Conventions of a thriller

1. BY JENITHA PARAMESWARAN

2.  Thriller is a genre of literature, film and
television programming that uses suspense,
tension and excitement as its main
elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the
viewers moods giving them high level of
anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation,
anxiety and terror.

3. Within the thriller genre, there are subcategories of the genre
which are called ‘sub-genres’. For example;
 Action thrillers
 Science fiction thrillers
 Crime thrillers
 Psychological thrillers
 Horror thrillers
 Military thrillers
 Spy thrillers
 Romantic thrillers
 Western thrillers
 Film-Noir thrillers

4.  A reason why characters do what they do; searching for top
secret information or trying to cover up a past crime.
 Twists and turns- devices used to keep the audience guessing
 Red herrings- pieces of information which deliberately mislead
the audience and possibly some of the films characters.
 Big locations
 Hero and villain, though villain might be hard to spot.
 Cliff-hangers throughout the film
 A trick ending
 Have a great final sequence
 There must be clues throughout the film pointing to the
ending and the identity of the villain, victim ad hero.
 Tension is the key to this genre.

5.  Low key lighting is used to create a scary and mysterious
atmosphere.
 Montage of shots
 Tension is very significant when it comes to thrillers.
 Shadows are closely related with low key lighting, they are
used to represent a darkness and a scary atmosphere
 Quick cuts
 Changes in the angle of shots
 Diegetic sound of breathing
 Black and white are conventions of thrillers. They bring a
more dark feel to the movie.
 Mirrors are used in thrillers to show s a reflection of ones
soul and inner self. Mirrors represent the darkness within
some characters.

6.  Weapons
 Cars
 Police uniforms
 Setting
 Low key lighting

7.  The location is important for the film as it helps the audience to
establish what the theme is.
 The lighting is often low key.
 A technique often used within mise-en-scene is the use of
mirrors which might connotate how the characters have to
reflect on what they have done or what they are going to do and
also how they look at themselves.
 Another technique is the use of stairs which show the character
climbing up or falling down the stairs which creates tension on
wanting to know what will happen next.
 Costumes- The villain will be in dark clothes and the hero will be
in ordinary clothes.
 Black and whites are also used as a convention of thriller as it
shows the sinister side of the film and the cold harshness which
may portray.

8.  Cinematography depicts the different camera shots and
angles and when the thriller genre is concerned these shots
snf angles are used in greater closes and with faster
transitions from one to the next.
 There will be lots of close ups and extreme close ups of the
characters- To show their emotion and can also be used to
focus on props to go with the narrative.
 Nice and quick shots of the villain and will aim to hide their
identity till the very middle or end.
 In conventional thriller films such as Alfred Hitchock’s
‘Psycho’ 1960, camera angles are used more excessively such
as within the scene where Master Norman Bates is having a
discussion with Marion Crane

9.  Editing conventions within the thriller genre are often
focused around creating uncomfortable and suspenseful
atmosphere as quick cuts and changing camera angles are
often used to create an on screen tension.
 There will be lots of jumps cuts because there will be things
happening that the audience will not be aware of but is
essential for the film to make sense.
 Cross cutting is a key point in editing as it is used to build
up suspense.
 Tension is vital in a thriller genre as it sets a steady pace
throughout the film and then it is able to explode with
unexpected resolution for the audience.

10.  Music is essential in any film to understand the mood of the
characters and hint at a significant part in the film and its
either diegetic or non-diegetic material within the scene.
 In a thriller, the music helps to add suspense and tension
and it will often start at a slow pace and then gradually build
up to make the shots more dramatic for the audience.
 High pitched sound is often used to make the audience feel
uncomfortable and anticipates the unexpected.
 Many other uses of sound are used in thrillers and even
within dialogue is usually unique to other genres as inner
monologues an be found in many thriller films which create a
more direct tension to the audience making it seem as if they
are experiencing the film from the characters point of view.