The document discusses conventions used in thriller films to create tension and suspense. It analyzes how films like Panic Room, Fatal Attraction, and The Shining employ techniques like ominous settings, conflicts between protagonists and antagonists, mysterious dialogue, ominous music, ominous camerawork and close-ups to build a sense of anticipation and convey fear, confusion and mystery for the audience.

1. Investigating Thrillers
THRILLER CONVENTIONS

2. General conventions
 Tension: this can be built up in a multitude of ways through editing, sound,
clever use of mise-en-scene.
 This is created through a sense of anticipation.
 Dark, desolate and ominous settings(creates sense of fear)
 Conflict between protagonist and antagonist
 Motives: crime led, psychological and personal

3. Panic room

4. Panic room
 Frantic shouting and screaming to create suspense, fear and conflict.
 Close up to show tension and suggest worried emotions.
 P.o.v shot presents a focus on the important and conventional things i.e
major mise-en-scene or characters.
 Protagonists placed at a disadvantage through high angle shots.
 Division of the frame and barriers create uncertainty and convey a sense of
mystery.

5. Fatal attraction

6. Fatal attraction
 Background music is slow and melodic to create a twisted and tense scene.
 Anticipation is created through increased levels of shouting and panning
camera work.
 The close ups convey confusion amongst characters
 Characterisation. The broken and cryptic dialogue are used to create
suspense
 Mise-en-scene: the steam slowly rising from the pressure cooker initiates a
tense scene

7. The shining

8. The shining
 The isolated location is frightening as there is always a sense of the
unknown
 Quickly inserted shots of bloody bodies present danger, misery and fear.
They add in a sense of anticipation as these bodies indicate that the very
same thing could happen again.
 The screams further add to this idea.
 A knife is conveniently placed on the sink to add the element of conflict.