Conventions of a Thriller

Before we started creating or developing our main task production of an opening sequence to a film, we decided on the genre of film that we would like to do. We decided on doing a thriller as we felt that a thriller was the best genre that we would be able to do and we had better ideas of film plots for a thriller film than other genres. I then went on to look at what conventions were commonly used in thriller films and found the following:

Sound

In most thriller films the sound is used to build tension to a climax during the film using different devices and techniques, such as, changing the tempo slowly like in Jaws or increasing the volume for greater impact.

Camera Shots

Generally, thriller films use a wide use of different camera shot types, but from analysing some films I have found that the most used camera shot types are: close ups to show the victims or the pursuers face and the emotion expressed upon it, also many point of view shots are used to perhaps show the point of view of the hero/main character in the film or even an item that is being used such as a weapon (or telescopic sight of a weapon like in Bourne Ultimatum), and finally variations of high and low angle shots mainly used to show difference in power of perhaps the victim and the pursuer.

Lighting

In many thrillers the same kind of lighting is used to show variation in power and peoples vulnerability. This type of lighting was low-key lighting. For example, the low-key lighting can be used so that only shadows and silhouettes can be seen, therefore if all that can be seen is a shadow of perhaps a killer, then they are given high power as no-one knows their identity and this puts the audience into a state of tension.

Mise en Scene

Lots of thrillers use props such as dyed liquids to be put on set to give the audience the impression of blood. A lot of the time other props appear in set such as, alcoholic drink bottles, weapons or lethal objects that may be focused on by the camera. Lastly, thrillers use specific areas for the setting of a scene, such as a dark alley that is secluded and out of the way or maybe a dark cramped dingy building. Basically, in general thriller films have many scenes shot in dark, cramped and isolated areas so that characters can easily be made vulnerable or powerless and helps to build tension for the climaxs.