Research on The Thriller Genre

There are many different conventions that are commonly used in the thriller genre. Often the plots result in serious injury of death to characters, although characters often recover from any injuries, or come back to life in some way. 

Often in thrillers, there is some narration at the beginning of the film, perhaps to set the scene and introduce characters, but this is not continued throughout the main body of the film. Also, narration is occasionally re-introduced at the end of the film, to give the impression that the plot has travelled ‘full circle’ back to where it set off in the beginning. 

 

Thriller films are usually set in cities or other built up areas, because this gives the impression of the action interfering with everyday life. For example, this allows the characters to chase up and down the streets getting in the way of everyday people, or perhaps allowing a car chase to take place, again weaving in and out of other people. 

 

The main roles in the film are usually either male or female. Quite often, there is an element of the two main characters being against each other, and the audience is encouraged to take sides with one of them, meaning that a hero and villain situation is formed.  

Quite often, such films are set in offices or in homes, meaning that a wide range of props are required in order to make the set realistic.  

The cameras often pan on certain characters, particularly at the beginning of the films. There are often wide shots, with a certain character doing something in the centre of the shot, instead of a tight shot showing a close up of the actor. The shots are usually edited to jump quickly between shots, giving the impression of fast-moving action work.  

Also, shots, which move erratically side to side, are often taken in sepia, with a viewfinder over-layed in the edit, giving the impression that the audience are looking through the viewfinder of a gun.  

There is often background music playing at key points in the film, which is used to create an atmosphere of tension. Also, sound effects are often used to reinforce the sounds that occur when filming (i.e: added gunshot sound or explosions). This often sounds particularly impressive in cinemas, where surround sound systems are in place.  

Dim lighting is also used often in thrillers, to create an impression that the characters cannot control the situation. For example, a gun fight or battle would often take place in a dimly-lit area, instead of in broad daylight. The use of low or dim lighting also creates an atmosphere of tension for the audience.

 

Photographs or common objects are also used in thrillers, as this gives the impression that the character looking at the object is looking back into history. Photographs are often used to spark memories in the mind of the character, which then perhaps leads to a revelation, or making something else happen in the movie. For example, in The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne finds a passport, which he assumes to be his identity, meaning that he then goes on the run, shaping the rest of the movie. 

In addition, there are also lots of flashbacks in movies, which take the actor back to a certain significant point in time. Flashbacks are often used at the opening of movies, to a point in time not shown in the movie, which gives important details to the audience. They are also often used towards the end of the movie, perhaps taking the character back to the beginning of the movie, reminding the audience of what happened then. 

Mirrors, or reflective surfaces, are often used in thriller movies. Quite often, the camera shot is taken from behind the person, so that the audience can see both the back of the person and the reflected image of the front of the person in one shot. However, the shot is often edited to show a different image in the mirror, suggesting that the character has a cloned or duplicated identity, or perhaps taking the person back in time, showing the character at a younger age.