Research into thriller films - Miss G

Defining Thriller (Genre)

A thriller is a certain genre (think "type of" in this case) of film that focuses, includes the use of, and builds on dark, high suspense and mysterious elements.

If you are wondering are what I am reffering to when I mention these "elements", here are a few examples and descriptions of them in use:

"Dark" aspect; this revolves around the often use of low lighting, but this mostly focuses on the point of keeping everything dull and dark on purpose, so that nothing stands out to the audience giving away what may happen in the following scenes. An example of this in use can be where in a dark forest scene, low key lighting is used all around (Or no nearby source of light is in the area).
But somewhere in the scene is a killer who is stalking the victim who is innocently talking the innocent explorer. By using this, we cannot currently identify the killer from the background. In a sense, camouflaging the killer into the scenery. Hints of his presense may be giving, such as the camera straight-cutting to a close up of a bush that has been rattled from movement. Or the adding of off-screen sound of breathing indicating someone else is around than just the victim alone.

High suspense; this is the idea that gives a "on edge" feel to the audience, not knowing what may happen next in the scene or in the next following scene. This is usually used in the generic thriller case of the killer closing in on the victim's hiding place. But we are instead, given the victim's perpective; this hides the location of the killer to the audience and his presense is only known by audio hints one again, such as an off-screen sound of footsteps outside a door in a room the victim is currently hiding in. In most cases very slow but fading in non-digetic sound in the form of a soundtrack is used, this builds up usually with the killers presense becoming stronger and stronger, the louder the volume of the soundtrack becomes.
This in turn builds high suspense for the audience because it gives them the thought that the victim is subject to being exposed to the killer at any moment, as well as how the killer may make themselves known to the victim and strike, may it be breaking through a window, bashing down the door, entering slowly and taunting the victim. All of these are really high suspense moments, as the audience simply do not know what will follow until it really does happen.

"Mysterious" element; This is a simple, but yet complex method of making the clear unclear. Hiding important details; such as a killer's identity through the use of a simple mask (using a costume), and leaving them for the audience to figure out themselves, or in most cases. Around near the end of the film the answers are answered by a major character or simply presented to the audience, proving their orginal thoughts wrong or confusing them through the use of misleading clues throughout the film.

Overall, a film that is within the Thriller genre must follow some generic conventions that are used across majorty of all Thriller films, as well as the use of certain microelements within suitable and necessary scenes.

The mircoelements that a Thriller film would use and how they would use them in a certain scene is as follows:

Cinematography; is both looking and changing the way of the different shots, views and angles are taken in and the many different movements of the cameras. In which all of these things give the audience both a different view and a different representation of a scene/character (depending on the situation and scene in the current movie). An example how this used in a generic Thriller film, is by using close-ups, the camera focuses in detail within a certain part of the scene; this scene being a struggle between the victim and the killer.
The close up shows us the victim's expression which shows to the audience which shows the desperation of the victim trying to break free from the killer's grasp.

Sound; is the use of inserting sound to add to the atmosphere of the scene or to insert a new sound into the scene to enhance the feeling the scene gives off to the audience.
An example of sound in use of a generic thriller can include using off-screen in a scene where a killer is approaching a victim. This can be heard in the form of footsteps being heard in the distance outside the current room the victim is in. Where the character (victim) stares at the door, in which the camera also cuts to a first person perspective view of a close up of the door in which the footsteps are played and increases in volume gradually, giving the impression that the possible killer is approaching the door and coming ever more closer to his victim. thus building slow tension in the process as it leaves the audience to question if the killer is toying with his victim, if the killer may approach the door but then turn away, or if the killer will go from a very slow paced walk to a run and rush straight into the room.

Editing; is important because it can set the pace of a movie, for example; fast paced editing usually consists of a lot of cuts within a short period of time making the movie seem more fast paced, often this is seen used in chase scenes in a thriller.

Some conventional uses of editing within thrillers usually include of;
Fade to black: Consisting of a scene which then fades slowly to black, mostly after a main part of a scene has taken place, or to show the transistion from one day to the next, most likely included to be with a subtitle (On the next day...)
Slow paced editing: Used within moments to build up slow suspense by using only a small amount of cuts, with mostly a longer time focusing on certain shots, for example, close up shots to display the characters emotion during the high suspensive moments within a thriller film scene before it then cuts and changes the shot.
Fast paced editing: This is used within certain moments within a scene that act as a "quick burst" of events, consisting of many straight cuts and possible cross cuts if it involves two seperate characters in different scenes.

Mise en scene; is a french term meaning what is put onto the scene or a frame. This simply includes what visual information is to be inserted infront or to be included in the camera when recording the scenes. Mise en scene can also simply be reffered to as what the audience would be seeing in addition to the orginal scene that is taking place.

Mise en scene is made up of different elements, and these include:

Settings & Iconography; settings include the use of both location of the set scene, and any backdrops or backgrounds to include within the scene, both natural (capturing a pond on camera in the background of the main action while a forest scene is being recorded) and man-made backgrounds and backdrops. (Painted backgrounds and backdrops that are to be included within a scene, such as a fake landscape in use to pretend the outside is sunny while a scene in a house is taking place)

Iconography is the simple use and understanding of props and the arrangement of them. (positioning)
These can range from the arrangement of furnicure within a house which is to be used in the next following scenes or where a killer finds a weapon to use on the victim in unsuspecting places, or even an unsuspecting weapon. (Such as breaking a glass bottle and using the glass shards as a weapon to harm the victim)

Costumes & Make up; within thriller films, they play as a major role as an instant "identifier" to an audience of the roles and the personalities of the characters as the are presented within scenes both the first time they appear and while they are currently in a scene.
A generic example within a Thriller is how the killer also has some form of costume that allows blending into the night and darkness easily (mostly black clothing and hardly any use of bright colours) and how it also hides the identity of the killer, keeping the mysterious element in play as we do know not who the killer is, nor any hints giving to the killer's true identity.

Facial expressions and body language; facial expressions can provide a clear indication of how a character feels and is reacting to the situation, if someone is smiling broadly, we assume that they are very happy, however other factors such as by adding a certain sountrack to that scene can make us feel differently about that.
An example can be by adding a slow and tense non-digetic sound such as a soundtrack while a close up is focusing on a character's face, we can assume that while the character is smiling, in truth the character is trying to keep calm or trying not to panic.
Body language can also indicate how a character may feel towards the situation, or even another character and their possible relationship between them.

Positioning of characters and objects within a frame; by using positioning within a frame, it can draw our attention to an important character/object in the scene. In an example; by putting a valuable or glowing object that stands out within that scene, it can focus for us to look at that specific object, or the character who may be holding it.
Positioning can also be used in terms of characters to indicate their relationship between each other, mostly a couple who is quite a good distance apart from one another can show they may face breaking up or are having conflicts with one another. While a couple who is close to each other are perfectly fine and are happy with one another.
In an example in relation to a Thriller film, the positioning of characters, such as the killer entering the room.
The position of the killer as he enters the room can vary, for example; if the killer enters the room and stays in the middle, fully standing up. It makes a much more terrifying presence to the audience and the victim rather than if he was crouched and sneaking around the room.