Genre Research: Thriller

Thriller

The genre thriller has many codes and conventions. The different elements typically serve to portray intensity and fright from each scene.

Angles

Tilted-tilted angles are often seen in thrillers to add drama to the movie. This is typically used to either scare the viewer as if the subject of the tilt is being attacked. Or it can also be used to add comedy and portray a scene's over-exaggeration. 

POV- POV angles are used in thrillers to show you what the character sees from their perspective. It helps the viewer understand the story better and adds a new level of depth. 

Handheld- This angle is typically used in chase scenes. It creates a level of movement and is used in fast pace shots. This is also used when the character may be filming something and what that footage will look like. 

Low- In thrillers, low angles are typically shot looking up at the film's antagonist. This is to give them a perspective of power and create fear. It is also used to make the viewer feel inferior.

Mis-en-Scene 

Costume- In thrillers, clothes are often dirty and torn towards the end. However, at the beginning of most thrillers, the characters are in everyday outfits fitting the time trend of its era.  

Lighting- Thrillers are typically set at night. They have a dark tinge and generally poorly lit shots. 

Acting- The actors are often young as they are seen and the most naive and targetable for the antagonist. In thrillers, the acting is typically portrayed to showcase the character's fear.

Makeup- The makeup in thrillers is often used to portray that a character is dead so it's often very bloody and dirty. 

Prop- Common props are weapons that are used by the villain. Thrillers also feature a lot of fake blood used to spray everywhere. 

Setting- Typically isolated places that are dark and vacant

Sound 

Diegetic- In thrillers, it can be gunshots, knife sounds, or a thud of a body 

Non-diegetic- The most classic use of non-diegetic sound in thrillers is the scream. It is often used when a  character discovers an awful scene. 

Example films 

1)Alone by John Hyams (2020)

2) Countdown by Justin Dec (2019)

Of the thriller conventions, we like how they utilize their makeup to convey a story and the depths of a character. We can use this tactic if we plan to go with the genre. We dislike how the lighting can make it hard to see the full details of a scene in thillers. We don't plan to film in extremely poor lighting.