Thriller/horror genre conventions Elle Westwood

S.P.I.N.C.T Themes Setting Props Iconography Narrative Characterization Themes

Setting Thriller Exotic places such as foreign cities, deserts, polar regions, or the high seas. Can be set in suburbs and cities. Popular landmarks and cities are common like the big ben in London or the empire state building. Horror - Isolated places, dark places, abandoned areas. Places with a bad history or traumatic events e.g. hospitals - good settings are clinches are cabins, woods, abandoned houses, hotels.

Props Thriller Knifes, blood, drugs, guns, masks, and everyday objects are some of the most common props used in thrillers. The everyday items are used to try and show that it is a disruption between everyday life. Horror Knifes, blood, Ouija boards, TV, masks, cameras are all typical props of a horror film this is because they are used to put fear into a person and create tension. Whether its for death, supernatural or another sub genre. Props are very important in being apart of the set but also to interact with so it isnt all just characters walking about the set. Depending what props they use can help increase the atmosphere in the scene.

Iconography Definition = pictorial material relating to or illustrating a subject Thriller Visual effects ~ natural colours, can be dark at times to put tension in the scene. CGI and other graphical edited effects. Fast paced editing. Lighting ~ natural lighting and low key are mainly used to create realism and make it seem disturbed and like there's some problem. characters ~ normal family or a slightly distorted family for example the farther missing. A antagonist being a conventional man or a enigma to the true identity of them. Normaly a woman or child victim. Horror Visual effects ~ dark colours, purples, reds to connote evil, death, blood. CGI. Lighting ~ low key helps to make the atmosphere deep and dark and make it hard to see and hidden agendas or figures. Makes things seem un natural but trying to keep the realistic look. characters ~ monsters can help to induce fear, disgust in the audience with typical monsters or supernatural things being vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghosts, demons and more.

Narrative Thriller Can be closed (most common) or left open for a sequel pursues a single-minded goal or a quest for a character Life threatened, mainly because protagonist doesn’t know the danger of the situation. Characters in conflict with another character, themselves or the outside force. Horror Can be closed or left open for room to a sequel. Always have a protagonist that commonly has to find, solve, kill something to save or get rid of a problem or the antagonist. Common story is someone suffers a traumatic experience becoming the antagonist and returns to where they grew up to try to make teenagers or woman suffer. Mainly leaves a survivor that tells the story or makes them the main attention.

Characterization Horror Ghosts Psychopaths Zombies Demons Police Thriller Convicts Soldiers Spies Law enforcement officers Stalkers Men Criminals Assassins Innocent civilians Psychotic characters Prison inmates Horror Ghosts Psychopaths Zombies Demons Police Children and teenagers Woman victims Male antagonists Monsters dolls

Psychological mind games Themes Horror Good and evil Mental health Religion Childhood Supernatural Science Nightmares Suicide Monsters death Thriller Terrorism Political conspiracy Psychological mind games Supernatural events Crime Spies Chase Suspense Assaination