Conventions Of A Thriller

Here are some typical conventions of a thriller film:

• Darkness - whether this be because of the time of day or the rooms that the scene is taking place in. Thrillers have a way of creating suspense and tension through the lighting (or lack of) as you cannot see entirely what is there.
• Music - the music used in thrillers is often fast paced or it builds up. Fast-paced scores are generally used to create a bit of panic in the audiences reaction to what is being shown on screen. When music that builds up is being used it's normally to intensify a scene. It creates a feeling of dread in the audience as to what is about to happen. As the sound becomes louder the audience knows that something is about to happen and the reaction that you get from them is greater than without the music.
• Close-ups - these are used a lot in short spaces of time. It creates a very intimate atmosphere between the characters and the audience. Makes us pay more attention to the detail that's being laid out for us on screen.
• Flashbacks - these are very common in thrillers. Along with memories they are used to portray a different or leading-on storyline to the main content provided. It allows us to piece together what is happening more easily. they are mainly edited to be shown in black and white or a sepia tone. This is done to indicate that the characters are no longer living in the present day but in the future or past.