Thriller films typically follow several conventions: they are set in busy urban areas; focus on investigations and puzzles that the protagonist solves, often involving violence; and feature rational explanations over supernatural ones. The protagonist and antagonist usually have similar qualities and one brings justice while the other brings injustice. The film builds suspense throughout until reaching a climax, and the protagonist ultimately solves the mystery.

1. TYPICAL
THRILLER FILM
CONVENTIONS
Jamie King

2. • A thrillers main objective is to create suspense and
excitement and maintain this throughout the entirety
of the movie.The suspense and excitement will
continue to grow until it hits the peak, also known as
the climax of the movie.
At the peak this is where
maximum suspense and
excitement has been made.

3. • In a conventional thriller it is set in a
busy urban or suburban area.There is
a high dense population, the setting
is busy.
• For example, inTaken the film
is set in Paris, the capital of France.
One of the busiest cities in the country.
Then the setting changes into a more
dense populated suburb on the
outskirts of France.
• In the film Bourne Ultimatum it is set in the busy English capital London.
• The Dark Knight Rises, Batman film, is based in the busy fictional city of
Gotham City.This is one of the busiest cities in USA when it is set.

4. • The main narrative of the film is focused around a puzzle or an
investigation.The protagonist will be the person who will be
solving this investigation and will be able to solve it.
• InTaken the protagonist goes out to find his missing daughter
and then helps free other people who has been kidnapped by the
antagonist gang.
• In the Dark Knight, Batman, protagonist, goes out to stop the
Joker, antagonist, from harming the cities residence. Batman wa
sable to stop the joker.
• In Casino Royale, James Bond has to stop a lethal weapons
dealer from selling weapons to villains. 007 was able to kill the
dealer and stop the weapons from spreading.

5. • Violence and action is a key theme in
thrillers also. It will usually be the
protagonist fighting the antagonists
using violence. In most cases the
violence will reveal the roles of some of
the institutions such as the CIA,
Police, government or the military.
• An example of this is in any of the James Bond 007 film series.There is always
a repetitive theme of violence. As part of MI6 he travels the world to catch
and kill villains to protect his country.
• In Gravity there the two protagonist astronauts suffer a violent accident and
then they both have to overcome the crash to survive.
• In the Saw series there is a repetition of violence throughout the films.There
will be violence towards the protagonists but they always end up winning.

6. •Thrillers tend to much more
possible and rational explanations
as opposed to me impossible
supernatural explanations when it
comes to solving the investigation.

7. • In most cases both the
protagonist and antagonist
will shave the same qualities
and characteristics.
• James Bond and all of his enemy's are able to
use war tactics to overcome situations and are
violent people
• Batman and Superman both are superheroes
who both try to help people

8. • Another theme which is important throughout a
thriller is the idea of justice and injustice.The
protagonist will bring justice where as the antagonist
will bring injustice.The protagonist will be trying to
fix the injustice of the villain. In most cases the
protagonist will be secretive due to their job or they
may be an outsider who is generally quite. However,
they will always solve the mystery by the end of the
film.