What makes a thriller a thriller?
- Suspenseful music.
- Fast pace editing.
- Unpredicted elements
- Violent acts, without an emphasis on gore.
- Evokes suspense to an audience.
- Unexpected plot-twists.
- Dark lighting.
- Surprises and twists.
- Isolation theme.
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- Theme of travel/ on the run/being chased.
- Male in Suits/businessman the protagonist.
- Humour/ comedic relief.
- Action scenes.
- Being framed.
- Happy ending, mc survives using wit rather the violence.
- Romantic scenes.
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What makes a film opening a film opening?
- Introduction of the protagonist/s.
- Opening credits.
- Productions and studios involved.
- Actors involved.
- Establishing shot.
- Name of the film
- Create questions to be answered.
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Micro deconstructions
PHSYCOLOGICAL THRILLER PRESENTATION
glossary
Genre: Genre is a way of putting media texts into categories which share similar characteristics.​
Its important to the industry because It helps in the pre - selling of a film. Filmgoers like to have a general idea of what film they are about to see. The trick for producers is to adapt aspects of the genre – known as the codes and conventions - just enough to excite audiences without losing the core values of the genre
Hybrid: These are very popular, as producers think that by mixing say the thriller genre with the action genre they will find the traditional audiences for both genres
The plot: is the sequence of events where each affects the next one through the principle of cause-and-effect.
Narrative: is the way plot is told.
Iconography: is the way we describe the particular signs that identify a particular genre.
intertextuality: Deliberate reference in a text to another media text or form which is already known to audiences. Often used by advertisers their product.
SPY THRILLERS
- Weapons - Fight against antagonist.
- Explosions - Action scenes
- Fast paced - Male protagonist
- Suits - Suspense
- Fighting - Weapons
CRIME THRILLERS
- Not present threat - Puzzle
- Murder - Tension music
- Antagonist - low lighting
- serial killer - crime and hero
- Detective style element - Weapons
- Suspense
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POLITICAL THRILLERS
-Weapons - Going against higher power
- Violence without gore - Car chases
- Hiding/On the run - Female or male protagonist
- Being chased - Low level lighting
- Identity at threat - Murder themes
- Explosions - Tension
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codes and conventions: are agreements between audiences and media producers about certain things that work in a particular genre.
Values: in a film are not the same as codes and conventions. Values are the ideological and cultural ideas embedded in a film.
Parody: A parody film is a film that mocks through comedy films of a particular genre.
A pastiche: film borrows a number of themes and styles, or codes and conventions from other films even to the extent of copying some scenes and imitating others. The aim of pastiche is to make it obvious that these elements have been borrowed or imitated as a form of flattery to the original.
Postmodernism: Postmodernism reflects the way the western society changed in the 20th century. People began to question their identity and role in society and reflect on life. The media reflect these changes.
HUSH - REVIEW
Hush is a thriller horror slasher about a deaf writer who lives an isolated life in the woods who suddenly has to survive a psychotic killer who appears in her window. At the end she manages to stab and kill him.
The film meets many thriller conventions like the theme of isolation as the protagonist lives in the middle of nowhere and the idea of being followed/ chased by the killer. There is also dark colours and dark lighting throughout the film that creates suspense. It also has a conventional happy ending with the protagonist surviving using violence.
I would recommend this film if you are interested in the genre as the film is a good home invasion film that manages to create tension throughout the film with unexcepted plot twists.