Conventions of a Thriller

Thrillers are essentially about the battle of justice vs. injustice where often there is a price to be paid for the conclusion of the story. A thriller is a film of suspense with a plot structure that reinforces the elements of gamesmanship and the chase. Thrillers can be psychological, political crisis, legal thrillers, medical thrillers, spy based or domestic thrillers. Commonly thrillers progress with a growing sense of threat or danger and the excitement of pursuit.

Thriller films are normally shown from two character points of view. The first being that of the protagonist, which involves the audience more in events and creates empathy for the character. Or the story is occasionally told from the view of the villain, which can lead to empathy for the villain also at their twisted understanding or perhaps disturbing past that has led to the present. Although it can also create a sense of guilt. Finally the story can also be told from the point of view of an onlooker, detaching the audience from events so they perhaps are more observant.

Events in a typical horror storyline enable the film to progress, and allow the audience to second guess what will happen next. However this is the case in many other genres i.e. Action/Horror for films to contain this dialogue/trend it would be wrong for thrillers to have this hence the diversity from thrillers and horrors... Thrillers are more natural and tend to have a unique aspect in the way a thriller film is produced. The dialogue in thrillers never contains a complete explanation of events or plot, to give it pace, and maintain the mystery, which is essential in building up suspense.

Typical Character roles

Often in thriller films, there is one character that plays the role of a helpless innocent female in need of rescue. Who does however become brave when her help is needed and often aids or saves the male hero/protagonist. There is therefore normally a male hero who battles the injustice and ultimately aims to defeat the situated evil of the situation to allow good to prosper. The situated evil character in thriller films can be a vast majority of characters from a monster to a twisted boy next door. There is however some common characteristics which include revenge or anger.

IconographySetting: Can be urban, isolated sub-urban settings, cities or quiet country villages.Mise-en-scene: Normally dim lighting hiding parts to a character, large threatening weapons for props e.g. large knives, guns etc. McGuffin a prop that continues linked to the narrative.Enigma A puzzle, something that causes the audience and character to think throughout the film Camera shots are normally point of view shots, frames within frames, or close ups. Often there is also of camera movement. Colours are also used to signify different emotions like red connotates blood, evil or a beginning of danger, meanwhile blue connotates cold, anxious, mystery or death.