Introduction – What is a Thriller?

In todays modern film industry there are so many different types of genres out there, thriller being one of the most popular. This is a genre that not only gets the viewer on the edge of their seat but it builds suspension, anticipation and provides a sort of real-life feeling for the viewer that no other genre could. The very reason that thrillers thrive in the industry is that the person watching the film is almost included in the action, they experience the drama “artificially” (as Hitchcock once said). 

Conventions of a Thriller

A Quick Overview

A key element to a thriller film is the low-level lighting and the eerie use of long powerful shadows that loom over an unknowing victim. These are used to perhaps symbolise the dark side of a person/being and add tension to the scene. Similarly mirrors will sometimes be shown for the same effect, but furthermore they express the character’s inner self.  Flashy, quick-cut editing helps not only display a sense of urgency and action to the viewer but heighten that sense of tension and insecurity. The quick-cuts can also be used to disorientate the viewer of time and spatial awareness.

Flashbacks are sometimes included and in the same way as quick-cut editing, these can disorientate and confuse the audience. However they additionally give an insight into the characters memories/past. Sound is another factor, as the muffled howling of a wolf in the distance will tell you, it suddenly feels very lonely watching the film and the dramatic drip-drop of a rusty old tap and creaking floorboards adds tension immediately to a room or abandoned house. 

Mise-en-Scene

Thriller style films often use a similar setting to one another. This might be a haunted house, a lone road or perhaps an alley on a dark night. These obviously differ according to different sub-genres of thrillers and therefore, say, an action thriller may be set in a busy city or likewise to give the notion of everyday life being tampered with. 

Cinematography

Mid-shots are very commonly used, as they are a successful form of communicating the characters expression and reactions to the audience. Close-up shots are used in conjunction with these to focus on the subject that is causing the reaction, for example a murder weapon. They also help to create tension within the shot and build atmosphere by manipulating the composition of the shot. Furthermore objects may be left out of the shot to develop the same effect. 

Sound

Non-diegetic sounds are ones that are not represented by an object in a film. Narration is an example of this and is often used in thrillers at the beginning to set the scene and introduce the different characters. Music is nearly always used to create tension and suspense also, which reflects in the audience’s reactions. 

 

Editing

 A common theme in thrillers is fade to black/white transitioning; these can be used to signify characters having memory flashbacks.  Often films use straight-cut editing, as combined with short shots, a sense of action and urgency can be developed. An example of this is the Bourne Trilogy fight scenes.