Thriller Codes and Conventions

Editing

The pace of the cuts in a thriller usually increases at parts of the film that contain more action, so that the shots are shorter and more ambiguous. This is so that the audience become more intrigued, and to build up the tension in these parts of the film. The pace usually builds up in the parts of the film with a villain in, this makes them more mysterious and unknown, and adds to the suspense.

Sound

Usually when something is being unreveiled in a thriller, like a major plot twist, or when the film becomes more action packed, fast paced non diegetic music will usually appear in the film to quicken the pace and build up tension.

Camera

Close up shots tend to be uses in thriller, usually on a victim before they are killed/captured, this makes their surroundings mysterious. This puts the audience on the edge of their seats, intending to frighten or thrill them, as they can not see what is behind, or anywhere around, the victaim. This means that when something drastic happens all of a sudden it will be more of a shock.

Lighting

The lighting in a thriller will be normal, except for some scenes, where it will become low key and dark, this creates a juxtapostion between the other scenes. This makes the normal everyday scenes, become more of a contrast, between darker and more twisted scenes, or crime scenes.

Characters

A thriller will often revolve around one main villain, who's identity will usually be unknown, untill the end of the film. This creates a lot of suspence throughout of the film, and keeps the audience thinking about where the film plot is going.

Thrillers often contain a 'damsel in distress', either towards the end of the film or throughout the whole film. This will be a character, usually a woman, as they stereotypically appear more vulnerable, who gets captured or put in danger and needs to be saved. This gives the audience someone to sympathise, and puts them on the edge of their seats, building up a lot of tension.

Plot

A thrillers' plot is usually quite realistic, or plays on realistic aspects, this makes it more scary as it more believable for the audience. For example it may be based around a crime, this makes them a lot more realistic than a Horror movie, and helps them relate to the characters in the movie.
Thrillers are usually set in realistic, identifiable locations. This is again, so that the audience can identify with the movie, and also so that the film builds up and takes you different darker locations, a contrast is created and shocks/thrills the audience.

The plot is usually ambiguous and mysterious, to keep the audience thinking, and to get them on the edge of their seats.

Thriller Openings

Shallow Grave

Camera Shots/ Angles

The opening of the film 'Shallow Grave' starts with the opening credits played over establishing shots of the area.

At one part of the opening sequence the camera starts using a strobe effect as it goes across a road. This technique is used commonly throughout thrillers, as creates a dramatic atmosphere and makes the film feel a lot more dangerous and out of control, almost as if a character is stumbling into jeopardy.

Sound

The opening sequence is narrated by Christopher Eccleston, this isn't particularly commonly used in thrillers, however it gives the audience a sign that he may be one of the main characters in the movie, and an insight in to his psychology. Thrillers often tend to revolve around the psychology of a character, usually the villain.

The fast paced disco style music played in the intro of this film is also conventional of a thriller film, as most thrillers tend to have fast paced music and editing. The fast music builds up the pace and atmosphere of the movie. Thrillers don't often tend to have disco music however, this may show what kind of characters the movie is going to be about, maybe they are quite laid back and listen to this style music.

Editing

The opening credits are in red block capitals, this makes them quite bold and stand out over the behind shots of the street and woods. The colour red is quite conventional of the thriller genre as well as it creates a link to blood, by using this the film opening is foreshadowing doom later on in the film.

Although the editing is not particularly quick like thrillers tend to be, the fact the shots are all tracking shots moving through the scenery rather fast still keeps a quick pace for the movie. Tracking shot are also used in thrillers as it can put you in the point of view of a character or maybe even he villain, to make you feel like someone is being followed.

Plot

Most thrillers tend to be set in casual 'every day' locations, so when other locations are used throughout the film which are abnormal or scary, it creates a juxtaposition. This is used in the opening sequence for 'Shallow Grave' as the camera keeps cutting in between shots of the streets and shots of the forest. This creates a contrast, and lets the audience know that a forest will maybe be an important location later on throughout the movie.

Collateral

Sound

In the opening sequence for 'Collateral' the only sound is the sound of footsteps, these start before the audience see the first shot of the film, so there is a sound bridge from the Dreamworks into the first shot. This is quite controversial of a thriller, as they often tend to have fast paced music, or a low score building up tension, which both get the audience sucked straight into the film. This however does add the mysterious element of the movie, as it is a mystery thriller, and builds up tension in a different way; it gets the audience thinking.

After the first few shots however, the music does build up and picks up a faster pace, this gets the audience hooked in, and makes everything going on on screen seem a lot more important, this builds up the tension in the audience and keeps them guessing what is going on.

Camera Shots/ Angles

The amount of screen time used on Tom Cruise's character in the first few shots, who is not named at this point, portrays his importance in the movie. It makes it very clear to the audience that he is a vital figure in the movie, so if they see him again in the movie, they will know who he is.

The use of close up shots on Tom Cruise makes his surrounding become more ambiguous, and also shows his importance in the movie as well.

When Jamie Foxx's character is driving his taxi out of the garage, there is a medium behind shot of him, taken from the back of the car. However the whole shot is very dark due to the amount of shadows, and the silhouette of Jamie Foxx. The use of shadows is convention of a thriller, especially a mysterious one, as it creates an ambiguous, mysterious, dark and gloomy mood.

As the taxi is driving around, there are a series of high angled bird's eye view shots taken of the roads it is travelling along, this is very stereotypical, as it makes Jamie Foxx look a lot more vulnerable, as he becomes engulfed in his surroundings. This makes it clear that he is more likely going to be the victim in the movie.

Plot

Tom cruise plays a mysterious character in the opening sequence, and makes it so the audience don't know weather he is good or bad tostart of with. However his actions and appearance cause a fair amount of suspicion, and if he was a villain later on the movie, he would be a very typical villain, as he is a man,who are stereotypically more powerful and threatening. His appearance is villain like and suspicious as he is wearing a suit, this shows he is sophisticated, and serious, and his glasses hide is identity and thoughts, all connotations of a typical thriller villain.

Editing

The editing in this sequence is very fast paced, this is very typical of thrillers, as it quickens the pace, and keeps the audience watching on the edge of their seats, as they want to know what is going on.

Preliminary Task- Film

Preliminary Task- Preparation

This is the story board we completed in lesson, we tried to use a variety of shots like close ups to show facial expression and over the shoulder shots to show the two people talking and help with the continuity of the clip.

We deliberately chose to use a close up of, first the characters hand, and then his eyes as the first two shots to hide his identity before the audience see his actual face. This makes the opening fairly mysterious, and gets the audience thinking.

After the first 2 close ups, there is an establishing shot of the room he is sitting in. We unconventionally chose to not use the establishing shot as the first shot to hide the location from the audience and keep their focus on the character.

We also unconventionally chose not to show the second character actually walking through the door, instead you can just hear the door opening, and then him inside the room. This plays on different senses and makes it clear what has happened without seeing it, making the audience use their imagination.

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