Research into Thriller Conventions - Miss Miller

Codes and conventions are used to create specific effects on the films audience. A code would be lighting and the conventions of it would be how it is used to create a certain effect. Conventions can be genre specific. For example, some codes are used conventionally and specifically in a thriller film. In a thrillers, the lighting would be low-key to create suspense and tension and maniuplate the mood of the audience. The close-up and extreme close-up are commonly used in thriller films to build suspense. The general location of a thriller film is dependent on the story line but they tend to be set in abandoned settings where protagonists would appear isolated. Low-key lighting is typically used to create mystery and dramatic tension. Jump cuts are used to focus suddenly on an object or character in a scene. These are usually paired with non-diegetic sounds such as loud bangs to shock the viewer and make them jump, provoking a fearful response to the scene. You would expect to hear eerie music and tension building sound effects in a thriller film as well as the occasional silence that leaves the viewer feeling suspensful and waiting anxiously for something to happen.                            

To research further into the conventions of a thriller film I have chosen to analyse and annotate a scene from the film Scream. I have chosen this film because 

Scream (1996)

Identity Hidden

In Scream the antagonist wears a mask and black cloak that hides his identitiy. This is conventional to a thriller film because it is typical of a serial killer to conceal their identity. This explains the thriller story line to the audience, so from the start of the film they can guess that they are a murderer. This creates suspense in the viewer as they wonder, who will be killed and who the killer is. This connotes enigma and mystery surrounding the antagonist because for most of the film the audience is unaware who they are and why they are murdering the innocent victims.                                               Hiding the identity of the killer means the audience cannot see their facial expressions so do not build a relationship with them. Suspense is created because the audience question what the antagonist is thinking, what they look like and why they are completing murderous acts. This particular mask in Scream is slightly mocking of the films title and the killers victim. The mask portrays a fearful screaming expression which ties in with both the title of the film and the fearful responses of the protagonists.

Iconography

The antagonists signature murder weapon is a knife and he attempts to use it in this scene. When the audience first sees the knife, murder and danger is connoted, making them understand that he is aiming to hurt the protagonist. The serial killer uses the same knife on all of his victims which makes the audience aware when he is about to 'strike again'. Other Iconography used is generally ordinary. The telephone, the lock and the computer are all  items that the audience would be familiar with. These helps them build a relationship with the protagonist and feel empathy for her because they believe that it could be them in her situation as they are similar.

Contrasting Facial Expressions and Body Language

The facial expressions of the protagonist portray clearly how she is feeling which make it easier for the audience to relate. At the start of the scene the woman acts laid back and confident until the voice on the other end of the phone says "If you hang up on me you'll die just like your mother"

referring to her mother who had been killed previously. At this point her facial expression becomes worried and fearful, afraid of what will happen next. Close ups highlight the expressions as the girl holds the phone to her ear but stops speaking. Next it is her body language that changes quickly. First she moves slowly as she is relaxed and not worried but next she makes sharp actions as she moves quickly back into the house and attempts to lock the door.                                                               These two demeanor's contrast with each other. This shows how quickly the killer can appear and jump out on you. Because the girl is alone and the attack is so sudden, the audience believes it is too late for her to escape. This is conventional to a thriller film because it creates surprise in the audience. There is tension from the beginning of the film because the protagonist believes that the person on the other end of the phone is just playing a trick on here while the audience knows that it is in fact the killer. The audience knows this because it has happened before with previous characters in the film. This is conventional to a thriller film because serial killers tend to have a method and way of attacking the victims.

Ordinary Clothing

While the main character has a bold iconic costume, the female character is wearing very ordinary clothing. Her hair and her make-up is natural and her clothing is casual. This suggests that she was not expecting anybody to visit. This makes her appear more vulnerable to the events that the audience knows will happen next. The audience can build a relationship with the protagonist because she is wearing very normal cloths that the audience may wear similar too. This makes the audience put them selves in the characters point of viewer and imagine what it would be like if what was happening to her happened to them.

Sounds

The title of the film suggests the narrative. The audience expects there to be victims because of the word 'scream' so there must be a killer. screaming of the protagonists confirms this for the viewers. Sound effects and music are conventional to a thriller because they help to build tension and create suspension before shocking or surprising the audience as well as manipulating the moods of them.