Thriller genreTaylor Lyttleton

Conventions

• To create suspense and excitement • Urban/suburban areas• The narrative revolves around the investigation of

an enigma or• The protagonist is the only person able to solve

the enigma and reveal truth• Particular institutions• Rational rather than supernatural explanation of

the puzzle • Protagonist/antagonist share some characteristics

Dawn on the Dead

At the beginning of the title sequence, there is footage of hundreds of people in a bowing down motion in barely any clothes, the number of people suggests that the narrative will be global. To emphasize this, every surveillance footage is in another area also suggesting its global, the footage are in areas were there is buildings showing the suburban area which is a convention of thriller.

The font is red and bold which connotes danger, exaggerating the genre of the film. The font then has a distorted effect to it as it trickles to the left as if it is blood, again relating to the genre of the film. This effect is parallel with the distorted sound of old footage, as it appears in the same rhythm, also parallel with the distorted footage in mise en scene. Other film such as a voice over of a person, probably from authority such as journalist, talking about the scenario creating tension for the audience as it matches the scene.

Close ups of Zombies are used to apply to the audience that the film is about zombie, and to give off suspense as the ‘monster’ is revealed. The make up on the Zombie such as blood enhances that this/these character(s) is the antagonist(s). The camera then uses close ups of people screaming portraying chaos. Following this is a quick cut to a person in protective wear, showing how you need to be fit for survival – in this case safety wear. Transitions are used which are black to suggest darkness which is featured in thrillers.

There is then footage of the President talking to a crowd as everybody is in danger (hints to a zombie apocalypse) this applies to the genre convention of a particular institution.