Research into conventions of the thriller genre. Ms Miller

Conventions are elements that are common within different film genres. These are patterns that can be seen/used in different films from the same category. For example in an action film, you would associate it with hero's and villains and fighting. Here I am looking at conventions in the thriller film 'ATM' I will be analysing 5 conventions. Sound, hidden identify, light, cinematography and iconography.

The sounds in this thriller film is very quick and sudden, most is onscreen sound, this is an example of an onscreen sound which took place in the film. This shows two cars crashing into the building. This is an example of a sudden noise which is conventional of many thriller films. Sudden noises can suddenly shock an audience especially if there is a great deal of suspense before. This is why in a tense scene, it will usually end in a loud sudden noise.

The next convention is the idea of a hidden iditny. This not only makes the auidence curious, but creates a sense of engima. Throughout this film all we see this a hooded killer. The auidence knows little about him and this makes him unpredicatable. This is why a hidden idenity is very common in thriller films. This is deffinatly an idea I would like to take into my own thriller film.

This connvention is light. This film was shot at night and only features low key light for a large amount of time in the thriller. Low key light is used a lot in thrillers as darkness doesnt allow the auidence to see the whole picture. This can help in examples like when a killer comes out of the shadows the audience will not expect it which will add to their shock and suspense

Another connevtion are certain uses of cinematgraphy. This is a high angle shot which allows the audience to see the small room. High angle shots in thrillers can help the audience esrablish what is going on and gather the overall seen in their head. By doing this audiences are usually afixeated on one thing, for example the man on the floor. People may be unaware of other dangers while looking at him and could be shocking moment which makes them jump.

The final convention used is iconography. In this film the killer uses a crowbar as a weapon which is found in the back of a car. This is an everyday object which has been turned into a weapson. The auidence can relate back to using one of these and can help them connect with the film. Weapons in general connote violence, harm and pain which you would easerly associate with thriller films.