Typical Thriller Conventions

Conventional Thriller Characters:

• Rapists
• Victims
• Murderers
• Psychotic individuals
• Serial Killers
• Loners
• Ghosts
• Vunrable Women

Conventional Thriller Settings:

• Isolated houses/ areas
• Woods
• Cities/ Towns
• Night
• Graveyards

 Conventional Thriller Themes:

• Murder
• Violence
• Romance
• Suspense
• Mystery
• Death

Thriller Genre Timeline

5 Thriller Films Researched

 1, Hide and Seek (2005) 

• Tense music is used  in order to establish atmosphere

•  hybrid thriller as it contains many stereotypical horror elements such as murder, darkness and fear but also contains mystery, tension and suspense which is very generic of the thriller genre

• Set in a large house in an isolated area 

• Murder is a constant theme throughout the story 

• Ends in suspense when the heroine (Emily) draws hersel in a picture with a double head, suggesting that she to sufffers with the same mental disease her father had 

2, Cape Fear (1991)

• Use of pathetic fallacy to create atmosphere during tense moments 

• Music emphasises the suspense that the audience is meant to feel

• Killer is a psychotic, rapist which is very stereotypical of the thriller genre 

•  Cape Fear is a hybrid thriller as it contains themes of crime such as criminal vs defense lawyer  

• Use of props such as fake blood and make-up wounds make violence and gore a recurring theme 

3,One Hour Photo (2002)

• A psychological thriller that focuses on a loner character 

•  Uses music to indicate when something is not quite right 

• Use of extrememly bright lighting to create the effect of being in a mental institution to emphasise characters state of mind 

•  soundtrack of a heart beat to emphasise tension- very typical of the thriller genre 

4, The Prestige (2006) 

•  Use of dark lighting creates dark and tense mood throughout the storyline 

• Themes of revenge, violence and madness 

• Hybrid thriller as the themes of magic make it a fantasy thriller 

• Dangerous magic tricks performed which create suspense in the audience 

• Use of lashbacks to reveal plot twist at the ending 

5, Taken (2008)

• Hybrid thriller as Taken contains themes of both action and crime 

• Use of split screen

• Sound effects used in the fight scenes - creates a fast paced rhythm that creates tension and fear 

• Reaction shot used on fathers face when he sees his daughter 

•  Setting changes from a clean and bright airport (equilibrium) to dark and grim (disequilibrium)

Famous Thriller Directors

1. David Fincher

• David Fincher has directed thriller films such as The Game (1997) , Se7en (1995),  Zodiac (2007) and Fight Club (1999).

• Most of his films are hybrid thrillers as they include genres or crime, drama and mystery.  

• David Fincher has been known to use generic trhriller effects such as using shadowy lighting and his films usually end in suicide (either attempted or successful)

• Is known to cast Brad Pitt in many of his movies including Se7en (1995), Fight Club (1999) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) 

                                                                                                              
     2, Christopher Nolan

• Christopher Nolan has directed famous thrillers such as The Dark Knight (2008), Momento (2000), Batman Begins (2005) and Inception (2010) 

•  Most of Christopher Nolans movies are hybrid thriller of mystery and crime as all the films include criminals and violence.

• He often casts British or non-American actors in American Roles, e.g. Christian Bale to play Batman in The Dark Knight (2008)

• Uses cross-cutting of several scenes of parallel actions to build climax. The Prestige (2006) and The Departed (2006) both present examples of cross-cutting
  
  

      3, Martin Scorsese

• He has directed great thriller movies such as Goodfellas (1990), The Departed (2006), Taxi Driver (1976) and Shutter Island (2010)

• Most of Martin Scorseses movies are hybrid thrillers of mystery and crime

• He has been known to begin his films with segments taken from the middle or the end of the movie. Raging Bull (1980),Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995) were all seen to use this time reversal technique

• He often uses freeze frames; Raging Bull (1980), GoodFellas (1990) and The Departed (2006) and frequently sets his films in New York

Famous Thrillers

A typical Thriller movie will feature themes such as violence, crime and murder which create an atmosphere of a dark, dangerous and corrupt society. Literary devices such as cliffhangers and plot twists are very common as they help built the suspense and anxiety that they want to promote in the viewer.

1, The Silence of the Lamb (1991)

• Silence of the lambs is a well known hybrid of both Crime and Thriller genre, starring Anthony Hopkins  and Jodie Foster

Synopsis

• A young FBI cadet confides in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. 

Thriller Conventions

• Characters- serial killer, phycopathic doctor, victims
• Setting- Prison, isolated house
• Themes-  Murder, Action, violence. suspense  

 2, Jaws (1975)

•  Jaws is a Thriller movie that was created in 1975 that focuses almost entirely on violence and suspense themes throughout the movie. Starring Roy Shceider. 

Synopsis

• When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.

Thriller Conventions 

• Character- Cheif Martin Brody of the police force and a gigantic killer shark 
• Setting- A small community Island, isolated setting at sea 
• Themes- Violence, suspense, fear   

3, Panic Room (2002)

• Starring Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart. A thriller that focuses entirely on anxiety, tension and fear. 

Synopsis

•   A woman and her teenage daughter become imprisoned in the panic room of their own house by 3 criminals. 

Thriller Conventions 

  

• Characters- Victims, criminals, 
• Setting- Large house, Trapped in one area 
• Themes- Fear, suspense