Thriller Conventions

Thrillers have many codes and conventions, which usually are very important to use in order to make a thriller work. However this is not particularly the case, because films such as 'Phone Booth' have bucked the trend. Firstly the main convention of a thriller is that there almost a guarantee of there being some sort of crime involved in the core of the narrative. This is usually used to keep the audience hooked. Next up, thrillers usually have an intrictate narrative structure, with things such as false leads, traces and resolutions. This convention is used to keep the audience inquiring and to make them work their brains, which results in powerful enigmas. This actually leads me up to the next convention, which is. A narrtive pattern of initiating enigmas which the audience will expect to be resolved. This will also keep the viewer engaged as they want to see the possible end result. The next convention of a thriller is that they mostly involve a protagonist who is consistently dis-empowered which leads to them being coaxed into a somewhat difficult web of intrigue by the antagonist. There is a point in every thriller where the protagonist and the antagonist clash (usually in a brawl scene). The protagonist will nearly always have the disadvantage, but will almost always come out victorious.

In my view one of the most important conventions of the thriller genre is the theme of identity. This is used so that the audience can keep an eye on each individual character. Also helps us as the audience to identify the protagonist and the antagonist. Themes of mirroring are used to show that there may be numerous people involved in the same situation. Themes of voyeurism are quite frequently used. Voyeurism involves someone spying on someone without that person knowing. This is usually shown through a POV shot or perhaps through a sniper rifle viewfinder, this makes the audience feel a part of the storyline. In almost every thriller, the protagonist has some sort of flaw which is always exploited by the antagonist. These flaws are plainly obvious for the viewing public to spot, however the antagonist only finds out via a revealtion. Following on from that, it places the antagonist in an imperious position.

The first thing that we usually see in films is the title sequence and the titles often emulate an outlook of the protagonist/antagonist's cerebral welfare. The title sequence usually epitomizes the type of film it also gives the viewer/s an opportunity to view what might happen later on in the film. There is uaually a scene towards the end of the film which places the protagonist in peril. This is used as a climaxing device, it is used to keep the audience hooked up until that moment. This is mostly solved before the ceasing of the film and it leaves the audience feeling good. Finally, this is probably, without a doubt the most important convention of the thriller genre. A thriller need a mise-en-scene that reiterates the protagonist's predicament. This just needs to be relevant to the storyline e.g. if the character is angry they should be placed in an unhappy place, which is dark and gloomy.