Conventions of a Thriller Film

As there are many different types of thriller films (hybrids) there is no specific definition of a 'thriller'. For example, there are thriller horror films, Western and Science Fiction thrillers as well as many others. However, a universal definition used is a film that keep members of the audience in a heightened state of awareness and suspense by creating excitement through impending danger, however still knowing they are perfectly safe in the cinema or at home.

As there are many conventions of thriller films, I wanted to research them and hopefully include many of them in our film opening sequence:

1. Building up to a climax which leads to an explosive 'finale'. For example, the film 'Speed'.
2. Music that increases suspense, excitement or emotional impact.
3. They usually appeal to a younger audience with the use of special effects and invigorating scenes, usually using steadicams.
4. The opening of the film has a deliberate lack of clarity to intrigue the audience into the rest of the film.
5. In some thriller films, self-deprecating humour and 'self-parody' can sometimes make violence fun. For example: 'Pulp Fiction'.
6. Gunfire scenes give a certain heroic pleasure to men.
7. Slasher Thrillers can make the audience terrified on behalf of the victim.
8. Predominant characters are involved (the antagonist and the protagonist). In numerous films an antihero is revealed. This is where the antagonist turns out to be the protagonist. Men are usually the main characters and women are portrayed as the 'helpers'.
9. Suspense, using reaction shots, POV and tracking shots, hand held camera shots (e.g. Paranormal Activity). Allowing the audience to know more information than the characters/potential victims. Using silence, false suspense/shocks and non diegetic sounds creatively can also create suspense in thriller films.
10. Voiceovers are used in thriller films to allow the audience to hear what the character is thinking as well as inform to audience of what is happening in the storyline as it develops.

The plot of a typical 90 minute thriller will usually include most of these conventions. It feels important, when making our two minute opening sequence, to include convention number 4 in order to intrigue the audience making them want to see the other 88 minutes of our thriller film.