A Detailed Analysis Of Thriller Conventions.

By Harry Woodhead

(1960’s) (1991) (1999)

Thriller Definitions.

A thriller is a genre that surrounds itself in suspense and anticipation of an impending act of terror.

The purpose of a thriller is for it to keep its audience on the edge of their seats, waiting for the inevitable moments in which a shock happens.

The protagonists in thriller films will always be set in a position of peril in either; an escape from a threat, a mission or a mystery.

No matter what form of thriller (sub-genre) it falls into, the film will accentuate the immediate or subtle danger that the protagonists are facing.

(http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/thriller#) – thriller examples, definitions

The Poster Layout Analysis With most thriller posters the title position is placed at the bottom of the

poster. This is because leading roles/actors have their names at the top, if they have enough credit. Like Jim Carrey in ‘the number 23’ or Cameron Diaz in ‘the box’. The title remains at the bottom because the image is the main centre piece of the poster and sets the theme of the movie.

Over time image focus on thriller posters have changed so that what used to be a lot in a poster has been reduced to little/subtleness, leaving a bigger impact of a poster. Like this poster of ‘the number 23’ we can clearly see that it is just Jim Carrey’s face surrounded by darkness and psychotic etchings written all across his face. In reality we are just seeing his face in black and white (simplistic) however it has finer detail should you pay attention to it, the etchings, facial expressions etc.

Nearly all thriller posters feature a face, either the protagonists, or a significant other. This is because it sets the theme of the film. For example the face of Cameron Diaz in ‘the box’ has an expression of anxiety and anticipation. She does not look at us because her attention is focused on something else, something perhaps chasing after her. However we look at Jim Carrey in ‘the number 23’ and he is looking right at us with glazed eyes and an unwavering stare. This tells us he could be the threat/danger and is clearly mad.

Another similarity in posters is ‘Catchphrases’ & ‘Font’. Catchphrases are used on posters to set a theme/effect. Whilst font also gives us an idea of the films angle, i.e. ‘number 23’ has loose writing and emphasis on 23. This gives an impression of significance to the number and also madness. Whilst ‘The Box’ is stern and straight, and the word box has been emboldened because its significant to the film. We are supposed to pick up on the word.

(2007)

(2009)

(2007)(2007)

(2009)

(2007)

The Poster Colour Analysis In the more modern era thriller posters have very little colour, and what

colour they do have is for reason and contrast. An example would be ‘The Box’ as featured on the right. There are 3 colours that stand out. Red is the colour that shows us danger and peril, it is slashed across the protagonists face and the mysterious person below, entwining them both in the theme of danger. Black is what the figure is shaded in and shows the theme of mystery which surrounds him and the background. Finally grey, which has a neutral tone to it, this shows us she is not a threat, but rather the person who is in danger.

The elder poster made in 1964 as opposed to The box in 2009 has a completely different angle on its colour coordination. The colour on this poster is of a wide palette, its aim in this is to emphasise the apparent murdered women. The title translated from Italian is (the murder of 6 women) so naturally the focus point on the women makes for an obvious poster. Again as pointed out in the poster layout analysis, the poster has focused on the face, the colours it has used is not that of a masked man. But more of a blanked out face, this adds an element of mystery and suspicion as to who this murderer is.

The use of colour is used to capture an audiences attention, but now the use of colour has become dated. This has meant something like ‘The Box’ compared to ‘Sei Donne Per l’assassino’ grabs more attention because it is subtle but has a flare of colour.

(2009)

(1964)

Common Thriller Conventions / Analysis The conventions of a thriller film poster are simplistic at

best, ranging from facial expressions (from facial aspects the poster will either indicate the traits of a character or tell us who it is) to camera lighting and angles (i.e. chiaroscuro). These aspects to a poster give the audience everything they need in order to understand what genre it is, what is happening and who is involved in what.

As with any poster, celebrities and directors are always mentioned as it will bring in the crowds if said actors have big credit.

Classic iconography dictates that it is also likely for audiences to see in thriller posters a gun or murder object, as well as faces and also cars for car chases. Being as the posters cannot show you a trailer, they have to use imagery from the film of the exciting scenes to make the whole movie look great.

The advertisements of thrillers through posters is crucial because it has the potential to bring in the masses to watch the film. However they are difficult because it has to explain to the audience the entire theme and story of the film in just a picture and catchphrase.

Here we have an example of a lighting effect used in many thriller posters. This is chiaroscuro. It is where lighting shows two sides to a character, mostly good and bad. But it can be used to explain other things.

(1960s Film)

Old

Fashioned

Poster

Denotation: She is clawing for a phoneConnotation: she is in desperation to escape from the pursuer and get help

Denotation: hands outstretchedConnotation: again she is clawing at the floor in an attempt to get away

Denotation:No shoes

Connotation:She might be in her home or

that she is being sexually assaulted or

lost her shoes in an attempt to get away

from her pursuer.

Denotation:The pursuer

who has a gun

Connotation:He is standing

behind her holding a gun, and appears to

be the man pursuing the woman as he is calm and

just standing there.

Denotation: She is dressed nicelyConnotation: she might have been

attacked from her date or on her way home

Denotation: Look of desperationConnotation: her eyes are raised as if she was struck and she is in anguish.

Denotation:Black

background

Connotation:The black

background represents

evil, mystery and fear. This is because we

don’t know what is in the dark, apart from this

woman and the pursuer

Denotation: Camera/frame angleConnotation: the poster is set from a viewpoint of looking just

over her, this shows vulnerability/weakness.

‘The Challenge’ Analysis

Straight off from this poster we can determine that the woman is highly vulnerable and in desperate need of help due to her efforts to reach the telephone. The artist has strengthened this view due to the fact of her facial features, body language, and apparel. Her face is in anguish as she is trying to escape her pursuer and reach the phone. Also her body is sprawled across the floor in what appears to be a room in which a man stands in the door frame with a gun, presumably the attacker. Finally her shoes are missing indicating perhaps a struggle to get free or to run away from him if she was in heels. Another note on apparel would be that her dress is red, a typical convention of a thriller because red signifies danger and peril.

This woman appears to be a protagonist or sub-character (murder victim) as she takes up most of the poster, which suggests her importance and power within the film. The colours of the photo are perhaps uncommon of that time as they tended to be more colour associated. It is only now a days that subtlety is used to create a bigger impact in posters. The choice of colour for the background (black) is great because that instantly sets the tone as a dark film i.e. horror, thriller etc, whilst also adding contrast to the other colours within the picture itself.

Denotation: Her feet are positioned

backwards

Connotation:bracing the attack of the shark this also

shows the size of the shark.

Denotation:The woman holds a stance of defiance

Connotation:This again

emphasises the size of the shark and her

impending doom.

Denotation: Huge waves created by

shark

Connotation:The waves add an

effect of enormity of the shark and also

great dramatic tension even more so that the boat ripples

Denotation: Scary teeth

Connotation:This shows the

audience the danger of the shark.

Denotation: Jaws is the A

Connotation: to emphasise what the film is, the shark is the

title of jaws.

Denotation: the boat moving

Connotation:Even the boat is

creating waves in the presence of the shark. This shows the weight

and strength of the shark in the fact that it is effecting the boats

movements.

Modern Poster

JAWS Analysis

From first glance the poster gives us an immediate acknowledgement of what ‘jaws’ actually is, as the shark is part of the title, and has huge jaws. This tells us the animal is a main protagonist to the film and most certainly has importance and power because he is the centrepiece to the poster. Jaws is the one causing all the drama within the poster. The poster also emphasis the shark constantly with both small and big details, such as the boat causing splashes because of its sheer size whilst the shark too is also creating huge waves. Another obvious sign that emphasises the shark is its massive set of jaws. This has to be the most stand out piece of imagery in the poster. It directly refers to the title and explains the title.

Standing within the boat we can also see a sub-character or perhaps a protagonist. As she holds a heroic stance against this goliath of a shark. However she does not pale in comparison to the shark as the sharks size shows its importance and the jaws link to the title. The difference between this poster and the previous shows the evolution of posters through the years from the 60’s to the 90’s. The difference is that the picture shows female equality as in this film she has a chance against her attack where as previously she was a woman, therefore weak and vulnerable. Also there is just imagery used instead of cast and directors which is more cleverly utilised as the title entwines with the animal itself etc

Everything withers with time

My Poster Analysis• From my earlier analysis

of posters, with layout and colour. I decided to work upon my thriller poster with the key aspects that the good thriller posters have.

• I have my protagonists face in the top left corner, with an anxious expression directing her look away from the audience, indicating innocence.

• The bottom right picture is the threat against the girl, his gun is aimed at the audience indicating he is the threat.

• The title and rose link within the catchphrase below the title. This is made obvious by the colour contrast.

• The font is posh because it displays a theme of romance but remains a thriller because the title has a blue element, which gives a feeling of coldness. The catchphrase is then in plane font to stick out. So it hopefully sticks in the head of my audience.