Codes And Conventions Research

Codes and Conventions of the Thriller Genre

Mise-en-scene

·    The setting and the objects/props in it are used to help give insight into the film’s plot

·    As a convention of the thriller genre, mirrors are used as a reflection of the soul and inner self, sometimes representing the darkness within a character  (an example would be ‘Mirrors’ by Alexandré Aja)

·    Stairways and narrow corridors create a claustrophobic atmosphere

Sound

·  Sound and music is used to create an atmosphere of tension and suspense,
Non diagetic sound which is what the audience are able to hear creates suspense
Diagetic sound which can be heard by the actors/ characters that are in the scene

Costume

·    Colours play an important role in the thriller genre. The contrast between black and white is often used to represent good and evil, white represents innocence and purity and black represents corruption and evil (an example would be ‘Psycho’ by Alfred Hitchcock)

Light and Shadow

• Shadows and low light create tension and eeriness, sometimes showing the darkness within a character
• Darkness is used to give a sense of claustrophobia.

Camera Shots and Angles

·    Quick camera shots gives the effect of tension and suspense

·    Camera shots (e.g. point of view, close-up, etc.) subtly gives an insight into the plot and situation

·    Camera angles (e.g. high angle, low angle, etc.) gives a vivid image about the characters and their situation

Costume

• Colours play an important role in the thriller genre. The contrast between black and white is often used to represent good and evil, white represents innocence and purity and black represents corruption and evil (an example would be ‘Psycho’ by Alfred Hitchcock - This is when the female character changes from wearing the colour white- meaning purity and innocence to black- meaning impurtiy and darkness)

Editing

·    Fast pace editing and quick shots create a disorienting effect, often used in important scenes.

·    Flashbacks are a convention of the thriller genre, they give insight into the past and create a sense of distorted time




My group and I researched the codes and conventions of thriller movies so that we could get an idea about what kind of tasks we had to do to make our thriller opening a suitable thriller genre opening and also the specific elements of a thriller genre.