The document discusses common elements of thriller films, including typical storylines involving a protagonist rescuing someone from an antagonist. It provides examples of films like Taken and Ransom that follow this plot. Characters in thrillers usually consist of a protagonist and antagonist with opposing goals. Mise-en-scene commonly uses low key lighting to create suspense, and sound alternates between quiet introduction of settings and eerie music to build tension. Editing employs quick cuts and obtrusive techniques to heighten tension, while cinematography utilizes close-ups and point-of-view shots to immerse viewers.

1. THE HISTORY OF OUR
SUB-GENRE: THRILLER

2. TYPICAL STORYLINES IN THRILLER
FILMS
• Typical storylines in Comedy films may have the protagonists trying
to save someone like the Heroine or themselves from the antagonist.
Alternatively, the hero may try to defeat the antagonist without
rescuing anyone. Examples from famous Thrillers with a similar plot
to our film would be Taken (Dir. Pierre Morel, 2008) and Ransom
(Dir. Ron Howard, 1996). These have typical storylines of the
protagonist versus the antagonist, which is similar in our film: £3.49.

3. CHARACTERS IN THRILLER FILMS
• The characters are linked to the typical storylines in Thriller films
by having usually a protagonist and an antagonist. They may clash
at some point in the film due to them being complete binary
opposites to each other, both having different intentions and aims.
Examples would be American Assassin (Dir. Michael Cuesta, 2017)
where the protagonist (Mitch Rapp) is drawn into counter-terrorism
due to the death of his girlfriend caused by the Islamic terrorists.
Here, Mitch Rapp must be the typical hero by stopping a rogue
operative from creating chaos in the middle east.

4. MISE-EN-SCENE IN THRILLER
• The mise-en-scene commonly used in Thriller films is the low key lighting that
creates suspense or mystery. Specifically low key lighting, creates fear and tension
as well as colour symbolising a character’s emotions and feelings, for example white
represents innocence and black highlights mystery and uncertainty. Nosferatu (Dir.
F.W. Murnau, 1922) uses a sepia effect throughout, creating chiaroscuros that
highlights the aims of the film which is to sympathise with the character.

5. SOUND IN THRILLER FILMS
• Sound used in Thriller films generally start slowly and quietly so that the setting
and characters can talk or be introduced. When the characters are in danger, eerie
music helps create the suspense making the audience feel anxious and worried for
the protagonist. In addition, music that keeps the audience guessing what will
happen next or even silence is key elements in making a Thriller film successful. For
example, Psycho (Dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) uses music to help build up the
tension until it climaxes and the antagonist kills Lila Crane.

6. EDITING IN THRILLER FILMS
• The use of obtrusive editing and quick cuts help raise the tension and make the
audience and feel sympathetic for certain characters. This is because the codes an
conventions of quick and obtrusive editing are commonly used in Thriller due to the
sudden nature of when the editing is used. An example of fast paced editing and
obtrusive editing used is in Silence of the Lambs (Dir. Johnathan Demme, 1991),
when Hannibal Lecter is talking to Clarice Sterling in his prison cell, making the
audience feel nervous for the protagonist.

7. CINEMATOGRAPHY IN THRILLER
• Finally, cinematography used commonly in Thriller films are typically close ups and
point of views to make the audience feel like they are there, to give them an
immersive experience and satisfy what the demographic expects from a Thriller
film, e.g. jump scares, a character getting killed off. An example of typical
cinematography is used in Eden Lake (Dir. James Watkins, 2008) with close ups and
POV used to put the audience into the perspective of Steve being attacked by the
teenagers.