Thriller convention

Thriller convention

The protagonist will be seen in peril
Themes of identity are common
-mistaken identity, doppelgänger, amnesia

The protagonist is fallible
- has an Achilles heel/ weakness that is exploited

The narrative centre upon crime (theft/ murderer)

The antagonist ensnares the protagonist in an increasingly complex web, leaving them helpless and isolated.

The audience is placed in the ambiguous position of voyeur

A series of enigmas are established and resolved at the end.
Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring.


Micro- element combine in a build up suspense

Extra-ordinary events in ordinary situation



What are the conventions that is expected?
(Narrative, representations, theme, use of micro elements)

- Plot twist
- tension
- fore shadowing
- warnings (impending doom)
- chasing- bad guy--> good guy (weakness)
-dark time/ night setting
-the story starts with happy atmosphere and then something suddenly goes wrong
- task to do objective- solve a situation

Action Films

Less sophisticated plot

Action set place

Explosions and fighting

Horror
Threat is supernatural
Gore--> blood
Extreme [SCARE]

Order of Credits

Psychological Thriller Audience Research

Psychological sub genre audience

Thrillers??? What do Se73n and Rear window have in common?

What do Se7en and Rear Window have in common?
Se7en and Rear window both have:
-The murderer who everyone is trying to catch and figure out his plans
-Suspense keeping the story exciting
-Protagonist, in this case a "Flawed hero". Each of the main characters has their down faults
Codes: system of signs that create meaning.
Conventions: accepted or expected ways of doing things.

What are the conventions expected? (narrative, representations, themes and use of micro-elements)
Difference between horror and thriller films
Difference between action films and thrillers

Rear Window - Marriage

What do these two clips tell us about both Jeff and Lisa's idea of relationship, and the representation of relationships within the film?

Jeff thinks that you should analyze and learn about your partner before taking marriage into consideration. That there is a intelligent way to approach marriage, meaning that he doesn't use what he feels towards something to decide, he uses and believes in his logic and sense to determine the situation and how he should approach it. When his carer/nurse (Stella) was tell him otherwise he dismisses the idea and ignore her statement. When Stella suggest for Jeff to marry Lisa




When Stella meets Jeff she always has this facial expression of happiness, love and excitement. Her poster is up right and very lively. Whilst Jeff slouches, indicating that he is not as excited to see her as she is to see him. He isn't likely to have direct eye contact with Lisa when he is talking to her showing no interest whatsoever to Lisa, on the other hand Lisa gives direct eye contact every time she talk with Jeff to show that she is giving him her full attention.

Fear

                                            

   Aristotle:

He believed in CATHARSIS 

-a telexes of suppressed emotions 

-we are attracted to what scares us to PURGE emotions

Why do we watch scary film?

-when things go right you feel "happy/relieved"

-the excitement "The Thrill" (Physical Response)

-we want to see evil punished

-we like the knowledge that what we are seeing is not real and that everything is safe (Not scary if it's not believable)

-face fears / challenge yourself

                                                       Zolf Zillman- Excitation Theory

                Negative emotions gained from violent / scary imaginary INTENSIFY the positive

                                                     (We enjoy seeing evil vanquished) 

GlennD Walters

What makes a film scary?

1. Tension- suspense built up with filming techniques

2. Relevance- the fear generated has to be relevant and believed by the audience

3. Unrealism- we have to know there is no real threat. This is a safe space to explore and experience

Rear window

Rear Window

1954

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

(Phycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, 39 Steps, Rebecca, Suspicion, Marnie, The Rope)

Jimmy Stewart- Jeff

Grace Kelly- Lisa

Thelma Ritter- Stella

Lars Thorwald- Raymand Burr

Tension:-

1. We know the killer is coming. Jess does but Lisa doesn't.

2. Jeff is HELPLESS 

- He can't move/ The Audience can't Help

- We know Jeff can't move

3. We know help is on the way. Are they going to get there in time?!

4. Editing shows us the emotions of Jeff and Stella- the danger is real

5. We know there's a struggle- Is he going to kill her?

SUSPENSE- Give Information 1) Characters 2) Audience 

6. The killer knows he's been watched. What will he do next?

7. Diegetic music coming from the neighbors flat/ sound of the person who is a danger to Lisa

OPENING REAR WINDOW

 The camera shows Jeff's perspective of what he can and can not see, pan and tilt to the resident of where Jeff is living in. The neighbours lives on top of each other, although it seems like they are in their own world (their lives being presented in a box, almost like they are just puppets playing their characters in different stages to create one story) , their personal lives is exposed to those around them but no one seems to care except Jeff, hence the fact that he is the only one who is looking around and taking in information about his neighbours. Jeff is a curious man and he likes to analyze things/situations that is around him.

DEAD DOG

Everyone only came out because something happened that is out of the ordinary but however when the dogs owner finished pouring her heart out about her dog, they didn't seem to have any care in the world. They just walked back in to their (boxes) houses. Dog is known for their loyalty to humans and therefore the dogs dies because there isn't any loyalty and trust.