Conventions of the thriller genre

1. Narrative

1.1. The aim is to create suspense and excitement for the audience

1.2. Violence is often a key theme within thriller films

1.3. There is usually a protagonist who is rather immoral or an outsider, perhaps an anti hero- but usually has good intentions.

1.4. Movies typically begin with equilibrium and through the course of the film, the equilibrium is disrupted and then restored by the protagonist. Thrillers often begin with an unjust society, which the protagonist works against.

2. Mise-en-scene

2.1. Antagonist wears dark or black clothing

2.2. blood and violence

2.3. Guns, knives, weapons, etc

2.4. Low-key lighting to create an atmosphere of suspense or gloom

2.5. Dark colour palette

2.6. Settings include isolated places such as a haunted house or an alleyway

2.7. Proxemics utilised in order to simulate claustrophobia

3. Sound

3.1. Begin with a slow tempo

3.2. Slow or eerie music in order to create suspense or uncertainty

3.3. Silence

3.4. Heightened diegetic sounds such as a door creaking

4. Camera angles, shots and movement

4.1. Tilt shots or otherwise disorientating angles and shots to create discomfort within the viewer

4.2. Close-ups and extreme close-ups of the protagonist

4.3. High angle shots to show the a character's dominance over another character, usually the antagonist over the protagonist