Thriller Film codes and conventions

Purpose

The purpose of a thriller film is to thrill the audience and create suspension to make it
entertaining for the audience. Also they are meant to entertain.

Examples

● Taken
● The Invisible Man
● Women In black
● Bird Box
● Tenet
● The silencing
● The Invisible Man
● Extraction
● 21 Bridges
● Ma
● Glass
● Split
● Parasite

Sub Genres

● Action Thrillers
● Physiological thriller
● Adventure thriller
● Supernatural thriller
● Spy thriller
● Political thriller
● Romantic thriller

Target Audience

The target audience for thriller films are young adults who are either male or female aged
around 15- 30 years old. The most common ages for Thriller films are rated 15, some are
12A and the more gory content is aged 18. There will be a variety of spending powers in the
target audience because there is a wide target audience.

Narrative

● Complicated Narrative
● Sometimes Linear or sometimes non linear
● Enigma codes are frequently used
● Investigator
● Not always happy ending
● Make a safe place seem unsafe
 ● They might have a red herring
● The narrative can be set in a safe place

Themes

● Stalker
● Violence
● Death
● Manipulation
● Innocent vs guilty
● Hate
● Love
● Family
● Suspense
● Problem solving
● Mystery
● Spys
● Chase
● Crime assassination

Characters

● Villain
● Hero
● Protagonist
● Antagonist
● Identity
● Criminal
● Police
● Victim
● Friend
● Informer
● Private detective
● Hacker
● Sinister sides

Cinematography

● Handheld camera - makes the audience feel like they are there.
● Close up - shows the emotion of the characters.-
● Track - allows us to keep up with the pace of the film.
● Pan - gives us a view of what is happening in the location.
● Establishing shot - allows us to pick up the whole shot with a wide lense.
● Dutch tilt - creates tension and uneasiness
● Trombone shot - explains a situation by telling us what is around us.
● POV shot - allows us to picture what is happening through the actors eyes.
Mise en scene

● Uniform
● Trent coat
● Weapons
● Vehicles
● Guns
● Knifes
● Blood
● Clothes hides identity
● Torn clothes
● Candles
● Shadow

Sound

● Dramatic music
● Intense sounds
● Mysterious tone
● Sudan noises
● Music building up
● Footsteps
● Heavy breathing

Editing

● Continuity editing
● Quick cuts
● Flashbacks cross cut builds tension
● Match on action
● Montage