A thriller typically involves a battle between a protagonist seeking to restore order and an antagonist aiming to destroy it. This creates tension as a chain of bad events builds toward a climactic confrontation. Thrillers employ conventions like low lighting, quick cuts, shadows, and suspenseful music to generate unease and mystery around the antagonist's identity and motives, making the audience feel like danger could strike at any moment. The protagonist is often an everyday hero fighting to restore justice against long odds.

1. What is a thriller?
A thriller usually consists of a battle between the
protagonist character and the antagonist, when there is
a disruption in the equilibrium. Then the story shows a
chain of bad events building tension and suspense for
the climax. The aim of the protagonist is to restore
justice, while the antagonist seeks to destroy it.

2. Examples of thrillers

3. Conventions of thrillers

Low-key lighting

Quick cuts

Shadows

Suspenseful music

Protagonist is at the mercy of the antagonist

Eery/mysterious locations

4. Characters

The main protagonist is often a brave hero-
type character who seek to restore the
equilibrium.

The main antagonist usually has a hidden
identity from the audience, making us guess
throughout the film while it is being slowly
revealed, ie the serial killer in Se7en.

5. Themes

The storyline is usually designed so that the
audience feel like it could happen to them,
increasing the suspense and possibly fear.

6. Cinematography

Lots of close ups of characters' faces to show
emotion.

Harsh, high contrast lighting.

Lots of shadows.

Shots of the antagonist will usually hide their
identity – commonly find them in silhouette.

7. Editing

Editing techniques vary, from slow editing/cuts
to build suspense, to fast action edits.

Continuity editing is of course used to help the
audience understand the film.

Jump cuts are often used to compress time.

8. Sound

Sound in thrillers is primarily used to create
suspense, shock etc.

The music often begins at a slow pace and
tempo and gradually builds to create this
suspense.

9. Mise en scene

A location that helps to establish a theme,
such as a bank.

Antagonist in dark clothes, protagonist usually
in every-day clothes.

Placement of characters has semantic
connotations

Lots of weapons

10. Mise en scene

A location that helps to establish a theme,
such as a bank.

Antagonist in dark clothes, protagonist usually
in every-day clothes.

Placement of characters has semantic
connotations

Lots of weapons