Codes and conventions of thrillers
Thrillers usually consist of a conflict between the protagonist and antagonist when there is a disruption in the equilibrium. The protagonist aims to restore the equilibrium and the antagonist aims to destroy it. The thriller genre aims to create suspense and anticipation from the audience and does so through the use of cinematography, editing and sound. A thriller wants to maintain the attention of the audience and place them on edge.
A history of the thriller genre
A history of the thriller genre
1920-1930
The first thriller was created in 1927 by Hitchcock, it was called The lodger and was released in 1926. Hitchcock excelled in the thriller genre and created another thriller in 1929 called Blackmail, it is considered to be Britain's first film feature length film featuring sound.
1940-1950
During this decade Hitchcock continued to produce Thrillers that were all equally suspenseful. In 1940 he won an Oscar award for the thriller Rebecca and also produced the thriller Foreign Correspondent.The thrillers released in this decade all had elements of a killer or a death that must be solved, the idea of a killer/serial killer is still present within today's thrillers.
1950's
Hitchcock continued to create masterpieces, he began adding Technicolor to his films during this era, his works include Strangers on a train(1951), Rear window and Dial M for murder, again all with the common trait of murder. Other directors such as Henry Hathaway also used this trait within the 1953 Niagarain which a wife plans to kill her husband.
1960
In this era there were various thrillers produced, the most famous one from 1960 was Peeping Tom which featured a psychopathic camera man and was released prior to Hitchcock's thriller, Psycho that also featured a psychopath named Norman Bates, the owner of a hotel. Spy thrillers became popular in this era, including the series that inspired 007, Harry Palmer, other works were The spy who came from the cold(1965), The deadly affair(1967) and the triple cross.
1970-1980
An array of thrillers were produced in the ten years and have offered a unique and terrifying thriller that is equally effective today. Works include:
1990-Present day
An iconic thriller with the element of what is going to happen was cleverly presented in Misery starring Kathy Bates. Other films surrounding revenge of some sort:
Cinematography of a thriller
Within a thriller there are a range of close ups and extreme close ups of the protagonist which is used to depict their emotions and importance within the film. Close ups can also be of props to aid the narrative. However, the antagonist will have less close ups to allow them to remain a mystery until the protagonist and the antagonist meet. For example in the thriller Unknown starring Liam Neeson, the close up shot has been frequently used to stay with the protagonist and constantly reiterate to the audience that he does not know his identity.The use of closeness connects the audience and the protagonist as we learn of his true identity, the close up shots of his face allow us to view the feelings of the protagonist.
Tracking and pan shots are typically used to focus the audiences attention on a particular person or group. They are typically used in the opening scenes to establish the characters within the film. For example, this camera movement was used in The Dark Knight during the bank heist where the camera tracks the groups movement.
Editing
The editing within a thriller will typically include jump cuts to other key scenes in the film, this creates tension. Tension is further created through cross cutting and creates a sense of speed and urgency. Quick shots and obtrusive editing are used to accentuate the feelings of suspense and tension. A series of flashbacks are a convention of thrillers which allows the audience to have an insight into the characters life and past or a flashback can offer information as to who the killer is,ect. For example within Memento flashbacks are frequently used.
1960
In this era there were various thrillers produced, the most famous one from 1960 was Peeping Tom which featured a psychopathic camera man and was released prior to Hitchcock's thriller, Psycho that also featured a psychopath named Norman Bates, the owner of a hotel. Spy thrillers became popular in this era, including the series that inspired 007, Harry Palmer, other works were The spy who came from the cold(1965), The deadly affair(1967) and the triple cross.
1970-1980
An array of thrillers were produced in the ten years and have offered a unique and terrifying thriller that is equally effective today. Works include:
- 1972 Frenzy, Hitchcock
- 1971 Play misty for me
- 1973 Dont look now
- 1980 Dressed to kill
- 1981 Body Double
1990-Present day
An iconic thriller with the element of what is going to happen was cleverly presented in Misery starring Kathy Bates. Other films surrounding revenge of some sort:
- The hand that rocks the cradle,1992
- The silence of the lambs 1991
- Se7en 1995
- Eden Lake 2008
- Funny Games 2008
- Unknown 2011
- Taken 2011
- The Gift 2015
Cinematography of a thriller
Tracking and pan shots are typically used to focus the audiences attention on a particular person or group. They are typically used in the opening scenes to establish the characters within the film. For example, this camera movement was used in The Dark Knight during the bank heist where the camera tracks the groups movement.
Editing
The editing within a thriller will typically include jump cuts to other key scenes in the film, this creates tension. Tension is further created through cross cutting and creates a sense of speed and urgency. Quick shots and obtrusive editing are used to accentuate the feelings of suspense and tension. A series of flashbacks are a convention of thrillers which allows the audience to have an insight into the characters life and past or a flashback can offer information as to who the killer is,ect. For example within Memento flashbacks are frequently used.
Sound
I created a PowToon explaining the sound used in the thriller genre.
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