Codes and Conventions- Thriller Movie

Thriller sometimes gets confused with horror by the audience because they both seem similar because the age restriction is high and it is shown to make you jump out of your seat but a thriller has different codes and conventions. A thriller is shown to make the audience think and be frightened but not by the blood like a horror does. Thriller movies are more fast beating, builds to a surprised and twisting climax the codes and conventions of a thriller are listed below.

• Cliff-hanging as it builds to a climax
• Mystery
• Deadly Situations
• Surprises and twists
• Flash Backs
• Make audience think
• Music plays to add tension and suspense
• Editing is often quick cuts
• Opening and closing credits follows the thriller theme
• Weather is used to influence moods

The sound is normally fast beat because the scenes are fast pasting. This sound would be non-diagetic this is to show the audience that something is going to happen plus it adds tension and suspense therefore it entertains the audience making them want to watch more.

Lighting and weather are another key feature to let the audience know which genre it is. The weather shows the mood of the character and the camera angles capture their emotion. Low angles and high angle shots are seen to show the audience the status of the character.

Example of thriller movies

1. The Island
2. What lies Beneath
3. Jaws
4. The Skeleton
5. The Changeling