Thriller

What is a thriller?

A thriller is simply a type of genre in which the main plot of the story will be an emphasis on the danger that the main character faces. The thriller genre is all about building tension and suspense, there will be various scenarios that the main character faces that will ensure that this suspense is met, for example there will most likely be some form of chase scene where the main character is in critical danger. No matter what sub genre the thriller context is used in, there is no doubt that the tension and suspense of the film will be the main focus within the film and that there will be a highly emphasized climax to the film that adds to these characteristics.

Codes and conventions

• Quick changes in shots to make the scene more frantic

• A dramatic sound track that emphasizes tension

• Slow build up

• Intense action scenes, e.g. chase scenes

• Breathing sounds (diegetic)

• Long silences to prolong tension

Sub-Genre

• Examples of thriller sub-genres include:• Crime thriller• Action thriller• Psychological thriller• Science fiction thriller• Horror thriller

• All of these sub genres allow for the tension and suspense that the thriller genre promises to be fully explored as they all blend well with the aspects of high intensity and prolonged tense atmospheres.

Cinematography

• The protagonist will have lots of close ups and extreme close ups to portray their emotion clearly and effectively, this also allows the audience to empathise with the protagonist more meaning the action is more engaging to watch.

• The antagonist (villain) will most likely remain faceless and finally reveal him/herself in the climax of the film, to do this a lot of ground level and evasive shots will be used to evade the antagonists face.

Editing•C

rosscutting and parallel editing is often seen within the thriller genre, these techniques allow for both sides of the story (protagonist and antagonist) to be told at the same time. As well as this, crosscutting and parallel editing allow for more suspense if you are using jump cuts to show the audience things that are happening that they might have been unaware of before.

Examples of thrillers