What is a thriller film? (Miss Georgiou)

Conventions of a thriller 


Low key lighting - Low-key lighting is the technical opposite of the high-key arrangement, because in low-key the fill light is at a very low level, causing the frame to be cast with large shadows. This causes stark contrasts between the darker and lighter parts of the framed image, and for much of the subject of the shot to be hidden behind in the shadows. A good example of this is the opening scene to Saw 1, before the lights have been turned on, the scene is very dark and in the Mise-En-Scene Low-Key lighting is used.

Iconography - This relates to Mise-En-Scene as it covers images and objects used to portray the codes and conventions of a film genre. In Kill Bill, the fight scene including Vernita Green, a lot of different weapons are used from fire pokers to knives and these props help the film convey the genre it is suited to.

Shock/Surprise/Suspense - This is the use of different emotive techniques to help reflect on what is happening in the thriller genre film. In the film Scream this is used very well as these conventions are used in stages to build up Shock/Surprise/Suspense.

Tension - This is the how the film taunts the audience by mentally straining them. In Kill Bill the way she gets close to defeating her enemies, makes the audience tense, then as she loses in a fight it would cause them to feel tense as an outcome also.

Hidden identity - This is always brought into play by a villain in a Thriller film, as they always lead to doing bad things, the hidden identity allows them to get away with some bad actions they take. The Scream film series is the best example of this as the killer always wears the grim reaper mask to hide his true identity, therefor killing all the people without getting found out.

Killers and victims - People do die in most thrillers and this links well with tension. It affects the story line which therefore creates suspense. Scream, Saw and Kill Bill have deaths contently with both killers and victims.

Representation of characters - This all relates to the characters facial expressions, costume and emotions. In Scream the killer is dressed in black and he is always taking part in bad deeds, this is how we understand by his representation that he is a socially bad character.

Enigma - This is the mystery intervened within a thriller film. It is mainly there to keep the audience significantly intact with what is going on as it adds excitement. The mask is the Enigma used in Scream and the question of who the killer is always stays in the audiences mind as they watch the film.


Task 1
Define and explain what the codes and conventions of  the saw clip are backed
up with evidence-
Low key lighting - When their in the bathroom when the scene first starts

Location - Abandoned bathroom,dark and dingy

Point of view - Seeing the dead man on the floor

Fast pace shot - When they zoom out the dead man on the floor

Tension - Builds up the tension when the lights are off and the mans talking

Shock - When the lights turn on and you see the dead man on the floor


Task 2
How does the opening sequence help define the genre?

In the opening scene of Saw 1 it is very dark hence Low-Key lighting is used for this section of the scene. When the lights are turned on the camera focus' just as the characters eyes do to make the shot seem more POV even though it isn't. As there are two men locked up with a dead body lying on the floor it creates an enigma to how they became how they are now. When the guy is shouting we don't know where the sound is coming from because it is dark, but when the other voice tells him it is pointless yelling we understand that the place they were burdened is abandoned.

The components used in this opening helps define a Thriller as it starts of with a lot of unanswered questions and it uses many codes and conventions of the thriller genre to present the opening scene.


Task 3
How can you use the film to help you to plan your own thriller?

In this scene i particularly liked how the scene started with all low key lighing because it kept the audience in suspence and kept them thinking and asking themselves questions like why is it dark and where are these people. It was effective how you could only hear the man talking at the beginning with no light because you could only hear noise but couldnt see anything. This is conventional to a thriller because it keeps the audience in suspense/tension and when the lights come on the audience are in shock/surprise. So this would help me plan my own thriller because this is an idea i would like to use.


Task 4
Research into one thriller film (opening) of my own choice and comment on the following points

Paranormal activity

Codes & Conventions - In Paranormal activity there are many codes and conventions used. Low key lighting is used alot throughout this film in many scenes e.g all the night scenes. This is convetional because it keeps the audience engaged in the whole film and lets of a spookey atmosphere.

Target audience - The target audience for this film is a 15 which means no one under the age of 15 can watch this thriller film. This is because the film contains some strong language and strong voilence which is not appropriate for children under the age of 15 to watch.

Audience Expectations - The audiences expectation of this film is for it to contain alot of shocks and surprises seeing as thats what keeps the audience enganged in to the film. Audience also expect the film to keep them hooked in and to get them a little scared and worried about what will be happening next.

Shock, Surprise, Suspense - This film is full of shock surprise and suspence because its about a demon trying to posess this girl. So throughout the whole film many unexpected things are going on. For example a door slaps unexpectedly which creates a shock for the audience.

Narrative - Paranormal activity is an American horror film about a young couple, Katie and Micah, filming supernatural activity at night in their home. The film is shown normally with a normal hand-held camera to show that this is a first attempt of filming anything that happens in their house. The hand-held camera is also used to give an exiting effect throughout the film. The narrative theory used for this film is Todorov's Theory.