Codes and Conventions of Thriller Movies.

Many Codes and Conventions are used in thriller films:

Narration - Voice telling you parts of the story. This creates tension for the audience. It also creates a sense of mystery and makes the audience feel a sense of suspense. This is used in numerous thriller films such as The Others.

Music - Scary/eerie music is typically used in thriller films. There are different types of music used in thriller films:-

The most usual kind is sharp, high-pitched which is very fast and loud. This is used as it reflects on the genre emensly, it creates the scene for a thriller film. It also makes the audience feel tense and unsettled. Alfred Hitchcock uses this kind of music for his films as it is very effective as the frantic and jumpy music creates a sense of urgency as if someone is being chased. Also films such as Jaws use this type of music when the shark is about to pounce on its prey.

The other type of music used in thrillers is slow pace and gentle/eerie music. This usually contains instruments such as violins and pianos. This is used to develop suspense and a sinister and unsettling feeling for the audience. This is used in films such as The Others.

Lighting - Shadows are used in typical thriller films as a way to create a sense of suspense and action in the film. It makes the audience edgy and is used to intrigue interest from the audience. Shadows are used in many ghost films and also in many Alfred Hitchcock films along with dramatic lighting. Mirrors and stairs are also used as well (e.g: Psycho).

Dramatic lights add tension to the scenes. When black shadows, bright disorientating lights and sharp contrasts are used this makes the thriller film more interesting.

Scenes which switch very quickly and suddenly builds-up the audience for an scary film. It makes the audience on edge and is also used to show action is occurring.

Camera Angles - Panning and Tracking are used to create a sense of being followed. High camera angles are used to emphasize the victim as being small and vulnerable in a thriller film. Low camera angles are used to create height for a villain and makes the villain seem very in charge. Consequently it builds-up a sense of them being big and scary.

The Credits - Thriller films use these to symbolically represent broken up minds, thoughts and people within the film. These are used in films such as Gothika.

Is Entrapment - Claustrophobic spaces are a key generic signifier that are used typically in thrillers. Films that have used this is: Flightplan, Snakes on a Plane, Phonebooth, Kill Bill 2 and Panic Room.

Flightplan - Location - Plane

Snakes on a Plane - Location - Plane

Phonebooth - Location - Phonebooth

Kill Bill II - Location - when woman was buried in the coffin

After evaluating and researching thriller films so far, the codes/conventions I have picked up and could use in my own thriller movie opening is as follows:

Music - Very slow paced music will be effective as it creates a lot of tension. It also sets the mood for a scary atmosphere within the film, and consequently the opening will give the audience an insight of a chilling film. In contrast very fast, high pitched music could also be used as a suitable match for a thriller.

Lighting - Shadows could be used as this will create a lot of suspense and action in a film. Black shadows also make the film more interesting and edgy.

Camera Angles - Over the shoulder and Birds eye view camera shots could be used as this will make the audience feel as if someone is watching the other characters and are being preyed on.

High Camera Angles are used especially up-tilt shots. These make the victim in the film very small. Low Camera angles give the villain of the film height and make him seem big. These are good to show statuses of the characters in the film.