The document discusses research on the codes and conventions of thriller films, including camera techniques, editing, sound, lighting, and settings that create suspense and tension. It also analyzes several example thriller films like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Inception, and The Bourne Ultimatum, examining how they employ conventions like narrative trajectory, timescape, and character ethos. Finally, it covers different subgenres of thrillers like comedy, drama, mystery, crime, horror, and action thrillers.

1. Research
Elvisa Vali

2. Introduction
• In my project I have been instructed to create a title and opening for a movie. This will last about 2-3 minutes. The title and
opening is based on the genre Thriller. To ensure my title opening fits the codes and conventions of this genre I have to
research everything about thrillers in detail. In order to achieve this I shall research the codes and conventions, take a look
at opening thriller movies also I will look into the sub genres of a thriller for example comedy thrillers or crime thriller.

3. Codes and Conventions
Camera Movement/Angles. This convention helps to give a film its thriller genre, as different camera angles create different senses of body language and
emotions. Thriller films also use Camera Angles such as close up shots and mid – range shots. An example of a close up was used in a film called “Taken”, in
the film there is a close up of the mans face whilst he is speaking over the phone to his daughters kidnappers showing that he is furious, which helps to
show tension, and helps the audience to feel as if they are in the film and gets them to start asking questions. Some Camera Movements also make the
audience feel tense and also helps to make them feel like they are actually in the film. For example when the camera man moves the camera about, they try
to mimic the characters breathing. This can be shown in the opening sequence of The Bourne Supremacy, when Jason Bourne wakes up in his bed after a
nightmare and begins to heavily breathe. This makes the audience feel like they are in the the room with Bourne. Another Camera Movement is tracking,
this is a fast paced camera movement. This types of shot has been used in films such as Goodfellas, when the camera is quickly tracking through the kitchen
of the Copacabana, this makes the audience more tense and also makes them quite nervous and makes their heart beat fast, as they know that something
may happen next due to the fast pace.
The other important convention that makes up a thriller is Editing, things like quick cuts and shot reverse shot. These quick cuts can also be seen in films
such a psycho, when the women in the shower is getting stabbed there is a lot of fast cuts, as it shows different angles of her being stabbed. This makes the
film fast paced and makes it more uncomfortable for the viewers. Shot reverse shot is used when two characters are having a conversation and the camera
jumps from character to character. An example of this is in Matrix when Morpheus and Neo are having a serious discussion whether Neo will join the Matrix
or not. This is effective because it connotes the importance of the conversations creating a suspenseful atmosphere for the viewers.
This also contains very important elements which make up a thrillers. Jumpy and and quite scary music which are played in each scene, can be named as
themes as they produce different moods and settings for thriller films. Another sound element which is very important is high pitched sounds/orchestral
stabs such as screeches. For example orchestral stabs such as screeches are used in thrilling films such a psycho, when the lady in the shower is being
stabbed. Psycho was written in 1960 by Alfred Hitchcock .This adds suspense and horror/thriller to the film to give it its thrilling genre. Other sound
elements which are used to give the films their thrilling genres are; diegetic/ non-diegetic sound.
Mise-en-Scène contains a few important elements which help add thriller to films and also help to add suspense as well. Lighting such as colour design has
to be dark to help give the film a gloomy mood and helps to make the audience feel more suspense towards the film. Another thing which also makes the
opening off a thriller stick to its thrilling genre is props, as in thriller films there is a lot of sharp objects and weapons like glass, knives, guns etc….In films
such as Train-spotting, they use props such as drugs, needles and cigarettes, to show that the characters are druggies and to show the audience what type
of personality each character has. Train-spotting was created in 1996 by Danny Boyle . This shows the audience that the objects are going to be used to kill
someone or something. The set design/ location also helps the genre of the film stick to thriller, as the right set/location such as a gloomy warehouse or
dark woods give a thrilling film as it shows mystery and suspense/tension towards the audience.

4. What is a thriller?
A thriller is a book or film which is designed to keep the reader or viewer on edge with suspenseful and sensational action.
Thrillers have also been produced in the radio, theater, and television media. Thrillers typically involve sudden plot twists, for
example, keeping people unsure about what is going to happen. This suspense can get almost unbearable, especially in a long
piece or a television series. Thrillers also have a lot of action, which is often chaotic, and they typically feature resourceful heroes
and exotic settings. The plots of thrillers can vary widely. Some are supernatural, for example, centering around mystical
antagonists. Others are scientific or medical in nature, forcing their protagonists to contend with biological agents or mysterious
scientific happenings. Some are simply straight mysteries with clever, horrific, or intriguing antagonists, while others be focused
on the inner workings of the legal system, environmental threats, technology, or natural disasters

5. Analysis of films

6. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is adapted to
the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson. A journalist
Mikael Blomkvist investigates a disappearance
almost 40 years ago. The protagonist in the film
(Mikael Blomkvist) is aided by a young women
who helps him with his investigation. As they
work together they uncover things beyond
anything they have ever imagined. The codes
and conventions of this film is as following. In
crime thrillers, there is usually really fast paced
music played to set the mood for the film like in
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Both
characters in the film are usually dressed in
dark clothes, the female in the film is a pierced,
tattoo, punk computer hacker which makes the
audience question if she is the protagonist or
the antagonist, if she is really good or bad; this
sets a deferral atmosphere for the viewers. The
subgenres of this thriller film are crime, drama
and mystery.

7. Inception
A complicated film based on the wonders of dreams.
The main character, Dom Cobb is a skilled thief;
stealing valuable secrets from deep within the
subconscious during the dream state, when the mind
is at its most vulnerable. For this film to be a Personal
quest based thriller film four conventions are
simultaneously used all through the film. Narrative
trajectory – Cobb’s character is compelled to achieve
a personal quality of a moral crisis that demands
immediate action. Due to Cobb’s ability he is an
international fugitive which has cost him everything
he ever loved, to have a chance at redemption he
must accomplish a task that could risk his life.
Timescape is used because Cobb’s quest takes
weeks/months for him to come to grips with the
personal quest, although an extreme even will always
loom. Last but not least the characters in the film
struggle with the conflict between equivocal virtue
versus moral certitude to determine the value of
integrity. The subgenres of this thriller film are
personal quest, adventure and mystery.

8. The Bourne Ultimatum
The plot of this film is about a man that’s
trying to find out who he is but in-between all
of that he is accused of something he has not
done, he finds himself in even more trouble
as he discovers more things. This cliffhanger
make the audience feel on edge and excited
to find out how he over comes all of this
trouble. The writers use various conventions
to convey that this is a thriller film. For
example, narrative trajectory- The audience
experience an powerful identification with
Bourne and his willingness to stay alive
throughout the movie. Bounded World –
Bourne is isolated and is obliged to overcome
the circumstances on his own also he has to
isolate himself due to betrayal. Also
timescape is used to show that Bourne has
little time to fix everything before his
enemies kill him, this keeps the viewers
hooked into the suspenseful plot. Lastly
Bourne discovers that the only way to stay
alive is through self reliance and that he has
to be independent so the larger community is
not affected; this is called character ethos.
The films subgenres are action and crime.

9. What is a genre?
Genre is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art and entertainment, E.g music or films.
Genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old one
are discontinued. Often , works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these
conventions.
Character Ethos:
A comparatively uninvolved character is drawn into an increasingly large menace, and discovers that the only
way to remain alive is through self-reliance, by exposing the malevolent evil before it can assault the larger
community.
Protagonist Research:
A movie succeeds to the extent that its audience identifies with the film’s protagonist (and often with the
antagonist as well) The protagonist of a thriller film is a character who plays the main role, a character that the
viewers empathize with. Also the protagonist usually figures in real life situation so that the viewers
understand them better.

10. Subgenres and examples of thriller films
Comedy Drama Mystery Detective/Crime Horror Thriller Action
Adventure
Sucker Punch No Country Rear Window No Country For Night Of The Inception The Bourne
Old Men Living Dead Ultimatum
The Guard The Dark Knight Vertigo Pulp Fiction Paranormal The Sixth Sense Casino Royal
Activity
Fargo Unknown Seven The Departed Psycho Limitless Children Of The
Men
Johnny English Taxi Driver North by The Silence Of Halloween Jaws Season Of The
Northwest The Lambs Witch
Insidious Challenging The usual Momento The exorcist Black Swan The Matrix
suspect