This document outlines some common codes and conventions of psychological thriller films. It discusses how psychological thrillers challenge characters mentally rather than physically and often involve plot twists. Death is also common, usually in twisted ways, and accompanied by blood. Main characters frequently struggle with discerning reality from fantasy or discovering their true identity. Low lighting is another recurring convention that adds mystery and tension. The document also briefly explains Rick Altman's theory of semantic, syntactic and pragmatic analysis of genre conventions.

1. CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL
TRILLERS

2. Plot Twists
Psychological thrillers are stories where the main character is challenged on a mental
and emotional level rather than a physical level. The story tension usually comes from
two character going head to head in a “game” which requires high level mental
thinking from not only the characters but the audience as well to keep up. The story
of a psychological thriller is not always what you may think and often contains a twist
at the end of the plot that no one was expecting. Plot twists often happen near the
end of the movie when you think everything has been resolved new information often
arises.

3. Death & Blood
 Death is a common trait within psychological thrillers.
Death often happens thorough the entirety of the movie
with the antagonist killing someone or many people then
threatening to kill more or do more harm. The deaths are
normally not normal deaths they will have some twisted
way to how they are done. For example the psychological
thriller movie se7en. Each death was done by a
psychopath who followed the theme of 7 deadly sins with
each kill
 Blood is partnered with death. Blood gives off

4. Reality and Fantasy
 Since psychological thrillers are about the mind. Most psychological thrillers have
the trait where the main character is lost or confused on what is reality and what is
fantasy. They may try to spend the entirety of the story trying to find out the
“truth” aka the reality. This can be seen in the movie Black Swan.

5. Identity
 The main character may be trying to find out who they are or who stole their
identity. This often links in with reality and fantasy as they may have been living
their lives thinking they are someone whom they are not which comes to
realisation once equilibrium balance is tipped.

6. Low lighting
 Low lighting is a recurring code and convention of psychological thrillers. Low
lighting usually create shadowed figures which in total add to the mystery of a
character building tension and striking fear into not only the audience but
possibly the main character.

7. RICK ALTMAN THEORY
SEMANTIC SYNTACTIC PRAGMATIC
Conventions of the genre that
help communicate to the
audience. For example in a
Crime genre you expect to see;
murder, detectives, offices,
murder weapon.
General mise en scène to tell the
audience the genre through
traditional codes and
conventions.
What the audience expect to
happen within that genre. For
example a romance you expect
two opposites to hate each
other throughout the beginning
of the movie then too express
love for each other with one
party messing up and causing
them too split before reuniting
dramatically at the end of the
movie.
In furthering his own research
Rick Altman said that we should
be pragmatic in our genres. This
means sticking to a genre rather
than trying to add a bit of every
genre into one film.