Thriller Conventions

1. Thriller Conventions
BY JACK STOCKMAN

2. General Conventions
 Thrillers generally have a very constant stream of conventions that seem to be
continuous throughout, they use these in order to keep the attention of the
audience; Such as:
• Suspense
• Anticipation
• Dark/Eerie Setting
• Either high pitch non-diegetic sound or low pitch droning soundtrack.
• Some form of conflict between protagonist and antagonist.

3. Clip Example:

4. Panic Room
 In the previous clip we see almost an extreme close-up on both the faces of the
protagonist and the antagonist, this is crucial to show emotion and the mind-set
of them both. The focus pull from the protagonist to the gun is used to draw the
attention to the weapon, and use that to show the gun as the most important
factor in the situation.
 The editing is used to put the protagonist in quite a weak position, for example
the frame division outs the antagonist on the right ‘prominent’ side of the frame,
showing him to be more powerful. Also there is a great deal of cross cutting
between the two in order to create suspense and anticipation.

6. Fatal Attraction
 POV used to show the scene from the point of view of the
character and make sure the audience can empathise with
them.
 Quick cuts between both the mother and the child, this is
used to build up tension of the situation.
 The diegetic sound of the boiling becoming increasing loud
gives a sense of imminent danger.

8. The Shining
 The editing and camerawork take a very prominent role in
creating a very tense situation, in which you will be made to
empathise with the danger.
 This is done by the quick cuts when both the axe and a cut to
Jack’s face as he yells ‘Here’s Johnny!’
 The setting of being trapped in a very confined area with the
antagonist is outside the room creates a very tense situation.