CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF THE THRILLER GENRE

Zara Johnson

WHAT IS A THRILLER?

The thriller genre usually provides a binary opposition between the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is seen as the underdog throughout the film as they experience misfortunate events involving those who are around them. Thus, creating the senses of tension and suspense which slowly building up a large climax to where they come face to face with the antagonist.

Overall, the protagonist tries to regain righteousness as the antagonists prevents this throughout the film. Thriller films are to keep the audience on the edge of their seats constantly wondering what is going to happen and how will it end.

CHARACTERSStereotypically, the protagonist is mainly seen as a heroic male who saves the ones he loves around him from misfortunate events the antagonist has created. This is slowly becoming challenged as modern films of today involve female protagonists.

The secondary character ,stereotypically, is a weak female whom the protagonist protects throughout the film and tends to be the main prey of the antagonist. The character is mainly seen as the partner of the protagonist, a sibling/child or a friend.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF THRILLER FILMS• Chase scenes– quick paced editing

• Low key lighting- shadows

• Plot twists -conventional

• Crescendo

• Tension

• Suspense

• Mysteries

• Diegetic /Non diegetic sounds

• Silence

• Jump scares

• Against the clock –conventional

• Rain/Storms

EDITING

The main types of editing of a thriller films are quick paced shots, long shots and cross cutting. The main purpose of this is to create suspense for the audience by lacking the information that surrounds them making them feel uncomfortable and in the shoes of the protagonist. This is to get the audience to understand that the quick paced editing could represent a chase scene and get the thinking if they’ll be ok or not.

MISE-EN-SCENE

The setting is mainly low key lighting created by the setting such as a storm, being at night or inside an abandoned building that, even with a form of light, creates low key lighting sense. The setting creates an eerie feeling that the audience feels to get them to understand what the protagonists and those who follow behind are experiencing.

SOUND

Crescendo is one of the biggest uses of sound as it is the key to creating tension and suspense for the audience when combining the long shots which leads up towards the climax. Sound is also used to create jump scares. For example, a loud high pitched sound could be heard just after the silence which could be at an unexpected moment to frighten the audience.

CAMERA

Camera work within thriller films are needed to try and lack as much information the audience can see making them fell like they are in the protagonist's shoes. This is usually used just before the climax of the film where the camera follows the protagonist. It does this by show the what they protagonist sees and not anymore of what is around them. This also creates a sense of suspense making the audience become uncomfortable as they do not know what is going on around them.