Thriller Genre Conventions

Thriller Genre Conventions

• Mise en Scene
• Camerawork
• Editng
• Characters/Actors
• Themes
• Audience appeal

   

  
  

A thriller genre narrative is mainly based around a crime such as murder or theft as a thriller is typically based on something that can happen in real life. The common conventions in the thriller genre include mise en scene consisting of props such as guns, cars and planes and dark clothing. These props are used frequently in thriller films as it creates more suspense for the audience. A generic signifier in thrillers are weapons such as a gun, this is because it signifies danger and showing the audience that the dramatic tension has increased. The setting of a thriller film is usually somewhere abandoned adding to the suspense of the story line, it creates a more realistic atmosphere towards the audience making the film more interesting.

In all thriller films there is the role of a protagonist and antagonist as it is stereotypically used in all film genres, it shows the clear contrast between the heroes and villains. Other mise en scene is camera work; the most used in the thriller genre mid shot and close up, this is because it focuses on the actors facial expressions making it more obvious to the audience of their emotions during the event the film is at. Editing used is usually the changing the pace of the camera movement during an important event, this could be a chase or the climax of the film. Another common element used in thriller genre films is sound editing; the use of non-diegetic sound such as screams creates natural sounds making it seem more realistic. Synchronous sound used is typically in time with an event happening in the film so it emphasizes on the tension that is created during the event occurring. This is a convention of the thriller genre as it’s typically used to increase the suspense of an event by making it seem tenser.