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Generic Signifiers
Generic Signifiers
Generic Signifiers
These thrillers are more slow paced, including more mental aspects than action and murder. They show the
characters developing emotionally and psychologically throughout the film, with the audience viewing the
progress or deterioration of the antagonists.
Both types of thriller often include twists or a real life situation, especially used in physiological thrillers.
These two thrillers appeal more to a female – orientated audience, as fear of real life situations affect
females more, and the horror, gory aspects of the action and crime are not so appealing. The Sixth Sense
(1999) is a psychological thriller, one that includes a twist as to who is really the spirit and the dead. This
shows the emotions of the dead and presents a surprising twist for the audience.
An example of a drama thriller is The Interpreter (2005) and for a psychological, The Ring (2002) or When a
Stranger Calls (2006). These thrillers usually consist of a female protagonist appealing to the most popular
audience for that sub genre. These genres may used focus foreground and background shots, as well as
low and high level angles showing a characters weakness. A slow panning of a setting is also used as well
as tracking of a character, both these camera movement shots build suspense for the audience. For
example, in When a Stranger Calls, the first floor of the house is panned slowly, showing the female
protagonist in the forehand, however in the background, out of focus, the stranger is up against the window.
This creates apprehension and fear from the audience as the audience is aware of the figure whereas the
protagonist in danger is not.
Supernatural Thriller and Spy
Thriller
Supernatural Thrillers may include the non human such as aliens. They build suspense through low
level camera angles from the human looking up to the supernatural aspect. In addition,
supernatural thrillers can include superhero and villain storylines where one has the advantage of a
supernatural power such as Unbreakable (2000). The protagonist learns something extraordinary
about himself after a devastating accident of physical strength and whilst remaining unharmed from
an accident.
A spy thriller can combine with a crime as it is fairly quick paced at times and can contain violence.
This therefore uses guns as a generic signifier and quick low level and high level angles as the
generic conventions. High and low level angles are used as the spy thrillers, are usually based on a
protagonist having a relationship with a member of the government and usually including the
storyline of terrorists. Films such as the Mission Impossible 3 (2006)and Casino Royale (2006) are
all examples of a spy thriller. The action and storyline pace are the complete antithesis. The action
shots are fast paced whereas the storyline in contrast is slow paced. This slow pace storyline
creates tension or apprehension for the audience.
Common story lines, characters
and settings.
Thrillers all have some kind of mystery storyline and are all
quite jumpy. It normally involves 1 or 2 main characters
quite a few contain a storyline with ghosts, phone calls,
mirrors, being alone, suspense, scary music, crime,
heavy breathing etc.
Our Target Audience will be young adults, the ages reflecting the actresses in the opening of the
thriller. We aimed for this audience, as the thriller can relate to this age group, where the audience
can refer to a real life situation, creating more fear and tension for the audience. Thrillers audience
is stereotypically for a female orientation, this is because the gore and blood are not shown as
much. As well as this, the building of tension and fear is more apparent and has a better effect on
females. In addition, the protagonist in distress is a female.
I would aim the thriller at an audience group D or E, showing a working class audience, one that
can relate and enjoy the thriller. This is due to a slow pace of the film, watching the suspense and
the deterioration of the protagonist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqlz_u7RvjA
Ghosts Knives
A ghostly figure is commonly associated with The knife is a generic signifier for a thriller as it relates
thrillers as it a regular occurrence in thriller films. to a murder and horror within the movie. A knife is a
Ghost thrillers are extremely controversial, as it weapon often shown in the hands of a killer, either
questions whether audiences believe in ghosts or
not, however, with good thriller, the target threatening or murdering a character or characters
audience is aimed to scare even those not within the film. When the weapon is shown in a shot,
believing in ghosts. Ghosts are also a generic the audience are automatically intrigued as to what
signifier of a thriller as it is very supernatural, and the following part of the film building suspense and
can appear whenever and wherever keeping an tension from the audience. Knives are often used in
audience under constant tension and suspense. crime thrillers or psychological thrillers as the action is
These are included in supernatural thrillers,
creating an inhuman plot to the genre. Thir13en not fast paced. It can also be used in a spy thriller.
Ghosts (2001) is an example of a ghost thriller, Scream (1996) is an example. This is a psychological
including a group trapped in a house with thirteen action thriller including the antagonist using a knife
ghosts and trying to escape. when killing his victims.
Generic Signifiers
Blood
This is a generic signifier of thrillers presenting action, Old House
murder, death and an exploitation. It keeps the tension of A haunted house or old mansion are usually a
the audience as well as keeping the thrilling suspense and
signifier of a thriller, where the action of the film
anxiety by relating to a painful aspect that the audience
takes place. This is used as it sets the location
can feel themselves. Blood is very gory, and therefore
helps to appeal to a wider male orientated audience, and general feel for the audience before any
whilst the plot lines and tension from murders attracts a action as occurred preparing them for the thriller
female orientated target audience. Blood is often used in and encouraging them to feel tension and
many different thrillers, crime, action, drama, spy and the suspense just by the location. This connotes to
supernatural. This is siding towards the horror and fear of the audience the feeling of entrapment, a
a thriller, so blood is not often seen for a long period of claustrophobic place compacting the action as
time but then occurs at regular intervals. This is because well as restricting the characters escape. A
it is familiar to the audience and creates an uncomfortable haunted house is often used for psychological
reaction from the audience, reflecting the characters in thrillers, having the mental feeling of being
the thriller. Wanted (2008) and Blade (1998) include a lot trapped. House of Wax (1953) includes an old an
of blood which is parallel to the action packed storyline.
house as its main setting.
Generic Signifiers
Dead Bodies
Colours
Dead bodies are also generic signifiers of a thriller.
Darkness, as well as the colour red are This is an exhilarating factor to the audience
signifiers of a thriller intensifying the tension showing death, murder, action and tension. It
and suspense from the audience. These appeals to most male orientated audiences though
colours are associated with death and mystery, catching females attention in a horrifying sense. It is
as well as the unknown. The darkness attracts common due to other factors, such as guns and
all audiences as it is a common fear of people. weapons, murders and blood. Dead bodies are
Silence is also a sound signifier of a thriller shown in most thrillers, especially the crime, action
building suspense and anticipation of the and supernatural thrillers as weapons are used and
audience. This is used in all thrillers, constantly murders take place. This creates the problem for the
building suspense and tension to the audience. protagonist to solve, building suspense for the
audience. The Shooter (2007) and Braveheart
Awake (2007) uses darkness to hide
(1995) are prime examples of thrillers including dead
characters, action and create tension for the
bodies.
audience.
Generic Signifiers
Guns
Supernatural
Guns are an extremely common signifier in the thriller
Supernatural are also signifiers. Although this
genre as it is fast paced action with suspense, murder,
type of thriller differs to action thrillers, the
tension and blood for the audience. It is a very
blood, guns, darkness and dead bodies are
common signifier used as all audiences are familiar
still reoccurring aspects in the thrillers.
with the weapon and the action scenes of guns are
Aliens, although supernatural keep a thriller
fast paced, thrilling and stimulating for an audience.
fast paced and keeps the audience
Guns are a constant occurrence in action thrillers as
captivated throughout the film. Aliens are
they keep the pace quick, whilst keeping the action
used in the supernatural thrillers, as an un
within the thriller. Smaller guns are also often used to
human significance to the audience. The
keep the pace flowing quickly. The Transporter (2002)
mental control and powers are also
is an action thriller including guns and violence.
supernatural, used in The Sixth Sense (1999)
and other psychological thrillers.
Thriller Opening Conventions
A thriller will open with a hint towards the storyline, the action or the twist.
The opening scene includes the protagonist and the reason for the thriller.
For example, in The Sixth Sense, the opening presents the younger
protagonist in a real life situation, including cops and a crime scene. The
supernatural event occurs where the protagonist sees a ghost where the
mother doesn’t see it. This presents the idea of the thriller and shows the
general storyline of the film. Other openings include the build up to a
situation, however, always including generic signifiers to define the sub-
genre of the thriller.
Films of the genre
• Shutter • When a stranger calls
- Director: Masayuki
Ochiai - Director: Simon West
- Year: 2008 - Year: 2006
- Origin: America
- Origin: America
• Hide and Seek
- Director: John • The Dark
Polson
- Year: 2005 •- Director: John
- Origin: America Fawcett
- Year: 2005
• Cabin Fever
- Director: Eli Roth - Origin: America
- Year: 2002
- Origin: America
Video extracts
Shutter
This is a trailer to the new This is a trailer to
box office release of Shutter. 5 the 2005 film of
Hide And Seek
A newlywed couple Ben and Jane
move to Japan for a promising job “Shutter” After the suicide of his
opportunity - a fashion shoot in wife, the psychiatrist Dr.
Tokyo. During their trip on a dark 4 David Callaway (Robert
forest road they experience a tragic De Niro) decides to
car accident, leading to the death of a “Hide & move with his
young local girl. Upon regaining traumatized daughter
Seek” Emily (Dakota Fanning)
consciousness, they find no trace of
her body. A bit distraught the couple 3 from New York to the
arrives in Tokyo to begin their new country to give more
“When a
life. Meanwhile Ben begins noticing attention to her. In their
Stranger
strange white blurs in many of his huge old house, Emily
Calls”
fashion shoot photographs. Jane finds a new and violent
believes that the blurs are actually invisible friend called
spirit photography of the dead girl 2 Charlie, making David
who they hit on the road, and that very concerned with her
she may be seeking vengeance.
“The Matrix” mental state.