Thriller Genre

These are some of our notes from the presentation we created on the thriller genre


Codes and conventions

• Mirrors are used as a means to reflect and see into one's soul and inner self
• As are photographs (particularly in black and white) (The Shining)
• Low key lighting (or very bright, stark lighting) both act to create a sense of paranormal (Inception)
• Obtrusive editing, either very quick or very slow to create tension and progression or great unease (The Shining)
• Flashbacks to add to the narrative of the character's past and the distortion of time (Saw)
• specific to psychological thrillers is the idea of two or more characters preying on one an other's minds.
• One key example of this is in The Shining with the main male character and the waiter.

Ideas such as lighting, editing, mirrors etc. we will be able to use in our trailer, however because this is a trailer and not a small section of the film ideas such as flashbacks may not be portrayed as effectively as they could be, giving the restraints of the trailer conventions.


By watching and deconstructing various films such as "The Shining" and "Silence of the Lambs" we are able to see how these ideas translate into film and how they aid the narrative and reading of the piece. These deconstructions will appear throughout our blog.