Conventions of Thriller Films

Conventions of Thriller Films

A broad genre of literature, film, gaming and television. It includes numerous, often overlapping sub-genres

Typical Features

·         Low key lighting

·         Quick cut

·         Shadows

·         Tension music

·         Changes in angle of shot

·         Diegetic sound of breathing

·         Black and white shots

·         Montage of shots

·         Protagonist is at the mercy of the Antagonist

·         Binary oppositions (complete opposites) by Levi Strauss e.g. good vs. evil, weak vs. powerful, city dweller vs. country dweller, individual vs. organisation.

·         Cheap surprise (an easy shock generated by a sudden unexpected noise/action/movement)

·         Make it personal – protagonist’s family is kidnapped etc.

·         Theatre of the mind – doesn’t show the audience everything; force them to imagine some things.

Ingredients of a thriller

fast-paced, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains.

Literary devices such as suspense, red-herrings and cliff hangers are used extensively.

Types of thriller

·         Spy thrillers – e.g. James Bond

·         Political thrillers – e.g. Argo

·         Military thrillers – e.g. Saving Private Ryan

·         Conspiracy thrillers – e.g. The Insider

·         Medical thrillers – e.g. Coma

·         Forensic thrillers – e.g. The Bone Collector

·         Psychological thrillers – e.g. Seven

·         Horror thriller – e.g. The Silence of the Lambs

·         Legal thriller - e.g. The Pelican Brief

·         Crime thriller - e.g. No Country for Old Men

·         Supernatural thriller - e.g. Flatliners

Characteristics

Often overlap with mystery stories but are distinguished by the structure of their plot. Thrillers often occur on a much grander scale: crimes are more serious.

Standard plot elements include a sense of jeopardy.

Climax

Example: When hero finally defeats villain, saving him and others.

Some thrillers are influenced by film noir and tragedy, the hero can get killed.

Often take place wholly or partly in exotic or dramatic settings e.g. cities, deserts, churches, airports, subways, Polar Regions, the woods or high seas.