Thriller codes and conventions

Codes and conventions of the thriller genre

. Low key lighting

. Quick cuts

. Shadows

. Tension music

. Change in the angle of shots

. Diegetic sound of breathing

. Black and white shots

. Protagonist is in the mercy of the antagonist

Characters

. The protagonist is often a brave male who seeks to restore the equilibrium

. the antagonist will have and hidden identity that the audience will uncover as the film continues. Often the antagonist goes out for revenge from a past event

Themes of thrillers

. the storyline will be designed so the audience will think that it can happen to them, which will make them feel scared

Cinematography of a thriller

. There will be a lot of close ups and extreme close up’s of the protagonist character, this is often to show their emotions, also it can be used to focus on props to help the narrative carry on.

. The shots of the antagonistic character will be cut quickly and will aim to hide their identity, e.g. a shot of the back of them, a low key shot, the silhouette, or shadow of the character

Editing of a thriller

The director will include lots of jumps cuts because there will be things happening that the audience is unaware of but is essential for the film to make sense. Cross cutting is key point in editing as it is used to build much needed suspense which is important for a thriller. Continues editing is used to help the audience understand the film more clearly

Sounds in a thriller

.Music is very important in any movie to understand the mood of the characters and hint at a significant part in the film. In a thriller it adds suspense and tension. It will often start at a slow paves and the then build up to make the shots more dramatic for the audience.

Mise en scene

. The location is important for the film because it helps the audience establish the theme

. Lighting is often low key

. Costumes- antagonist will be in dark clothes if you see them. Protagonist will be ordinary everyday clothes

. Composition

. Makeup and hair styles

. Acting

. Flimstoke (Black and white, or colour, Fine-grain or grainy