Conventions of the Thriller Genre

Tension:

·         Fast editing, quick cuts and camera angle changes add tension

·         Dramatic music adds tension

·         Use of shadow and lighting also adds tension

Crime, often serial killer:

·         Viewer doesn’t see killer until very late to add mystery  

Protagonist often has a weakness or is vulnerable:

·         Film title often is named after protagonists weakness, e.g. Vertigo

·         Antagonist often uses weakness to his advantage

Antagonist often drives protagonist deeper and deeper into an intricate plot where the protagonist eventually feels helpless and defeated:

·         Protagonist finds a way to defeat antagonist near the end of the film

Some thrillers use the theme of identity to create confusion and mystery:

·         Plot may revolve around amnesia, mistaken identity or doppelgangers

Mysteries or dramatic irony create tension:

·         The audience may not know the identity of the killer, e.g. Psycho

·         The audience may know the identity but the characters don’t creating dramatic irony e.g. Dirty Harry. This builds suspense and tension.