Investigating Thrillers Notes.

2.  Tension created through editing, anticipation.
 Mise-en-Scene is used a lot – darkness,
large/sprawling locations with lots of blind-spots and
unknowns, often horrific or shocking scenes.
 Conflict between protagonist and antagonist.
 Motives can be crime-led, psychological, personal.
 Audience can often anticipate events, although there
are usually unexpected plot-twists.
 There is often a mysterious element that is uncovered
throughout the film.

3.  Music builds tension by growing
louder and faster before action
scenes.
 Lots of close-ups at the beginning
to show obscurity and mystery
about the characters.
 Cross-cutting between character
viewpoints to show what each
character is doing. This gives the
viewer a clearer idea of what is
happening, whilst building tension
by making them anticipate certain
actions.

4.  Tension is built through narrative
anticipation due to the viewer’s
knowledge that the antagonist has
power over the protagonist.
 The antagonist is invading the
protagonist’s territory and making
them uncomfortable – a reversal
of power.
 Intense emotion shown in facial
close-ups, thrilling and exciting.
 Absence of music in parts, builds
tension as the only sound audible
is diegetic, making the scene feel
more real and impactful.

5.  The isolated location is used to create an
atmosphere of vulnerability, as there is
no help from the outside available.
 Cross-cutting between shots of dead
bodies and the little girls builds tension
through mystery and the sinister, surreal
nature of the scene.
 Narrative convention of friends becoming
enemies is used to build tension, and give
the film a sense of paranoia and betrayal.
 Shots often show the characters faces, along
with key items and objects, both building
tension and giving meaning by being able to
see emotion in a character as well as what is
currently happening.