followed or a
handheld shot putting the audience in the
• Close ups / extreme close ups
shoes of a actor. With close up which are
• Over the shoulder heavily used there is emphasis on the
• Crain shot emotions and facial expression while
catching the audiences attention. An long
• Handheld shot or establishing shot usually sets the
scene of the isolated or

6. Editing Editing is used to convey a thriller effect
• Jump cuts for example a jump cut is used to
emphasis when there is multiple
• Straight cuts
dramatic things taking place at the same
• Fast cuts time. Fading and dissolving can show a
• Fade/dissolving new day or time frame while cross
• Cross cutting cutting and fast cuts help build suspense.
The use of slow paced sound in the opening of a scene
Sound which then builds to climax with the gradual increase in
• Slow paced tempo is a common use of sound which is used to build
• Climaxing towards the action and also dramatize which will
• Up tempo heighten excitement. As well as this the use of no
sound or dialogue is also use having the same effect but
• Sound effects through the fact that the audience can see what is to
happen where the character in danger can.

7. Mise un scene/Props The use of props can in its self create a thrill where the
• Weapons audience know it is in the shot but the victim can not. Not
only this but the props in some cases are the identifiers of
• Mask the genre of the film these cases they hold a very high
• Ropes importance and the positioning and visibility. The use of
mirrors is very played out in thrillers for the fact we can see
• Mirrors the back of the actor and there face and any lurking
prowlers.
Costume
Costume is an important factor in accentuating the character profiles of
each actor this can be done through colour, style, and attached
stereotypes.