Conventions of a thriller / horror film

By Ellie Addison

Audience

• From looking at some research it seems many horror / thriller films appeal mainly to men aged between 16-25 and also some women in this age group. This is also reflected by some film’s viewing ratings being 15 and 21.

Typical Settings

• From my research I found that many horror films were set in isolated and secluded areas such as forests.

• Typically within the horror films I researched, the director used dark alleyways and streets to set an eerie atmosphere.

• In some films there was use of settings which connote a dark atmosphere such as graveyards and derelict buildings.

Characters

• From watching horror films it seems there is always a victim that turns into a hero by the end of the film. (The protagonist.)

• A villain that is usually presented as a total psychopath. E.g. a serial killer.

• Innocent children and members of the public which usually are abused by the villain.

• Police officers which usually try to solve the crimes. However in some films are corrupt.

Typical Narrative

• Many horror films such as Halloween are left without closure so a sequel can be made.

• Normally the main protagonist goes on a quest or journey to kill or solve the problems that the villain has caused.

• Many thriller / horror films included lots of dynamic action to interest the audience.

Themes

The horror / thriller genre is incredibly broad and therefore has lots of themes all appealing to different audiences. Some of these themes are:• Good versus evil (binary opposites) • Nightmares• Insanity• After life

Shot types, lighting etc.• Dark and shadowy lighting otherwise known as

low-key lighting which creates a dark and eerie atmosphere which relates to the genre.

• POV shots gives the audience a sense of realism.• Low-angle shots can be used to make the villain

look imposing and superior. • Hand-held camera shots give a sense of realism

and also the shakiness can give a sense of something being wrong and can show a state of panic.

Editing

• Sometimes certain shots are put into slow-motion to build tension and to make the action seem even more significant.

• Editing the shots so they cover a long period of time helps the audience establish what exactly is happening.

• However fast-paced shots which are edited in a way that makes them flow quickly gives a real sense of drama and action. The fast-paced shots can also connote urgency and panic.

Diegetic Sound

• These are sounds coming from within the shot which could have been purposely filmed to create a particular atmosphere. These could be:

• Dialogue between characters• Screaming / shouting from characters • Doors slamming• Leaves rustling • Traffic

Non-Diegetic Sound• These are sounds that have been edited onto

certain shots to create a particular atmosphere. These could be:

• Music soundtrack overlaid onto shots (usually dark and dramatic)

• A Foley or sound effect. E.g. screaming, keyboard tapping, birds screeching, phone ringing.

• Voice overs which is dialogue recorded and laid over certain clips. These are sometimes done to make the dialogue clearer.

Examples of thriller films: