THRILLER RESEARCH

TASNIM SIDDEKA
WHAT IS A THRILLER? A thriller is a type of genre which is used in films to make an audience scared or make their hearts race at fast speed. This is done by using short shots of images or really long ones which build up the tension of the film, keeping the audience at the edge of their seats.

Elements from mise-en scene which make up the iconography of a thriller?

1. SETTING
This image denotes an empty room with a flickering light and a hospital bed. This connotes that staying in the room could be lonely and suggests it is a thriller film as the flickering light could build tension, suspense and mystery 2. COSTUME This shot denotes us with two men in masks at the back of a car. This connotes that they are undercover and they are the bad guys. This is a good example of how costume is used in a thriller movie and clearly shows the audience what kind of a character they are.

3. MAKE-UP A guy who is very pale is denoted here. Makeup is used to help him achieve a rich pale colour. This can help pull off the fact that he is shocked or scared and further remind the audience that it is a thriller film by adding mystery. This is often used in thrillers to send shivers down the audiences back. 4. LIGHTING AND COLOUR

This shot denotes a guy being blasted out from fire. This denotes that there has been an explosion and keeps the audience at the edge of their seats. The lighting in thrillers help to build suspense and present a scene effectively.

5. PROPS This image denotes a man bleeding with a gun beside him. This connotes that someone has been shot and creates a sense of mystery for the viewers. Props are used in thrillers to help enforce what type of genre the film is, in this case we can evidently see that it is a thriller/action.

6. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

This image denotes a guy in a prison with wounds on his face taking to someone behind his bars. This could present us with feelings towards the guy as he is mental. Facial expressions can usually tell the audience what the character is feeling, in this case we are left with him being arrogant towards the person he is talking to.

7. POSITIONING OF CHARACTERS A man pointing his gun down at someone is denoted here. This connotes he is in power and is superior to who he is shooting as the camera angle is pointed up towards him. This is used in thriller films to show who usually has the power.

8. OTHER CHARACTERS This image denotes two people in a meeting in the background with many people watching in the foreground. This connotes that they are being watched closely. These scenes help to build up the climax of the movie before something big happens and are usually successfully achieved.

STOCK CHARACTERS
A stock character is a character which you would usually see in a certain genre film so for instance in a thriller film you would expect to see a villain, in an action film you would expect to see a hero. Examples of some character stock types include: Damsel in distress/ criminal/ innocent child/ female object of desire/ police or law enforcement/ victim etc. Female Object Of Desire Innocent Child

The Hero

Relentless Heroic Gallant Determined

Seductive Desirable Humble Angelic

Innocent Need Protection Pure Naive

STEREO TYPES OF MASCULINE MEN

Many thriller movies adhere (stick with) the stereotypes of masculinity, it is very rare to find a film which subverts (go against) this stereotype. They are usually portrayed as heroic and brave and are mainly the person who saves the day. SALT is one of the few films in which a female is the hero, however as a whole the stereotype of masculine men outweighs the women.

The word suspenseful is important here as many thriller films are full of suspense and so by using this word on the poster , it gives us a brief inside on what the film is going to be like.

The colours used in the poster are limited. Shades of oranges and black are used to present us with an attention grabbing image. We are able to tell the film is a thriller through these colours as they are dark however contrasted by his lighter keeping the audience in awe.

The typography used shows us that the film is going to be a thriller film, also the title of the film gives us an idea of what the film is going to be about which already builds suspense and expectations for the film. This image denotes a man buried with just a light in his hand, this could connote that he is trapped and is trying to get out. The image clearly portrays that the genre is a thriller.