Thrillers are designed to keep the audience in anticipation and guessing through techniques like quick cuts, flashbacks, and manipulation of time and space. Common conventions include the use of mirrors to reflect a character's inner self, shadows to build tension, and black and white cinematography to create an eerie tone. Successful thrillers from different eras prey on the minds of characters and aim to mentally demolish them through deceptive mind games and puzzles that keep changing the picture until the ending.

1. Thriller Movies
By Mellissa Baptiste

2. Thriller Movies
A thriller is more of a mind journey. Thrillers are based
on anticipation. It is like a puzzle for your mind that
you have to put together and once you think you
have it figured out, someone changes the picture on
the puzzle.

3. Codes and Conventions of a Thriller
Mirrors, low key lighting, shadows, obtrusive editing,
quick cuts, changes in camera angle, tension in music,
flashbacks, black and white shots and disorientation
of time and space.
Two or more characters preying upon one another’s
minds, deceptive mind games, trying to demolish
each others mental state.

4. Mirrors – used for the used of reflection of someone’s soul or
inner self. May also represent the darkness within a character.(
example “Mirrors” directed by Alexandre Aja)
Shadows are related with low key lighting and can represent inner
darkness but also add tension to a film.
Quick shots are used a lot in thriller films to give the feelings of
suspense and tension.
Flash backs give a sense of time and space to confuse the
audience.(example “Momento” by Christopher Nolan)
Black and white is another convention because it makes good use
of the shadows and can make the film seem eerie and dark. ( for
example “Psycho”)

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKVGkxAsNeo&fe
ature=related

7. Mirror’s
Reflection in the
that is usually scary
or the person
looking to the
mirror even
thought they are
facing away from
it.

8. There are one or two
very quick flashes during
the clip, when the
camera turns very
shapely!

9. Mirrors : he
cuts his finger
on it and also
the mirror has
writing on it
which created
a sense of
mystery to
know what
the writing is
about.

10. The Face
Eyes a main
code and
convention to a
thriller move.

11. Different types of Thrillers From the
19th Century
Safety last (1923)
Murders in the zoo (1933)
The Lodger (1926)
Vertigo (1958)
Psycho(1960)

12. Thrillers from 2011
Sanctum
Unknown
Limitless

13. Wrecked
Hanna
I am number four
The girl with the dragon tattoo