CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF

THE THRILLER GENRE.

WHAT IS A THRILLER?
A thriller generally keep the audience on
the "edge of their seat. The cover-up of
important information from the viewer is a
common element. Literary devices such
as red herrings, plot twists, and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is
usually a villain-driven plot, whereby he or
she presents obstacles that the
protagonist must overcomes" as the plot
builds towards a climax.

THE NARRATIVE THEORY

Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film.
He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went through
stages called the equilibrium, disequilibrium, acknowledgement, solving and again
equilibrium.

There are five stages the narrative can progress through:

1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)

2. A disruption of that order by an event.

3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.

4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium

THEMES
The themes that are shown in a thriller genre are
scary and frightening. The plot/narrative usually
consists of:
1.

Crime

2.

Revenge

3.

Kidnapping

4.

Investigations

5.

Plots Twists

6.

Obsession

7.

Mind Games

8.

Serial Killers

9.

Stalking

10.

Death traps

. They have a purpose to make people scared. They do this in a number of ways, the
objective is to make people feel like its going to happen to them. They do this by
playing on the audience/viewers heightened feelings. Feelings such as suspense,
excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety .

SCREAM

(A high school student

straight away gives a
sense of vulnerability).

High school student Casey Becker receives a flirtatious phone call

from an unknown person, asking her, "What's your favourite scary
movie?. This conversation then escalates really quickly into
something bigger. The mysterious person on the phone then turns
into a killer.

ANALYSING SCREAM OPENING SCENE

From the credits the audience can

already infer and tense that its is
already a thriller film.
The first character is introduced in the
first few seconds on the film. This
could suggest that she is vulnerable
and innocent. This could be clear by
her physical appearance.

From the voice of the other character the

audience can infer that this is the potential
villain. This is because of the mysterious
tone the character uses.

The darkness is used here

to show the audience that
the scene is set at night
time.

The constant character on the phone

might tell the audience that he is the
stalker this is story is based around.

However the conversation develops

and the lack of concern by the main
character shows the intelligence as any
other person would hang up the phone.

The camera angle towards the

main character tells the
audience that this character
has realised the voice on the
phone is a threat.

The character grows to

concern and adds tension
to the scene.

After the change of words the music

changes and shows the audience
that something bad is going to
happen.

Jump cuts are now used to keep the

temper of the movie following.

The scene ends on a cliff-hanger

which makes the audience want to
watch on.