Conventions

Common thrillers provide thrills and keep the audience at the edge of their seats as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the character is placed in a menacing situation, mystery, or an escape from which escaping seems impossible, it is these main enigmas that create suspense in this genre. The conventions of the thriller genre are mainly to do with sound and editing, quick cuts and different camera angle changes are commonly used in this genre. Also lighting, especially the use of shadow, mirrors and stairs can lead to an increase of tension and suspense within a narrative. Normally, there is a lot of dim lighting used to show only parts of a character, there can be large lethal weapons for props and camera shots are mainly close ups, this is to restrict the information that is shown to the audience.

However in some thriller films, the audience is shown more than the characters may know, e.g. in Psycho, we see a shadowy figure behind the character. 

This is commonly used to make the audience feel sympathy for the character. Colours have also been used to signify different emotions, e.g. red may connote danger. Mostly thriller films have a non-diegetic score playing in the background creating a sound bridge to create a certain atmosphere.

Thriller films are normally shown from two points of view. First being of the protagonist; this involves the audience in events and can create empathy for the character. 

Occasionally the story is 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. Lastly though the story can be told from the point of view of an onlooker, this detaches the audience from events so they can be more observant. Things that seem to be quite common are shown at low angles and the high angles at certain points; the high angle is used mainly to show those in a powerful position.

Phone Booth is a particular example of a thriller that does play by conventions, as it avoids any darkness and shadow. However, the one way to link it to standard conventions is to say that you hear and see the story from the killer’s point of view; you are told a story with the use of flashback and fast editing.

Events in the storyline enable the film to progress, and allow the audience to second guess what will happen next. In many films they will be wrong so adds to suspense. The dialogue in thrillers is either minimal or never contains a complete explanation of events or a plot, to give it pace, and maintain the enigmas within the narrative, which is essential in building up suspense. Often in thriller films, there is one character that plays the role of a helpless innocent in need of rescue. Themes are commonly based around current fears and worries. They may be isolation, entrapment, murder or pain. There is therefore normally a male protagonist who battles the injustice and ultimately aims to defeat the residing evil of the situation. This can be a vast majority of characters from a monster to a twisted boy next door, there is however some common characteristics which include solitariness, revenge and anger. The setting in common thriller films can be in urban places, in cities or in sometimes in quiet country villages.