Saturday, 13 February 2016

Conventions of a thriller



What gives a thriller its recognisable features?

Key themes: menace, crime (often murder), high level of tension and suspense.


Narrative: the way the narrative is presented. Complex paths, clues, resolutions, enigma, happy endings, extrordinary events.  The story is what the audience works out from watching it. The plot comes from the key events and what we actually see.


The Protagonist: (the hero) usually disempowered, becomes drawn into the 'web of intrigue' by the antagonist

The Antagonist: (the antihero/villian) they usually put the protagonist in peril.

Conventional Characters: the hero, the villian, the innocent victims, characters with dark pasts, psychotic individuals, terrorists, private eyes and spies.

Themes: identity, mirroring and voyeurism.

Key Elements: cliff hangers, plot twists, red herrings, terror, adrenaline rush, anticipation, anxiety, investigations, obsession, mind games, stalking, captives/hostages, revenge, paranoia, conspiracy, ransoms, chase scenes, cover ups, espionage. The protagonist defeats the antagonist.

Mise en Scene and Titles: echoes, how the protagonist's plight reflects their state of mind. Props - weapons - crime 

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