Research into Conventions of the thriller genre- Miss Miller

Conventions with in films are elements that are common in different film genres, they are patterns that can be used in the same category. 

 

Conventions you would normally find in a thriller film are:

• Diegetic sound - Diegetic sound is where the source is visible on the screen. For example, characters voices or sounds made by objects in the scene.
• Non-Diegetic Sound - Non-Diegetic sound is where the source is not visible on the screen or has been implied to be in present in the action. For example it could be sound effect that is added for dramatic effects of music to adjust the atmosphere of the scene.
• Location - Types of locations are conventional in the thriller genre such as forests to help build suspense.
• Iconography - Iconography is a convention used in the thriller genre as it also contributes to the suspense. Weapons such as knives and guns keep the audience in suspense as it imposes a threat on the victims.
• Low angle - This is where the camera is positioned low down below the eye line. This is conventional in the thriller genre as it could be used to conceal a identity.
• High angle - This is where the camera is positioned above the audience eye line. This is conventional to the thriller genre as is could be used to highlight the vulnerability of the victim. It could be used to make the victim appear smaller or looked down on.
• Mid shot - This is where the camera is a a medium distance. This is used in thriller as it could be used to focus on certain characters facial expressions.
• Long shot - This is where the camera is placed at a long distance showing some of the location. This us used in thrillers to introduce the locations such as a haunted house.
• Low key lighting is a convention of a thriller, throughout my thriller clip the lighting is very low-key, this connotes that something bad is going to happen, darkness represents death/danger for the audience. This then creates tension which is also conventional of a thriller film as it connects with the audience and draws their attention to what is about to happen.
• Blonde female victims are very conventional of a thriller, there are two in this film. In this clip, it is revealed that the husband is actually the killer of the young blonde victim who was killed and in the bottom of the lake. The inferior victim is always chosen, applying to the thriller genre as it can connects the audience with the characters. The wife then becomes the victim; an ordinary marriage turns into a strange murder mystery. The wife is very venerable just like the young girl victim who was killed before, they are targeted because they are weak, and this creates so much suspense for the audience, which makes there even more relief when the dead girl helps the new victim to escape.
• Twisted plots are very common in thriller films, they engage the audience with the film in depth as the shock created causes a link between the characters and the audience. They’re shocked that they have been tricked throughout the whole film. Twisted endings are often clever as they enable the audience to watch the film for a second time and not become bored; this is because usually after finding out the twists and re-watching the film, all hidden things become obvious to the audience now that they know the truth. This can also strengthen the link between the audience and the victim. For example, through out what lies beneath, the young girl is portrayed to be haunting the wife of the unknown murderer. However, she was the victim all along try to aware the wife that her husband is a crazy killer.