Research Into Genre Conventions

Genre Conventions

In this post I will be writing about my research on genre conventions and how they are similar to my opening sequence.

GENRE:

Thriller

SIMILAR FILMS:

1. A Quiet Place

Release: April 6th, 2018
Director: John Krasinski 
Studio: Paramount Pictures 

2. Battle Royale

Release: December 16th, 2000
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Studio: Toei Company

3. Bird Box

Release: December 14th, 2014
Director: Susanne Bier
Studio: Netflix

4. Don't Breathe

Release: August 26th, 2016
Director: Fede Alvarez 
Studio: Screen Gems and Stage 6 Films

5. Taken 1 

Release: 30th January, 2009
Director: Pierre Morel
Studio: 20th Century Fox 

6. Kill Bill 

Release: April 16th, 2004
Director: Quentin Tarantino 
Studio: Miramax

7. It

Release: September 8th, 2017
Director: Andy Muschietti
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures


8. Gone Girl

Release: October 3rd, 2014
Director: David Fincher 
Studio: 20th Century Fox 

KEY CONVENTIONS OF OUR GENRE:

Costume:

Example of costume in: Movie 6

• Suits and dark clothing are used to create tension within a thriller film.
• Kill bill is normally dressed in black and dark clothing to clarify that she is a fighter.
• Makes her fierce and looks professional.

Props:

Example of props: Movie 2

• Fake blood is used to show it's a thriller.
• Fake gun to create tension within the film.
• In battle royale many weapons and blood is used to clarify that it is a thriller.
• Girls have confidence whilst holding weapons which shows strength.

Lighting:

Example of lighting: Movie 4

• Dark lighting to show it's a thriller because not a lot is revealed.
• Spotlight used to create stress for the girl who is chosen. It makes it mysterious as well. 
• Lighting in thriller is created by using key and back lights to produce a contrast between light and dark.
• Shadows are also created by the lighting in thrillers because they create a dark sinister tone.

Tone:

Example of tone: Movie 8

• Mood and tone help portray the message within thriller films.
• Thrillers such as gone girl give the viewers a sense of suspense and anticipation.
• Dark, light, dreary and tension all help create the genre.
• In gone girl suspense is created through the mystery of what has happened to Amy has she been murdered? or abducted?
• In taken the mood is emotional.

Soundtrack:

Example of soundtrack: Movie 3 and 4

• The soundtracks of thrillers tend to include slow paced underscores made up of one or few suspended ambient bass note tones, which coincide with slow discordant piano melody that is a recurring 'theme' for that film. An example of this is bird box's 'outside'.
• These soundtracks are are great for creating tension, which is a key convention of the thriller genre as they are repetitive but start slow and take a very long time to build up, this makes the viewers feel uncomfortable.
• Another example of a thriller soundtrack which also effectively uses these techniques in order to create tension and unease is the 'A Quiet Place' soundtrack, most notably the song 'A quiet family'.
• Silence to create tension in a certain scene.
• Dialogue will create a very tense atmosphere. 
• Non-diegetic sound to create pessimism, desperation and paranoia. 

Sound effects:

Example of sound effects: Movie 3 and 5

• Sound effects play a crucial role in any genre, but particularly in thriller as sound is relied upon as a method of creating and releasing tension
• A very popular sound effect in particular is wind, or A 'whoosh' style sound effect that is often used as a form of foreboding and a way of indicating that danger is near.
• This was used in bird box, whenever a death was near the wind would kick up heavily along with the sound of dead leaves shuffling and floating.

• The film Taken also uses sound effects to hold and make the tension of the scene:
• In this scene, the vocals and sound effects are unnaturally loud to make the scene feel close and cramped.
• This is especially true when the fighting starts as there is no dialogue, no soundtrack just the effects of punches, knife slashes and misc. Objects being clattered and thrown around the room and at each other.
• This is a key convention for thriller as it creates a really raw and guttural tone that maintains the unease caused by the creation of tension before the fight breaks out.

Narrative story:

• Typical Thriller plot
• Setting scene - starting with action to show what is to come and the characters involved
• Mystery - to start the plot and the action the hero has to solve
• Plot twist - there may be a change of side or a suspicion
• The protagonist has to make a decision - so the audience shares empathy.
• Climax - fight scene and ultimate action
• Consequences - aftermath of action
• The aim is to create suspense and excitement for the audience. 
• Violence is normally the key part of thriller films. 

Cast/characters:

• Criminals - they are typically working for or  is the villain.
• Victim- the villain or an injustice has hurt them personally.
• Villains - typically rich or has a large force of power which they have gotten unethically and wants to use for unethical reasons
• Good guy/ hero- sometimes only they can solve the injustice but they work to help solve and make a stop to the villain's work. Is usually quite similar to villain or has past. In modern thrillers, the good guy has depth and isn't completely good.
• Main protagonist always the hero who controls the action. 
• The villain is often a rich millionaire which is our villain wearing suits.