CONVENTIONS OF A THRILLER

The thriller genre is very different compared to a horror genre as it focuses more on the protagonist and the battle between them and the antagonist.

The thriller narrative always has a distraction in the equilibrium which then provokes a chain of bad events happening so it builds tension and suspense for the climax. Usually the aim for the protagonist is to fight and restore justice, whilst the antagonist seeks to destroy it in any way possible.

Within the thriller the key things to be seen is the low key lighting that is used through most tense moments, quick cuts passing through all the action, changes of the angles which creates chaos during it so the audience feel more tension building as well as the protagonist becoming in the mercy of the antagonist. Most thrillers are seen as very typical as the protagonist would always be a strong and brave male who seeks to restore equilibrium as well as the antagonist who has a hidden identity which becomes discovered by the audience as the films progresses but most revenge seen is from the past events that have happened between them.

Mise en-scene of a thriller:

Most camera shots used within a thriller is close up and extreme close ups for the build of tensions. For example using the close ups will show us the characters expression towards the events which will add tension to the big build up as well as focusing on props to aid the narrative giving the audience more understanding.

A lot of tracking shots would be used within a thriller so all action is filmed wi them giving it the sense of realism to the audience which would engage them more. Within these tracking shots a lot of shot reverse shot and point of view shots would be used within the fast takes to show the body language of all characters as well as building tension.

The typical lighting used would be low key lighting which would create shadows in backdrops of the antagonist so the atmosphere becomes more mysterious to the audience.

The actors within a typical thriller are the protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is a brave strong man who would also be very clever and the antagonist would also be a similar man who holds a grunge. However the matrix goes against the typical conventions and uses a brave and strong woman instead of the typical man.

Within a thriller costumes can change but within a typical one the protagonist would be in normal clothes and seen as a normal person and the antagonist would be wearing dark clothing to connote the mysterious atmosphere that they're wanting. Most costumes would be suits as well.

Most typical props used within thrillers are weapons which are mostly guns to give the characters more strength against each other.

The setting of a typical thriller is usually a place that is secluded but seen as normal and safe place. Sometimes the setting may be a rundown warehouse so it creates the tension within the film so the audience try to figure out what the victim will do to escape from the antagonist.

CONVENTIONS OF A THRILLER LOOKING AT THE FILM DRIVE

Within the film 'Drive' it uses various camera shots such as close up which a quite rare throughout the film, however because of the context of the film and that the main character does not speak much so we have to go by his facial expressions.

In the start of the film during the opening titles it begins to set the scene by using and aerial shot to set the scene of where the film is based, for example it is showing a busy city with all its lights. this could be used to suggest that there could be a lot of chaos through the film.

Another shot used is a pan which moves from the subject around the room focusing on key props which could connect to what is happening. within this shot it is panning towards the TV which has the news on so it could suggest that something bad is going to happen or police could be involved.

Within this shot the camera is placed behind the characters should which could be in eye line with another character however it has been placed so we see the characters face within the mirror to see his expression. It also used the golden mean so we focus on his face in the mirror and his hand on the steering wheel so we encounter all the action that takes place as well as the characters reaction.

This shot type used is a close up so we are able to see his expression towards anything that is going on during what is taking place. From this shot we see a very blank yet concentrated expression suggesting he is thinking about what to do next.

In this shot we see that it is a low angle shot so it is looking up at our subject. This could suggest his importance as well as superiority as it may be someone else looking up at him who is weak making the subject look stronger. Within this shot we also see that it has used the rule of thirds so we focus on the hammer which connotes danger as well as the subject’s expression.

Within this close up it uses a dissolve from the setting of the scene to the main character which could suggest that this character is based in the city and the whole film is, it could also suggest that because he is in the car it could connote the speed and chaos throughout the film.