CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A THRILLER

THRILLERS

• The aims are so that the audience are on the edge of their seat and to

sustain tension. In doing so the protagonist will face the problem of the threat

from what ever thriller sub genre is based on, it will emphasis the danger the

protagonist faces and have to be fast paced which will build tension and

have that element of surprise until the climax

• They start with Todorovs theory of starting with equilibrium and then the

unknown attacks , disequilibrium , then the hero ,which is usually a final girl,

defeats the enemy and then there is a new equilibrium.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmLrYMPcBA0

Thrillers

sub genres

Medical thrillers

Gothic thrillers

Gangster

thrillers

Supernatural

thrillers

Religious

thrillers

Psychological thrillers

Crime thrillers

Slasher

thrillers

Conspiracy

thrillers

LOCATION

• Usually thrillers are old dark house narratives and set in scary

houses or suburban houses to make the audience feel like that

it could happen to them at anytime.

Houses from: women in

black , nightmare on elm

street , grudge and

paranormal activity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8

mM6pvCkqDM

THE ANTAGONIST

• The antagonist usually a male that has a mask and usually

uses a weapon such as a knife

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFuon2qETxM

ANTAGONIST

• Or is a girl who is pale and dark haired who doesn't have a weapon just supernatural

abilities or has been resurrected

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxiaPCri-ec

THE FINAL GIRL

• The final girl is the girl who isn't sexually active , who isn't popular , dumb or strong ,

this makes the viewer not suspect her to be the one to defeat the antagonist.

• However nowadays the final girl has been used so often that the viewers guesses

the final girl which makes it distract away from the thrillers.

• Typical final girls from films Sally Hardesty of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,

Nancy Thompson of the Nightmare on Elm Street , and Wendy Christensen from

Final , Sidney Prescott in the Scream.

SOUND

• Sound in thrillers usually range from quiet eerie sounds to build up tension to

big and loud thundering sounds as sound stings and to break tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WtDmbr9xyY

• There is lots of non diegetic sound and usually a sound track to set the mood

• There is also lots of pleonastic sound

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiHzsMw0D4U

• Silence is also used in thrillers as it lolls the viewer into a false sense of

security

MISE EN SCENE

• The lighting is usually low key to build tension

• Black and white colouring to enhance shadows and hide and isolate characters

• The colours that are shown usually link in with the emotions.

• Costumes and make up are relatively naturalistic, for the protagonist unless it’s a period

thriller.

• The costumes and make up vary for the antagonist as if its too repetitive you lose the

sense of fear

• The weapon are usually ether a knife or a gun which is used by the hero and villain

• Mirrors are usually used as a convection of a thriller and to reflect the character

EDITING

• Fast paced editing

• Fadeding to black

• Flash backs

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Different angles power

• Hand held

• Point of veiw

• Wide shot

• Close up