Convention Of Thriller Genres (Hartt)

Conventions of a thriller film

Generic Characters:

• Convicts
• Criminals
• Stalkers
• Assassins
• Down on their luck losers
• Innocent victims
• Prison inmates
• Menace of women
• Psychotic individuals
• Terrorists
• Cops
• Hit men/women
• Private eyes
• Drifters

Low-Key Lighting - low key lighting is a style of lighting that is conventional to the thriller genre. It is a three-point lighting which contains a key light, filler light and a back light. Low key lighting creates shade on some areas of the room and create bold shadows on the objects.

High Key Lighting - High key lighting is used in films that reduces the lighting ratio. IT creates a more natural scene and reduced shadows. High key lighting is often used when the scene is set during the day time.

Diegetic sound - Diegetic sound is where the source is visible on the screen. For example, characters voices or sounds made by objects in the scene.

Non-Diegetic Sound - Non-Diegetic sound is where the source is not visible on the screen or has been implied to be in present in the action. For example it could be sound effect that is added for dramatic effects of music to adjust the atmosphere of the scene.

Mise-en-scene:

Location - Types of locations are conventional in the thriller genre such as forests to help build suspense.

Iconography - Iconography is a convention used in the thriller genre as it also contributes to the suspense. Weapons such as knives and guns keep the audience in suspense as it imposes a threat on the victims.

Colours - Certain colours are conventional in the thriller genre as they are connotations to different meanings. For example the colour red could suggest evil or the colour white could suggest purity or innocence.

Camera Angles:

Low angle - This is wehre the camera is positioned low down below the eyeline. This is conventional in the thriller genre as it could be used to conceal a identity.

High angle - This is where the camera is positioned above the audience eyeline. This is conventional to the thriller genre as is could be used to highlight the vulnerablitity of the victim. It could be used to make the victim appear smaller or looked down on.

Mid shot - This is where the camera is a a medium distance. This is used in thriller as it could be used to focus on certain characters facial expressions.

Long shot - This is where the camera is placed at a long distance showing some of the location. This us used in thrillers to introduce the locations such as a haunted house.