Task 2; Exploring Sub-Genres of Thrillers

Thriller Conventions

Representations of women cause the woman to be the protagonist as they are considered weaker than men and easy prey to kill.

Night is considered scarier

Usually a Female

Usually a Male

Crime-thriller Coventations:

The Bone Collector/Seven

Car

On foot

Alcohol/Illegal substances involded

Crime Conventations

Chases

Police Involvment

Weaponary

Relates to hard upbringing from protagonist

Investigation

Quick Cuts

Antagonist is more than likely a serial killers whose identity is unknown

Erotic thriller Coventations:

The boy next door/ Fatal attraction

Sexual scenes of the protagonist and antagonist are shown to audience

Protagonist is blackmailed

About sexual interest

Erotic Conventations

Antagonist/Protagonist can be any gender

Antagonist is OBESSED with the protagonist

Protagonist is at risk (mainly expoure)

Antagonist tries to hurt the protagonists loved ones

Pyschological thriller Coventations:

What lies beneath/ Pyscho

Messes with the mind

Psychlogical thrillers make the protagonist question reality.

Weather

Rain

Male is normally the antagonist

Female is normally the protagonist

Representation of gender as men are seen as stronger and more manipulative than women.

Pathetic Fallacy

The protagonists don't normally in psychological thrillers unless they are slashers however the protagonist do see danger.

Low level lighting

Creates Tension

Psyschological Conventatoions

Spooky Music, Sound effects

Quick camera movements

Mise en scene specifically props like mirrors are common to appear in this genre. Mirrors are made to reflect a persons face and surroundings therefore the aspects of seeing something in the mirror can mess with the mind therefore questioning what is real and what is made up.

Contained thriller Coventations:

Phone booth/Panic room

protagonist is conatined

Protagonist can be either gender.

Contained Conventations

The protagonist is put in direct danger but antagonist. Sometimes someone close to the protagonist can be put in danger too.

fast paced msuic may be used to create tension

Antagonist is a mystery or someone who isn't to do with the protagonist e.g becomes in danger unitentionally

Film is shot in particular location for most of the film.

The film focuses around the protagonists survial

Conspiracy/Political thriller Coventations:

The Pelican breif/The net

Chases are on foot or in cars

Protagonist gets hold / finds out information that they shouldn't know which put's them in danger

Chases

Conspiracy/Political Conventions

Weaponry may be used in these movies

Antagonist is usually a big group of powerful people

Antagonist remains a mystery untill the end. The antagonsit in this genre are normally an orgazation

Protaginst solves the mystery

Antagonist tries to cut the protagonist from reaching out to others.

Medical thriller Coventations:

I am legend/Contagion

For the protagonist it is about survival

Protagonist tries solves the problem

Medical Conventations

Protagonist witnesses horrific events

Protagonist may lose someone/something close to them.

The antagonist may not be a person. It could be a deadly diease/virus or infected zombie.

Panicked/Evucation scenes. Shows the town/cities worries over the antagonist which is normal some sort of airboure virus.

Spy/Action thriller Coventations:

Die Hard/Jason Bourne

Males wear suits or tank-top and trousers. Females wear fancy dress

Protagonist is usally a special service member or (ex) special service member.

Protagonist may have female companion. The protagonist may have a romantic interest in her or she is his informant (Potentially both?)

Protagonsit is usually Male

Spy/Action Conventations

Costume

The protagonsit normally has weapon & tech guy who can always get hold of stuff like guns or equipment.

Weaponary is more than likley going to appear in this genre. Weaponary includes guns and knifes.

Low level lighting may be used e.g for sneaking around or when filmed at night

Some sort of kidnapping or rescusing situation may occur during the film

Antagonist is part of an organization

Antagonist wants to take over something

Gun fights or a fight in genreal is more than likely to occur in this genre.

Conclusion

Films are often sorted by their genre and we can tell the genre of the film usually by the conventations. However most films now contain such a mixture of conventions that we are left with hybrid films. For example, some of the normal genres include action,comedy,thriller and horror - hybrid films are sub genre films like an horror comedy. A horror comedy may mix conventions from both genres to make a funny movie that includes some grusome scenes.

Overall, each genre holds specific conventions

Write a short analytical paragraph to inform about the differences between the sub-genres and the specific conventions associated with each.