Thriller Genre Research: Outline

A picture collage I created summarising some of the examples and elements on the thriller genre

The thriller genre of film revolves around anticipation and suspense as its main themes. Therefore the purpose of this genre is to make the audience keep these themes in mind whenever possible to convey the full effect of an enticing thriller film. This is usually done by showing the protagonist heavily burdened with a problem they must overcome somehow. To ultimately maximise this effect, the danger and tension in the film is emphasised and developed throughout the story until the plot climax.

Much like all the other genres in film, the thriller genre makes use of key conventions but in this case specifically tailored to this type of film. They are:

1. Narrative: 

This is about the actual story where the audience becomes immersed and invested in the plot so much so that they believe and experience the world shown on screen. Below are some of the main points about narration and its arc:

One way to approach the narrative to a general film that can be adapted to different genres

• The characters are placed in a DANGEROUS SITUATION with the odds stacked against them which CREATES A CONSTANT FEELING OF SUSPENSE for the audience that keeps them interested. 
• MYSTERIES in the thriller genre are portrayed in a way that are misleading from the actual truth. This was most famously introduced as a 'RED HERRING' by Alfred Hitchcock and has now made thriller audiences unable to always trust what is shown on the silver screen meaning that the PLOT IS UNPREDICTABLE KEEPING VIEWERS IN SURPRISE/SHOCK and on the edge of their seats. 
• This also links in with the importance on AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS and how they can be capitalised on by the director - due to these expectations audiences CAN LEAD TO VARIOUS TRAILS OF THOUGHTS WHICH INCREASE TENSION FROM THE MYSTERY AND RESTRICTED NARRATIVE. 

 
    2.   Cinematography:

Cinematography is concerned with how the story is portrayed and shows camera shots from the right perspective to ensure that key elements are included that are for example, suspenseful. Different shots can create different effects and here are some examples:

 

• HIGH ANGLE - This shows the character on screen to be VULNERABLE and therefore prone to attack which EVOKES A SENSE OF TENSION purely from the audiences' anticipation of what might happen. 
• TRACKING SHOT/OVER THE SHOULDER - It gives the sense that the PERSON IS BEING FOLLOWED by somebody else who is deliberately out of view which gives the point across that is a SUSPENSEFUL ENIGMA. 
• POINT OF VIEW (POV) - This shot puts the audience into the film from a firsthand experience by placing them into the CHARACTER'S PERSPECTIVE similar to the purpose of 3D films.

    3.   Editing Techniques: 

Relating to cinematography, this regards putting the shots together which aids how the camera shots are portrayed to the audience. Here are some types of techniques utilised in thriller genre films for certain effects:

An editing suite

• FAST-CUT EDITING - This strings a number of shots together in such a way, that as the name implies, MAKES EVERYTHING ON SCREEN SEEM FASTER and therefore MAKING IT MORE EXCITING AND DANGEROUS AND THEREFORE INCREASING TENSION. It is typically used in action sequences such as fight scenes like in the 'Bourne' series. 
• LONG EDITS - IT PROLONGS THE POINT UNTIL WHICH THE ACTION HAPPENS to DRAW OUT SUSPENSE which is metaphorically palpable within the audience as they are WAITING IN ANTICIPATION AND SUSPENSE for the plot climax which they expect to occur. 
• CROSS CUTTING - Portrays a RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CERTAIN CHARACTERS OR OBJECTS which often SUGGESTS SOMETHING IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN TO THEM OR SCENE IS BASED AROUND THEM - this derives from audiences' expectations of thriller genre films. 

 
    4.  Mise En Scene:

This entails the specifics and details of the film that make it realistic and more believable/immersive. This can range from a number of things which I shall mention some of them below: 

The first 7 minutes of the video describe the aesthetics (such as costume, make-up and set locations) that went into the production of 'The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey' 

This video goes into detail about the location aspect of mise en scene that went into the film and how it is important 

• LOCATION - It can be SMALL/ISOLATED which gives the effect that something is out to get the character on screen CREATING ANTICIPATION FROM AUDIENCES' EXPECTATIONS. However, it can also be in a PUBLIC/OPEN location like a street because it links in with the CRIME THRILLER ASPECT of the antagonist blending in with the surroundings of an urban environment. 
• LIGHTING - LOW KEY LIGHTING can be used to emphasise the purpose of the small/isolated location noted before. Whilst 'HARD' HIGH KEY LIGHTING is used to show and build upon the atmosphere that the scene is set around a HARSH REALISM.  
• (KEY) PROP - This is important in MAKING THE FILM REALISTIC for example, by giving a specific prop to a character to help identify that person through ICONOGRAPHY. Sometimes as well, key props are what aid the narrative of the story by acting as the MOMENTUM OF THE PLOT. 

   

   5.   Sound:

Sound is about assisting the narrative and does this by provoking emotive responses. Below are some of the key elements used in thriller genre films that maximise the atmospheric effect conveyed on screen.

Sound booth used during post-production

• PLEONASTIC SOUND - EMPHASISES AND EXAGGERATES THE ACTION ON SCREEN therefore BUILDING UP THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SCENE. A classic example of this is in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' where the murderer stabs the victim repeatedly with this high pitched tone played alongside. 
• FAST PACE/TEMPO SCORE - As implied, the score has a lot of MOMENTUM, SPEED AND RHYTHM to it that KEEPS THE AUDIENCE INTERESTED AND IN A CONSTANT STATE OF TENSENESS. 
• SILENCE (NO SCORE) - In contrast to the above, nothing can be heard except for maybe some diegetic ambient or asynchronous sounds that KEEP THE AUDIENCE IN SUSPENSE until the climax of the scene due to their expectations of the thriller genre.