Conventions

Thrillers were born from Alfred Hitchcock, a man that introduced many different thriller elements that you see on screen nowadays. Hitchcock introduced various factors that has influenced many contemporary thrillers and is viewed as the most significant figure in film and thriller history.

Some of Hitchcock’s techniques are still used in today’s film industry and they range from shot types to the narrative of a film. Hitchcock most famously invented the “dolly zoom” which was used to portray a feeling of “uneasyness” which was evident in Vertigo. Thrillers are supposed to make the audience feel almost uncomfortable so that they’re hearts are racing so you can reveal the ‘Punch Line’ of the film. One way to cause unease is to have a non-linear narrative and show the main point of the film first. This causes dramatic irony throughout the whole film as the audience knows more than the on-screen characters. Or the director could fool the audience by using red herrings, so that they think they know who did what, but really it will just be even more shocking when they found out who did.

Shot types that can cause unease for the audience are extreme close-ups, low angle shots, high angle shots point of view shots and so on, but these can really throw the audience and once again we must mention the dolly zoom used to cause an unease for the audience.

Jump cuts are a good way to disorientate the audience as they show little movements that are barely noticeable. Fast paced editing can get the audiences hearts racing especially when coupled with a good score, but on the flip side, slow editing can build tension before a crescendo.

Contrapuntal sound can confuse the audience, as it does not match the on screen actions, leaving them to wonder why it is there. Anything on either of the speed and pitch spectrum makes the audience uncomfortable as it is something theatre not used to.

Typical characters in thrillers are masked men, stupid teenagers and femme fatales. If the director is feeling extreme then he can 'flip the script' and make them be masked women, smart teens and males in distress, which continues to cause confusion for the audience.

Sub genre

Subgenre is when a film has a set genre (in our film the set genre is Thriller) but it also has other kinds of techniques and storylines. Here are some examples:


Psychological – Red Eye
This film is a thriller because the action keeps you on the edge of your seat and the mind games played by the antagonist are what makes it psychological. We can tell its psychological thriller because of the score played, it tends to build up tension and get the audience uncomfortable so they can experience and empathise with the characters in the film.

Zombie – 28 Days Later

The unnerviningness of an empty world means that the thriller element of this film has been taken care of and the zombie ‘enemies’ are what, obviously, makes this film a zombie thriller. The misc-en-scene of a zombie thriller can make or break a film. Even though 28 days later had a small budget they still managed to get a real looking zombie in the film and it really set the scene for the audience in the film.

Crime – The Warriors
The fast paced action, and the fact that the whole film is spaced out over only one night gives this film a thriller feel, but the gangs, looting, stabbing and brawling are what makes The Warriors a Crime Thriller.

Drama – Panic Room
Elements of horror in this film are what give it the thriller label. The horror is minimal enough to make it not be classed as a horror. The misc-en-scene in the film helps classify it as a drama thriller because of the actors and actresses performences. Also the story line in a drama thriller will be less ‘ridiculous’ in comparison to a zombie thriller.

Comedy – Pineapple Express
The plot of two men running from killers who after them is what Pineapple Express a Thriller, but the comedic use of cannabis in the story and the actors cast are what make it a comedy. Seth Rogen is a renowned comedy actor and the film is shot with a bright filter and high key lighting, so no dark thoughts are being projected and its just a light hearted film that can get you on the edge of your seats.

Documentary – Blair Witch Project
The way this movie is filmed (with handheld cameras) makes it a thriller as the audience is not used to it and it will cause discomfort. The handheld cameras also give the film a feel of a documentary.

Espionage – James Bond series
The James Bond series is classed as Espionage because of the face that James Bond works for M.I.5 and saves the world from calculated villains by using stealth. The score in Bond films are a major reason for the thrilling feeling in the series. The themes and content of James Bond films also support the fact that the film is an espionage thriller. In From Russia  with Love the low key lighting from the temple scene also shows a dark mood for that moment in the film.

Our film is likely to be an espionage or action thriller because films like that really go hand in hand, we have no control over the natural light and in the winter the days are shorter so for the sake of practicality we will make a dark, moody film.