The Thriller Genre: Conventions

The significant aim and overall objective within the thriller genre is to provide ‘thrills’, keeping the audience on edge with apprehension and adrenaline as there is a build up to a climax.

Some Thrillers may end in cliff-hangers, which allures to the possibility of a sequel.

The thriller genre is very similar to the horror genre, containing some of its aspects, however despite this, thriller films are not always scary and the genre actually branches out unto a variety of sub-genres:

Comedy Thriller

Combines elements of suspense and comedy

e.g.  Mr and Mrs Smith (2005)

Action Thriller

Embodies action and suspense, stimulating a dramatic atmosphere, and is often a depicted race against the clock with an established violence or antagonist. Protagonist usually must overcome the obstacles/ scenarios involving the action.

e.g. The Dark Knight (2008)

Crime Thriller

A hybrid of crime and thriller- usually focuses on the criminal, combines crime, drama and suspense.  Focuses on the criminal(s), rather than the police.

e.g. Léon: The Professional (1994)

Mystery Thriller/ Supernatural

An amalgamation of mystery and suspense, in which the storylines have extravagant plots and the viewer must pay full attention to the film in order to get the most out of the movie.

e.g. The Sixth Sense (1999)

Psychological Thriller

Often based on the mental state of the characters, the protagonist is usually involved in a situation which has a detrimental effect on their sanity.

e.g. Black Swan (2010)

Conspiracy Thriller

The protagonist generally encounters a person/ organisation who possess more power than them. The protagonist usually senses that the threat first and is the core person who fights this threat.

e.g. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

 

Sci-fi Thriller

Science fiction thrillers are revolved around the narratives of science-based depictions, such as alien lifeforms, worlds/universes, time travel, futuristic elements- robots, spacecraft.

e.g. Gravity (2013)

Techno Thriller

Suspenseful, within these films the manipulation of sophisticated technology is predominant. Combines some action and science-fiction.

e.g. I, Robot (2004)

 

Erotic Thriller

A thriller which has a particular focus on erotism, frequently exploring sexual relationships within the central plot.

e.g. Basic Instinct (1992)

 

Horror Thriller

Merges together the horror and thriller genre, focusing on suspense and adrenaline whilst depicting fear, terror and gore.  Most horrors cross into the thriller genre due to their suspenseful events.

e.g. Saw (2004)

 

Legal Thriller

A suspense thriller which revolves around the major characters: lawyers, their employees, and the justice system.

e.g. The Pelican Brief (1993)

Political Thriller

The hero/heroine must ensure that the government that employs them remains stable.

e.g. Enemy of the State (1998)

Spy Thriller

The protagonist is usually a government who must take violent action against agents of a rival government/terrorists (in recent years). The sub-genre often deals with fictional espionage.

e.g. The James Bond Franchise (1962-present)

 

Conventions of the genre

Narrative

• Protagonist: Central character within the film, usually has an issue, or is issues to be sent on a mission or solve a mystery. They are frequently outsiders within society.
• Antagonist: Enemy of protagonist and is responsible for the danger and detrimental effects on the protagonist.
• Variation of Characters: e.g. convict, psychotic characters, stalker, innocent people brought into danger, law enforcement, etc.
• Main Storyline: The narrative follows the protagonist before, during and after encountering the antagonist.
• Main Plot: Contains enigmas which must be solved, entices the audience to pay attention.
• Realistic characters and action: Makes the experience more realistic for the audience, engaging them within the film.
• Climax: The intense event within the development of anticipation within the narrative, such as a revelation or resolution, Keeps the audience apprehensive and on the edge of their seats.

Setting and Sound

• Generally set in inner city areas whilst some are set in the woods. Those set in the shady inner city areas have more variation with background diegetic sound: e.g. cars, people, normal dialogue, heavy rainfall, violence, etc.
• In the woods the woods there is less diegetic background noise, with natural sounds such as crickets, trees swaying, wind and other wildlife.
• Setting and sound is important because they create the overall ambiance for the film and draw the attention of the viewer.
• Many thrillers are often set in foreign cities which the protagonist ins unfamiliar to- creating a puzzling atmosphere and the possibility of various scenarios. They depict the world and society as dark and corrupt.  Exotic landscapes, such as deserts or polar settings may also be used.

Lighting

• Low-key Lighting: Stimulates a tense, mysterious atmosphere, provides a sense of foreboding for the audience and creates enigmas.  Sinister.
• High-key Lighting: Contrasts with low-key lighting, presents a more upbeat sensation, use of this can ‘spotlight’ a character and enables the audience to depict the situation of the characters, places the focus on the subject within the scene. Can be used to emulate ‘day time’.

Iconography

• Mirrors: Used to show the reflection of the protagonist, often the reflection is the darker side of the character in the film, which is hidden from the naked eye and the other characters within the film.
• Shadows and Silhouettes: Create mystery and a dark, menacing atmosphere for the audience. Used to conceal the identity of someone or something and leave the audience guessing. Silhouettes provide a clearer look of the outline of the hidden object or person while the shadow distorts the object or person causing it to look awkward and confuse the audience.
• Weapons: Used especially in action thrillers, asserts authority and creates tension at certain points.
• Drugs: Sometimes the major focus within a film, e.g. the protagonist could take down a drug kingpin
• Dark, Urban Settings: Associated with criminal activity, provides a sense of discomfort.
• Cars: Can be a main theme, main source of transport, often characters have a signature car that fits their character.
• Red: Symbolises hazard, warning, danger
• Blood: The red is connoting danger, and violence.

Camera

• Extreme Wide Shot (EWS): Captures large landscape, showing general location.
• Wide Shot (WS): Show less landscape, provides a more specific location.
• Mid-Shot (MS): Displays the character with lower part of the body cut off. Can show a bit of setting background whilst showing the facial expressions of the characters.
• Two Shot: The shot shows both characters within the frame, framed similarly to a mid-shot.
• Close Up (CU): A certain feature or part of the subject that takes up the whole frame, a close up can emphasise the emotional state of a character by filming up close to a character’s face.
• Medium Close Up (MCU): Between a MS and CU.
• Extreme Close Up (ECU): Shows a extreme detail of a feature/subject, such as a character’s eyes.
• Cut-In:Displays another part of the subject in detail, e.g. hands
• Cut Away (CA): A shot of something other than the subject/current action, can be used to accumulate suspense (which is prominent within the thriller genre.
• Over-The-Shoulder Shot (OOS): From behind a person looking at the subject,  gives the audience the point of view from the character and engages them within the film.
• Point Of View Shot (POV): Camera angle is from the point of view of the character, like over the shoulder, this engages the audience within the film as it stimulates the illusion that they are there.
• High Angle Shot: The character appears smaller and weaker within the frame, expressing vulnerability.
• Low Angle Shot: Makes characters appear bigger within the shot and stronger- demonstrating the authority they have in the scenario.
• Aerial Shot: From above: birds-eye-view, can create vulnerability like a high-angle shot.
• Tracking Shot: Follows the character and their movement. This may be used to follow the high speed action within the thriller or to follow a character, this could be used to stimulate suspense, such as if the character were going into a dangerous scenario.
• Cross-cutting: The alternating of sequences of footage during editing. Various shots are overlaid and intertwined at a quick pace, creating enigmas and engaging the audience as so much is going on. It matches the fast pace action with many thriller films.