codes and conventions of a thriller.

Codes and conventions of a thriller.

Some of the conventions of a thriller may be the low lighting in a scene, shadows, changes in camera angles and quick cuts. Quick shots and editing is used frequently in thrillers to accentuate the feelings of suspense and tension. They are often during important and significant scenes. It is sometimes used to create disorientation. Certain thrillers may also use flashbacks to contribute to a sense of tie and space disorientation in a thriller to confuse the audience; it helps to give an insight into the characters past. For example in the thriller ‘Memento’ by Christopher Nolan that is a perfect example of certain codes and conventions used in a thriller.

The characters of a thriller often include of a brave male who looks to restore the equilibrium. Then an antagonist who has some kind of hidden identity or secret which will slowly reveal as the film progresses. Often the antagonist is trying to get revenge from past events, or sometimes have physiological issues. There are often a lot of quick shots on the antagonist and often will be cut to hide the identity of them. Often the shots are filmed either from the back of shots of the antagonist or even just a shadow still hiding the identity. Where as on the protagonist there may be a lot of extreme close ups to capture the emotion on their face.  There may be a lot of jump cuts as there will be little things the audience wouldn’t be aware of but are essential for the thriller films to make sense. This is also another convention used to add suspense.

The music in a thriller plays a big part of building up the tension, especially psychological thrillers more than one character plays on the mind of others, using mind games, which results to demolishing other characters mental state. in a thriller is essential to understand the mood of the character or to add suspense so a significant part of the film. It also adds tension when needed, and would most likely start slow at parts and then builds up to make shots more dramatic for the audience.

Often the theme of a thriller is to make the audience believe it could happen to them, it isn’t too far-fetched and unbelievable. Of course this isn’t always the case.