Conventions of a Thriller film

Titling - Most thriller films use Non-diegetic (Sound where the source is not visible on the screen) music, the titles appear on the screen, this can be done over an animation of sorts or an opening scene. It is common for thrillers to have titles appear over a black background. Also it is common for some to have a scene which sets up the rest of the film, even before any titles have been shown>


Camera movement - Tracking and Panning shots are traditionally used in the opening of thriller films, however in a lot of action scenes you will find zooming shots and over the shoulder shots. Many horror/thrillers will use extreme close up for dynamics.

Framing of Shots - The most typical mood setting shot for a thriller film is a close-up, in films such as Kill Bill, and V for Vendetta they are used to reveal bigger parts of the story.  It is quite common for Long shots to be used to set the scene and to show where the action will be taking place.

Camera Angles - High angles are often used to show someones insignificance and the lack of their power, as if someone is being dominant over them. Low angles show the increase of height which increases dominance. These are the most common angles used in thriller films.






Location - The scene for a thriller film, or any film for that matter depends on the story line, however most thriller films rely on lighting to set the right tone for the scene, and through my research i have found that a common factor in most of these films is an apocalyptic mood.

Types of cuts- Thriller films usually use fast paced sharp cuts in the film because the genre tends to be fast paced. You might find that a lot of thriller movies change pace and have a lot of twists in the story line, hence why the use of cuts is so important, it alters the pace of the film. Quick sudden cuts can add to the suspense.
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Sound - Most thriller films use non-diegetic music playing in the background to create an intended atmosphere, very few films use dialogue, however it is very rare and used to present motives. Silence and lack of music can often be used to build up tension.