The document discusses the thriller/action genre in film. It describes how the genre was established in the 1920s-1930s by directors like Hitchcock and Lang. As technology advanced, the genre evolved to include more action, violence, and political paranoia. Examples of modern thriller/action films mentioned are Taken and Batman. A short film from December is analyzed to show conventions like confusing plots, exaggerated sounds, and mysterious lighting. Trailers for Batman are also examined, highlighting the villain Joker and scenes of action, explosions, and confrontation between Batman and Joker. Common conventions of the genre discussed include special effects, urban settings, low lighting, quick cuts, fast-paced music, flashbacks, and f

1. Thriller/action film genre
By Billie Wilson

2. Background
• The breakthrough of the thriller/action genre came
when Alfred Hitchcock and Fritz Lang made films like
The lodger (1926) and M (1931). These films set the
standard of modern thriller/action genre. Then these
film directors added Technicolor to their films, as well
as casting big stars and big locations into their films.
These moved the standard up a notch again. Some
angles to action/thriller films changed after the
assassination of President J. F. K. in 1963 and films
became more political and paranoid.
• As technology increased this genre changed to action
spy and violent films, examples of these in the present
are Taken and Batman.

3. Short film - example
December
• This is a short action/thriller film that lasts just over a
minute. It’s a very short thought provoking powerful
film with a hint of humor.
• The camera shots are very striking and intriguing as
you are seeing what's going on through the victims
eyes. The camera movements are aggressive which
intensifies the scene, the camera is very shaky as the
‘victim’ is being moved around a lot.
• Confusion is a big concept in the thriller genre and this
short film is very confusing.

4. Short film - example
• The sound is very effective as the normal diegetic
sounds are exaggerated and made louder to build
up the suspense.
• The lighting is particularly mysterious because of
the dingy shadows and darkness of the scenes.
This completely juxtaposes the last scene with
the intense light to show the outcome of a happy
Christmas.
• The victim being dragged around and cut up
actually just turns out to be a Christmas tree.

5. Trailer - example
Batman
• The establishing shot begins with a black screen then going
continuing over to footage of batman in various of his states of
action, on his bike, in his office etc, showing his power and
authority.
• The word freak is emphasized to try and relate the joker and
batman together.
• The first shot of the joker is a long shot of him causing an explosion
which straight away shows he's evil.
• The explosion is very conventional in action thrillers. The buildings
that the joker blows up our non specific showing the Joker has no
reason behind his destruction. The evil laugh that follows continues
to symbolize his evil as he finds it funny and has no remorse.

6. Trailer - example
• The high angle shot of the sniper of the roof should suggest that
the gunmen are superior but as the camera cuts to lower down you
know the joker will always win. This scene shows the jokers
followers and the citizens of Gotham turning against their hero,
Batman
• The fact the Joker has nothing shows he exists outside society
making him harder to stop. The pan up of the joker behind bars
shows he's in jail but this quickly cuts to him outside of jail showing
he must of broke out.
• The shot of the Joker knifes signifies he is the villain. When we see
his face the makeup is chilling with the scarring appearance of a
smile in a medium close up shot.
• In another scene of the trailer we see Rachel wearing red, this could
symbolize danger, or passion as Bruce Wayne has feelings towards
her

7. Trailer - example
• The action continues when the joker walks
down the street with a machine gun in hand.
There is a scene of action between the joker
and batman and you don’t know whose going
to win. The trailer gives enough away to get the
audience intrigued.
• In this trailer there is a lot of explosions and
weapons which indicates the genre as well as it
being exciting, fast paced and exhilarating.

8. Conventions of the thriller/action
genre
• Action/thriller genres include lots of special
effects so can be very high costing films
• Most are set in big cities and places where there
are lots of people around like train stations or
walkways.
• Low key lighting add mystery to the film as well
as producing shadows and silhouettes.
• Quick cuts are very conventional to create a
sense of uncertainty and rising tension.
• The music is also fast paced to get across
emotion.

9. Conventions of the thriller/action
genre
• Another convention is flashbacks to distort
time and reality and put a new twist on the
film.
• Fades to black our quite common in this
genre. This could be to either move onto a
new scene or show someone is unconscious
or dying.