technical conventions of thriller films

Ryan GooderhamS

Technical Conventions

of Thriller Films

Ryan Gooderham

Camerawork

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CameraworkUse of tracking – follows the action and

creates a sense of pace and danger

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CameraworkPOV – shows from the point-of-view of

the character and involves the audience

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CameraworkECUs / CUs (close ups) – clearly shows

the expressions of the characters

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CameraworkReveals (track in/zoom in) – create a

sense of tension and suspense

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CameraworkDramatic angles – create a dramatic

ambience

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Sound

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SoundSilence – creates real tension and

suspense

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SoundExaggerated sound – pinpoints key

sounds to the audience and makes the sounds overly dramatic

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SoundEerie, tense music – creates suspense

and an eerie atmosphere

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SoundOff screen sounds – creates an aura of

mystery

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SoundDiegetic – sound heard by both the

characters and the audience (e.g. dialogue)

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SoundNon-diegetic – sound heard only by the

audience (e.g. background music)

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Mise-en-scene

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Mise-en-sceneLow key lighting – creates an

atmosphere of suspense, mystery and spookiness

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Mise-en-sceneChiaroscuro – when a strong contrast is

created between light and dark colours

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Mise-en-sceneStrong directional lighting – used to

highlight a key prop or character, and often contrasts a lot with darker, low key lighting

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Mise-en-sceneOver exposed or colour manipulation –

creates a feeling of unrealism, making things seem disjointed and confusing

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Editing

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EditingFast paced editing –

used especially in chase scenes, create a sense of danger, action and pace

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EditingJump cuts – create a sense of

confusion and nervousness

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EditingParallel editing – seeing two scenes at

once, one after the other, consecutively – forcing the audience to link the two scenes together

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EditingObtrusive editing – this is when the

editing is done so that the audience are aware and reminded of the fact that they are watching something that has been filmed and edited