Thriller films generally use the Todorov theory of narrative. As the digram shows, it starts with the equilibrium, which is a state in which things are balanced. In this time the main character is introduced along with his ordinary life. This is followed by the disruption of the normal.
There are three main conventions that thrillers take advantage to make to the audience ask questions and give a mysterious feeling to the audience
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Camera shots/movement;
One of the elements that thrillers make use of is Camera Movement/Angles. Thriller films also use Camera Angles such as facial close up shots and mid – range shots. An example of a close up was used in a film called Band of Brothers, in the film there is a close up of the mans face after he has been shot, showing the mans pain, helping the audience emphasis with him. These help to show facial emotions/expressions and also shows body language, which helps to show tension, and helps the audience to feel immersed in the film. Some Camera Movements also make the audience feel tense and also helps to make them feel like they are actually in the film. For example some films try to mimic the characters breathing by making use of the camera's movement. This can be seen in the opening sequence of The Bourne Supremacy, when Jason Bourne wakes up in his bed after a nightmare and begins to heavily breathe. This makes the audience feel like they are in the film and to make them feel like they are the ones that are breathing. Another Camera Movement is tracking, this is a fast paced camera movement, which can also be known as a Dolly shot or just a Dolly. This types of shot has been used in films such as Goodfellas, when the camera is quickly tracking through the kitchen. This makes the audience more tense and also makes them quite nervous and tense, as they know something is about to happen.
Editing;
The other important convention that makes up a thriller is Editing. Fast paced editing be seen in films such a psycho, when the women in the shower is getting stabbed, showing different angles and shots in a short amount of time. This makes the film fast paced and makes it more tense. Another one is fade to black. This has been used in the film Three Monkeys, at the end when the final shot is of a man standing at the top of a ramshackle building, looking out on a dark horizon. This helps to create suspense in the film as the audience don’t know what is going to come up next.
Sound;
Sound is a very important element when creating a thriller. For example jumpy and and quite scary music is often used in thriller film to help create tension and allows the auidence to feel scared for the characters. Another sound element which is very important is high pitched sounds/orchestral stabs such as screeches. For example orchestral stabs such as screeches are used in psycho, when the lady in the shower is being stabbed. .This adds suspense and horror/thriller to the film to give it its thrilling genre. Other sound's used in a thriller are; synchronous/asynchronous sounds, ambient sounds etc…..
Mise-en-Scène;
Mise-en-Scène contains a few important elements which help add to thriller films and also . Lighting such as colour design is usually dark and helps to make the audience feel more suspense towards the film. Another thing is the use of prop, and in thriller films there is a lot of weapons such as glass, knives, guns etc….In films such as Train-spotting, they use props such as drugs, needles and fags, to show that the characters are on drugs and to show the audience what type of personality each character has. The set design/ location also helps the genre of the film stick to thriller, as the right set/location such as a gloomy warehouse or dark woods give a thrilling film as it shows mystery and suspense/tension towards the audience
There are three main conventions that thrillers take advantage to make to the audience ask questions and give a mysterious feeling to the audience
.
Camera shots/movement;
One of the elements that thrillers make use of is Camera Movement/Angles. Thriller films also use Camera Angles such as facial close up shots and mid – range shots. An example of a close up was used in a film called Band of Brothers, in the film there is a close up of the mans face after he has been shot, showing the mans pain, helping the audience emphasis with him. These help to show facial emotions/expressions and also shows body language, which helps to show tension, and helps the audience to feel immersed in the film. Some Camera Movements also make the audience feel tense and also helps to make them feel like they are actually in the film. For example some films try to mimic the characters breathing by making use of the camera's movement. This can be seen in the opening sequence of The Bourne Supremacy, when Jason Bourne wakes up in his bed after a nightmare and begins to heavily breathe. This makes the audience feel like they are in the film and to make them feel like they are the ones that are breathing. Another Camera Movement is tracking, this is a fast paced camera movement, which can also be known as a Dolly shot or just a Dolly. This types of shot has been used in films such as Goodfellas, when the camera is quickly tracking through the kitchen. This makes the audience more tense and also makes them quite nervous and tense, as they know something is about to happen.
Editing;
The other important convention that makes up a thriller is Editing. Fast paced editing be seen in films such a psycho, when the women in the shower is getting stabbed, showing different angles and shots in a short amount of time. This makes the film fast paced and makes it more tense. Another one is fade to black. This has been used in the film Three Monkeys, at the end when the final shot is of a man standing at the top of a ramshackle building, looking out on a dark horizon. This helps to create suspense in the film as the audience don’t know what is going to come up next.
Sound;
Sound is a very important element when creating a thriller. For example jumpy and and quite scary music is often used in thriller film to help create tension and allows the auidence to feel scared for the characters. Another sound element which is very important is high pitched sounds/orchestral stabs such as screeches. For example orchestral stabs such as screeches are used in psycho, when the lady in the shower is being stabbed. .This adds suspense and horror/thriller to the film to give it its thrilling genre. Other sound's used in a thriller are; synchronous/asynchronous sounds, ambient sounds etc…..
Mise-en-Scène;
Mise-en-Scène contains a few important elements which help add to thriller films and also . Lighting such as colour design is usually dark and helps to make the audience feel more suspense towards the film. Another thing is the use of prop, and in thriller films there is a lot of weapons such as glass, knives, guns etc….In films such as Train-spotting, they use props such as drugs, needles and fags, to show that the characters are on drugs and to show the audience what type of personality each character has. The set design/ location also helps the genre of the film stick to thriller, as the right set/location such as a gloomy warehouse or dark woods give a thrilling film as it shows mystery and suspense/tension towards the audience
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