Conventions of a thriller movie

conventions that make a thriller film

1. Camera shots (alternating types)
2. Sound
3. Action sequences
4. Props
5. Costume
6. Backstory

• Violence
• Tension
• Fast pace
• special effects
• sense of mystery
• protagonist
• cliff hangers

Typical audience reaction

• On edge
• Suspense
• Curios
• Tension
• Anxious
• Anticipation
• fear
• psychological
• Discomfort
• Sympathy
• disturbed
• tense

Mise en scene

• Unusual clothing
• police outfits
• low key lighting
• Dark abandoned places

Themes

• Crime
• psychological
• Action
• Love
• Si-Fi
• Religion

Character

• Protagonist e.g. Jason Bourne stereotypically male except Kill bill
• Antagonist- Stereotypically British or Russian

There are several aspects of a thriller movie that makes it a thriller movie . For example alternating camera shots, sound with haevy drum and base. In sound there is usually a cresendo to highligt certain moments of the movie that are significant or are revealing something important. The use of cresendo is also important in hybrid thrillers such as the movie 'Mirrors.' The use of cresendo will build up tension and scare the audience. Fast paced car chases, guns and warehouses are also to be expected in a thriller movie.

The mise en scene of a thriller depends on the sub genre ofthe movie. For example Thriller crime movies expect poliece outfits and cars and guns. For Thriller si-fi you should expect some sort of extra terrestial being or futuristic objects as shown in 'Alien 3'.

Protagonists are usually male for example Jake Hoyte ( Training day) or Jason Bourne (Bourne Trilogy). However, Kill Bill is an exception.
The Antagonist is usually male and is usually superior to the protagonist. The antagonist usually has mental dificulties or is usually someone who is trusted for example  'The departed.

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The movie training day and the movie se7en are both hybrid movies. Training day being a Thriller crime and se7en being s thriller mystery. However both have the same conventions for example, the clothing of the charcters are very similar both wearing police outfits and both have guns. Both movies also have prisoners and have the same lighting tone. This shows some of the typical conventions of a thriller movie.