Codes and conventions for thriller films

1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
OF THE THRILLER GENRE
Zara Johnson

2. WHAT IS A THRILLER?
The thriller genre usually provides a binary opposition between the
protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is seen as the
underdog throughout the film as they experience misfortunate
events involving those who are around them. Thus, creating the
senses of tension and suspense which slowly building up a large
climax to where they come face to face with the antagonist.
Overall, the protagonist tries to regain righteousness as the
antagonists prevents this throughout the film. Thriller films are to
keep the audience on the edge of their seats constantly wondering
what is going to happen and how will it end.

3. CHARACTERS
Stereotypically, the protagonist is mainly seen as a
heroic male who saves the ones he loves around
him from misfortunate events the antagonist has
created. This is slowly becoming challenged as
modern films of today involve female protagonists.
The secondary character ,stereotypically, is a weak
female whom the protagonist protects throughout
the film and tends to be the main prey of the
antagonist. The character is mainly seen as the
partner of the protagonist, a sibling/child or a friend.

4. CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF
• Chase scenes– quick paced editing THRILLER FILMS
• Low key lighting- shadows
• Plot twists -conventional
• Crescendo
• Tension
• Suspense
• Mysteries
• Diegetic /Non diegetic sounds
• Silence
• Jump scares
• Against the clock –conventional
• Rain/Storms

5. EDITING
The main types of editing of a thriller films are quick paced shots,
long shots and cross cutting. The main purpose of this is to create
suspense for the audience by lacking the information that surrounds
them making them feel uncomfortable and in the shoes of the
protagonist. This is to get the audience to understand that the quick
paced editing could represent a chase scene and get the thinking if
they’ll be ok or not.

6. MISE-EN-SCENE
The setting is mainly low key lighting created by the
setting such as a storm, being at night or inside an
abandoned building that, even with a form of light,
creates low key lighting sense. The setting creates
an eerie feeling that the audience feels to get them
to understand what the protagonists and those who
follow behind are experiencing.

7. SOUND
Crescendo is one of the biggest uses of
sound as it is the key to creating tension
and suspense for the audience when
combining the long shots which leads up
towards the climax. Sound is also used to
create jump scares. For example, a loud
high pitched sound could be heard just
after the silence which could be at an
unexpected moment to frighten the
audience.

8. CAMERA
Camera work within thriller films are needed
to try and lack as much information the
audience can see making them fell like they
are in the protagonist's shoes. This is usually
used just before the climax of the film where
the camera follows the protagonist. It does
this by show the what they protagonist sees
and not anymore of what is around them. This
also creates a sense of suspense making the
audience become uncomfortable as they do
not know what is going on around them.