the codes and conventions of thriller films

1. Codes and Conventions
of Thriller Films
Lauryn Robertson

2. What are Thriller Films?
Thrillers are characterized and defined by the moods they give, giving
viewers heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise,
anticipation and anxiety.
Thrillers generally keep the audience on the edge of their seats as the
plot builds towards a climax.The cover-up of important information
from the viewer is a common element. Literary devices such as red
herrings, plot twists, and cliff hangers are used extensively. A thriller is
usually a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that
the protagonist must overcome

3. Conventions of thriller films
Thriller must include conventions such as mirrors , low key lighting ,
high key lighting , shadows , quick/obtrusive editing , quick cuts,
different camera angles , high tensions music , flashbacks ,
photographs so here are some examples used in thriller films and why
they are used.

4. Mirrors
Mirrors in thriller films are used to portray
a reflection of an character of a characters
inner self it could also foreshadow the
darkness and evil within certain characters.
It also can show a evil character
approaching a victim as they can’t see
them but audience can.

5. Flashbacks
Flashbacks are often used to display
what has happened to a character in
the past to give the audience an
insight in to the protagonists life
before an incident, almost like a
memory so the audience can connect
more with the character

6. Low Key Lighting
Low key lighting is used in thriller films to create
harsh shadows on the antagonist’s face and also to
set the scene in the film.The use of low key lighting
allows the scene to be represented as more sinister,
dark and mysterious, which can bring about the
common conventions of thriller films, suspense and
tension.The low key lighting can also hinder the
sight of detail in the scene, which can bring about
the sense and feeling of uneasiness to the audience
as the details are kept a mystery till the very end of
the film.The colours that are typically used in
thriller films can also link together with the
antagonist’s actions and personality as the colours
are typical dark, for example black, grey and red.

7. Types of characters in Thrillers
▪ Convicts
▪ Criminals
▪ Stalkers
▪ Assassins'
▪ Losers
▪ InnocentVictims
▪ Prison Inmates
▪ Characters with a dark past
▪ Psychotic people
▪ Terrorists
▪ Police
▪ Escaped Convicts
▪ Private Eyes
▪ Drifters
▪ People in a Twisted Relationships
▪ Murderer
▪ Main Character
 Main Character trying solve or get away from situation
This is an
example of a
stalker in a
thriller film
called ‘The Boy
Next Door’
This is an example of a murderer in a thriller film
called ‘The Perfect Guy’

8. Narrative
Thriller films are very similar to horrors but thrillers are more psychological and requires
more though and explaining as to what is going to happen throughout the film.Thrillers
aim to scare the audience in different ways an example of a psychological thriller which
makes the audience mentally question certain things about the film.Also in a thriller
narrative they tend to hold interest , adventure and suspense.
Krugs – a scene
where a couple of
teens entering a
dark forest which
looks scary which
then suspense is
created, which is
part of thriller
narrative
In this thriller film
poster called
‘Regresion’ you can
tell the narrative of
the film as it leaves
the audience
interested in to
watching it to
wonder why her
face is like that ,
also the location

9. Iconography
In most thrillers and other genres of films they use iconography to allow the audience
to identify which genre the film is. In thrillers the iconography used is by having a hero
protagonist, a villain, and victims they also use low key lighting which is used to depict
a sense of danger and uncertainty ,it also makes a scene disturbing , hiding an identity
of a character which makes the audience questioning.
In thriller iconography they use weapons such as guns, knives which suggest and idea
of danger ,murder and violence to the audience this is the biggest in thriller
iconography and lastly they use confined spaces to scare the audience as they know
that then something is going to happen.

10. Sound
The use of sound in thrillers is that when the storyline is reaching a climax or a tense part of
the film it will be non diegetic so the characters cannot hear it but the audience can and the
pace and how the music and sound effects sound will effect the audiences view and build up
tension which creates the mood.

11. Setting
The typical setting for a thriller film is in a urban city. Usually the main colours used in thriller films are
grey, black and white which emphasises the helplessness of the first character we see.They can also
be set in quiet villages. Sometimes the antagonist usually stays in a hotel , motel are usually a low life
before committing the act of crime. Abandoned, derelict towns. Murders usually happen in
bathrooms and houses even on the street in some thrillers, barns also.

12. Evaluation
Overall I learnt from doing this task is what is needed and makes a thriller film a thriller film
either through the sound, iconography, mise en scene, etc. Using the codes and
conventions I have learnt from I will use low key lighting which will the atmosphere tense
and protagonist will seem more mysterious and scary. I will also use high building music
which will create anxiousness and suspense to the situation.Also use of flashbacks which
creates a sense before the event has happened. In addition the villain in the opening
sequence is a stalker which fits in with codes and conventions.