Mise-en-Scene
In terms of mise-en-scene, there are a lot of codes and conventions of thriller films that are used to create impact and meaning. this includes:
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colour- certain colours convey different feelings and emotion towards them, the most obvious example of this is the colour red being associated with evil or blood
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props- certain props can make us associate charecters with the props they use. for example the use of a knife usually connotes the bad charecter
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costuming- costuming usually dictates which charecters are which, for example in the film scream 2, there is a woman in a white dressing gown who we can tell is the damsel in distress from the use of the dressing gown but also going back to the use of colour, the colour white conveys her innocence
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lighting- low key lighting is a key convention of thriller and is one of the most obvious aspects of the film to let us know that we are watching a trhiller. it creates a dark atmosphere which is key for the creating the feeling you want the audience to feel
Locations
Ilocations in thriller films can be very varied. the more generic thriller which lay on the boarderline of being horror films are usually set in quite open spaces with nowhere to go. and the more original thriller are usually set in more remote locations such as city centres, and public places. a good example of this is the film premium rush, where its is almost completely set in a massive american city.
Sound
in terms of sound, common codes and conventions include extremly high pitched or extremly low pitched sound tracks, for example, the sound track from Physco contained short sharp high pitch sound which created a sense of panic within the audience before the charecter was murdered.
they also tend to have gradual increases to build tension, a good example of this was from jaws where you have the gradual increase in tempo up until the climax of the scene.
Camera Angles
in terms of camera angles theres are various angles used to create different senses for the audience such as:
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high and low angles- these are generwally assocaiated with power and status of a charecter, it gives the sense of another charecter looking down or upt at another charecter, this differes from other genres such as romance where angles may be used to show a difference in height.
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conted angles- these are used to disorientate the audiecne and add to the sense of unknowing. this is especially effective if the bad charecetr is not nown to the audiecne yet.
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worms eye- this is again used to show power and status, but also used to show helplessness, generally there is mre of a chace of survivial of a charcetr if a low angle is used over a worms eye being used
Camera shots
in terms of camera, there are various different camera shots and angles associated with thriller films. specfic shots, much alike the angles, are used to depict certain aspects of charecetrs. these include:
establishing shots- these help the audience make it ecvident where the scene is set and establish the surroundings the charecter/charecters are in.
close up, medium slose up, and Extreme Close ups- these are ususally used in high intensity moment and often to show charcters facial expressions.
long shots, medium long shots, and extreme long shots- these shots are typically used to show more than one character, it can also be used to convey the sense of being lost as the chacreter will appear very small in the frame.
