For our thriller opening sequence we decided to use the sub-genre mystery. We thought mystery was a good sub-genre to go with because we wanted our opening to create enigmas throughout for the audience. The sense of not knowing what will happen next will also create a thrilling atmosphere. The conventions of a thriller are portrayed through cinematography, the narrative, editing, sound and the mise-en-scene.
The location of a
film is one of the most important parts of the mise-en-scene as it needs to
adhere to the narrative. For example, a typical location are suburban areas,
however, exotic locations are also used. Exotic locations can be something a
bit different to normal landscape, so the desert or a foreign city. In existing
thriller films, the location of a suburban area has been used in the film
Kingsman: The Secret Service.
However, in Skyfall they use the location of Istanbul in Turkey which will be considered an exotic location but it is filmed within an urban environment, although exotic locations are subverting the typical thriller location.
A variety of shots are used within thriller
films, although, typically the camera angles which are used more often than
others are mainly extreme close ups and close ups. Extreme close ups and close
ups are typically used within the thriller genre because it creates a sense of
suspense for the audience and rules out the background, therefore leaving the
audience unaware of what is going to happen next. Extreme close ups and close
ups are used to portray detail of what they could possibly holding and they are
also used to express emotions more clearly. These shots are also used to create
enigmas within a film, therefore making the audience question what they are
staring at.
In the film Dexter, a
close up of him shaving is used to create suspense as shaving could hurt and
could cause a cut, therefore connoting the use of blood. Also, the use of a
razor could portray the character as dangerous and psychotic.
A variety of angles, including low and high angle shots are used typically within thrillers. Low and high angled shots are used to create a different effect for how the audience perceive the character. Over the shoulder shots are also commonly used within thriller films to create the sense of realism for the audience, to make them feel as if it is happening to them as well. An over the shoulder shot also creates tension to feel as if someone is being watched or followed. Within our thriller opening we have used a variety of over the shoulder shots to portray our antagonist as watching the protagonist without him realising.
Sound within thriller
films also consist of both loud and quiet noises. Quiet sounds are often used
to help build tension, however, loud sounds such as thunder can be used to
break the tension and make the audience feel unsettled, causing them to react,
for example the audience may startle. Non-diegetic sound such as music are
often used to create tension, it can also be used to jump scare the audience
and emphasise surroundings. Diegetic sound is also used within thrillers when
characters speak to tell us the narrative. However, diegetic sound is also used
within thrillers to emphasise character's emotions, for example, when characters
are scared or terrified they tend to scream or cry and this creates tension and
the sense of enigma for the audience. In our thriller opening we have only used diegetic sounds to create more of a realistic and relatable atmosphere.
Typical props which
are used within thriller films are mostly weapons, for example guns. When
weapons are used in films it tends to connote danger and trouble. A weapon can
also be associated with a character and helps the audience identify the
characters more easily. Props such as mobile phones are also used within
thriller films. The use of a mobile phone can anticipate tension as the
conversation could turn nasty and threats could be made towards different
characters. Using a mobile phone also keeps the audience anonymous to who the
person is they are speaking to, which also creates tension and makes the
audience wonder who it could be. In our thriller opening, as it is set in a graveyard, considered the gravestone itself to be the most significant prop. We feel the gravestone is the most significant prop as it relates to the whole storyline of the 15 year old boy waking up on the gravestone to find he is going to die in the near future.
Main characters within thriller films tend to be a protagonist and an antagonist who are fighting with each other. In thrillers, these characters are stereotypically males who have a strong physic and are particularly dominant. The male protagonist usually has a job which involves danger or lives a lifestyle where danger is entailed. The male antagonist is usually a mysterious character, who sometimes you wouldn’t predict is the bad person. Antagonist’s within thriller films usually have experienced a traumatic life or have a physical deformity, which turns them into a bad person. Our thriller adheres to the typical main characters as our antagonist and protagonist are both stereotypical males. Our antagonist is represented is a mysterious character as his identity throughout the whole opening is hidden which creates enigmas for the audience to who he might be.
Another typical character within a thriller film is a sidekick who tries to help aid the protagonist. Although, the sidekick, is usually killed or leaves the protagonist for the antagonist. In Batman, the sidekick is presented as Robin who helps defend Batman when he is in trouble. This adheres to the typical representation as it shows Robin always has Batman's back. Although, within our thriller opening, we only have 2 characters, them being the protagonist and antagonist.
Also within thriller films there is stereotypically a female role, a damsel in distress, which portrays women as weak and helpless. Women are also presented in this way to show they need to be saved by the protagonist and the antagonist usually uses the female role to lure in the protagonist. In Spiderman 2, the woman is stereotypically represented as the damsel in distress when Spiderman, the protagonist, comes to save her.
Also within thriller films there is stereotypically a female role, a damsel in distress, which portrays women as weak and helpless. Women are also presented in this way to show they need to be saved by the protagonist and the antagonist usually uses the female role to lure in the protagonist. In Spiderman 2, the woman is stereotypically represented as the damsel in distress when Spiderman, the protagonist, comes to save her.
Costume within characters can be changed during the film depending on the situation and the narrative. The protagonist is either typically dressed smart, in a suit, to connote they are superior and intelligent. In Skyfall, James Bond is denoted to be wearing a suit. The suit gives connotations of being intelligent and wealthy. Wearing a suit could also portray dominance, this adheres to the patriarchal society.
Although, in some films a female role has played a protagonist or an antagonist which is unconventional, however, if a female is used as one of these roles they are usually sexually exploited through costume by wearing something extremely fitted or something revealing. The colour of characters costume generally tend to be black, or a dark colour, to portray mystery. In our thriller opening we have chosen to subvert the typical stereotype of having a female damsel in distress as the protagonist is the one who typically needs saving, although he can also be portrayed as saving himself.
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