Thriller Conventions

Ideas for Our Thriller Opening Sequence

• create a sense of suspense / tension / paranoia: this can be created through close up shots (for example, on a door handle / facial features), music reflecting mind of character (often creepy and chilling, making the viewer uncomfortable), lighting reflecting mood of character and to create scary mise-en-scene (usually red or dim light)
  
• good guy / bad guy character structure (however sometimes this is not so clear)
• visual and narrative hints - motifs
• plot: a journey to figure something out (solve a mystery / a twist in the narrative)
• the equilibrium of the film is quickly broken near the beginning of the film to be restored, generally, at the end.
• chase scenes
• create some king of enigma around a certain situation or character
• the narrative can be based around the protagonists flaw so he/she is held back in some way (sometimes resulting as their fatal flaw)
  
• music: a non-digetic soundtrack which is eerie to create scary atmosphere
• short title (often one word) indicating flaw / something to do with film narrative (for example: 'saw' 'vertigo')
• the main characters identity is questioned (good guy? bad guy?)
• flashbacks