What is a Thriller ?

Codes and Conventions

Thrillers are used to build up suspense and always have dark backgrounds. In a thriller there is always a good and a bad character. Intwined in all thrillers is an enigma which a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. The representation of most of the victims are usually presented as weak or feeble. The victims are normally dressed in white which shows innocence. Violence is a key in thriller films when there is a fight or murder scene. Occasionaly there will be dramatic irony where the victims know who their killers are, the sounds that are played non-diageticaly are usually jumpy which will go up and down or louder when the killer is approaching or something is about ot happen. Low key lighting is used to create shadows, slow editing will also be present to build suspense, shock and surprise. Always a representation of good and evil. Mirrors are usually used to show a good and evil side or to create suspense and a different camera angle. In thrillers there is always a narrative which is the storyline.

Saw 1 Opening Scene :
Enigma - there is 2 characters, 1 is on the floor tied up which sparks up the question of why is there a dead body in the room and why are 2 people tied up.
Sound - The sounds are creepy and jumpy when the man is in the bath.
Lighting -  It is low key and then lights are turned on and it is very bright.
The location - An abandoned bathroom
Cinematography - There is fake blood and a gun with the man in the middle of the room.
Non-diagetic sound - When the man says 'your not dead, no point in yelling' as you cannot see the man.

The props that are used in Saw is a gun and a tape recorder which signifies that it is a thriller, someone is going to be killed. The enigma is 2 characters are tied up and another man in the middle of the room surrounded by blood holding a tape recorder and a gun next to him. The location is an abandoned bathroom, you can tell this as it is dirty and all the walls have stains down them, the man also says that no one can hear you.

The colours are dark and the main light comes from the lights above the 2 characters. A jump cut is also used as the camera shot starts from them and then suddenly focuses on the dead person.

This opening sequence is a great start in relation to thriller films, it has an enigma dark lighting and eery sounds. These sorts of conventions are ones that i would like to include in my opening sequence to my thriller film as it will give it a good effect and will leave the audience wanting to find out more.