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Monday 3 December 2012

Codes and conventions of the thriller genre



         THE THRILLER GENRE: CODES AND CONVENTIONS



As with any genre, the thriller genre has specific codes and conventions that films within the genre conform to. While not every convention applies to every film, every film; every films must contain elements of these to be classified as a thriller.

Plot and structure

One  of the key features contained in nearly all thriller films is the establishment of an enigma: this is a major aspect of the plot, and is something which the audience cannot understand and which will be explored throughout the plot of the film. An enigma can be established by an object,  dialogue or a particular scene within the opening sequence. An example of this can be found in the film "Memento"; here the enigma is introduced by the prop of the polaroid photo: this presents a type of anchor for the main character in the film as well as giving the audience some questions about the subject and direction of the film without revealing enough to detract from the mystery of the plot. 
 This is just one example out of a multitude of means by which an enigma is presented; and in all films despite the difference in presentation and content the aim of every enigma is the retain the interest of the audience  and to provide something which can engage them in the plot: an essential characteristic for a successful film of any genre.  



Other than this central conformity there are many ways in which thriller films seek to create the necessary tension that identifies the genre: in terms of the plot line there must always be a psychological aspect to the film: it may play upon deep set fears within society or culture such as that of a murderer, madman, or some other evil that is not revealed until the ending of the film for purposes of suspense.  It  may also play on the fear of the unknown:something which is unfamiliar to audience and protagonist alike and presents an unspecified danger, something which must be fought against but cannot be identified. The aforementioned "Enigma" technique is something which is heavily involved in creating this intense atmosphere of fear. 




A structural aspect which is highly predominant is the form of narrative: this is typically non linear, involving flashbacks to give further explanation to the plot,and to give the audience more insight into the events of the film. This non-linear nature allows more room for detail  and development of the plot: in its most basic form it may act as a kind of filler for the plot which prevents the audience from loosing interest in the film.(of course this would have a drastic effect on the viewing figures and in turn the profit) In its most complex form the flashback may provide more than significant influence on the narrative; in some cases providing the main bulk of logic and stability within the film: in these cases, the past is the only thing which is solid and certain.




Technical devices





As with any genre, certain technical methods must be used to support the appropriate atmosphere. These can be divided into four areas which are juxtaposed to created the required tome and effect. 



Mise en scene: This is the creation of scene by the use of setting, props and acting. This is instrumental in establishing the plot and scenario; it must be carefully crafted to give the correct connotations and impressions for the audience.         Within the thriller genre there are aspects the audience can expect to see: 

  • Lighting- dependent on the nature of the thriller film the type of lighting may vary: the most commonly used type of lighting is naturalistic to create the realism necessary for the audience to be fully engaged in the plot of the film. However, this is dependent on the scenario: for example in a scene that involves the protagonist questioning in something, or perhaps being put under pressure the lighting may change to a harsh, white light: this would be effective in creating dramatic effect with higher contrast between the shadows and the light and could be used to represent the 



  • Costume- the use of costume in the thriller genre may not be immediately obvious, but on closer inspection it can be said that there is a certain logic behind the use of clothing. Because audience relatability is key to the effectiveness of the psychological aspect, there is little need for outlandish costumes that ay be seen in other genres such as the sci-fi or fantasy genres. Costume in the thriller genre consists mainly of everyday clothing to create this "regular joe" persona; which tells the audience that the events within the film could even possibly happen to someone as non-fantastical as themselves.
Other than this, costume has another function in establishing character and personality by its connotations. For example, is a person is dressed in black this would traditionally imply that this was either a serious character or villain simply because of the fact that the colour is associated with loss and death, and these connotations are an easy means of presenting certain aspects of a character to the audience. The same can be said of white; which represents innocence,  red which connotes danger and blue which represents sadness or distance. 
 Both uses of costume can also be applied to make up- or the lack of it.


  • Iconography- Iconography is used heavily throughout the thriller genre: as a technique, it is highly important because it allows the film makers to leave subtle underlying hints about the deeper meaning of certain aspects of the plot and in some cases may also provide some foregrounding for future events within the film. The term iconography can be applied to props, costumes or occasionally locations 

  • Location-In the case of location it is difficult to identify a common ground as this is obviously going to differ with each film, but the basic rule of location is that it must have some relation or bearing on the plot; in other words there cannot be a location that is totally irrelevant and contributes nothing the the film. For example in the film    " Seven" the location is set predominantly in a dilapidated area of a city. Given that the theme of the film is the seven deadly sins it can be argued that the reason behind this is that to depict the seven lowest points of humanity, you must be set somewhere that fits the crimes: if it had been set in an upscale area of wealth, clean streets and buildings with happy smiling people then the gritty, tense atmosphere of the film would be diminished. 

  • Characterisation

Camerawork:



  • Establishing shot: in terms of camera work the establishing shot is integral: not only does it give the audience an idea of the setting of the film, but it can be used to establish the tone of the entire film. For example, if within the establishing shot you see a skyscraper: you can expect that the film will contain themes and topics relating to wealth and success, and more likely than not corruption as the power equals corruption concept seems to be a common message to be had from thriller films.(here this may be related to deception and lies to establish the isolation of a character as he fights against said corruption.) In short, the establishing shot is a way of easing the audience into the other world, slowly drawing them into the plot without effecting the progression of the story: it is a solid foundation from which to build the plot. 
  • Close up:The close up is a favorite of many directors as the effect given is somewhat intense and unusual. This intense nature causes the audience to feel uneasy, and to focus their attention fully on the subject of the shot. The effect may differ slightly depending on its usage: 
  • tilted frame/dutch shot
  • High angle shot
  • Crane shot 
  • Arc shot 
  • POV shot 

Sound and Music:

  • Effect of soundtrack
  • Diegetic and non diagetic sound (sound effects and themes)
  • Narration

Editing:

  • Transitions: Transitions within the thriller genre may vary dependent on the style of the film, or the intended effect: for example the clean cut transition is favored for its realism and enhancement of continuity 
  • Filters 
  • Freeze frame
  • Slow motion

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