Main Genre Conventions - Thriller

Genre is a form of categorising forms of art such as films or music; based on it's stylistic criteria.  Conventions form genre in the sense that types of genre are recognised through them; and as types are adapted changed over time we can still recognise a certain type of genre through it's conventions.  For example types of film genre vary from RomCom to Action to blood-curdling Thrillers.  Genre presents cliché story plots and stereotypical conventions that are repeated time over time in films; for example we would be able to define a RomCom from the typical good looking young lady and a romance that flourishes between her and the 'perfect' man.  Later in the film; after 'love conquers all' and they defeat all obstacles, there is always a happy ending.  A Thriller film is  defined through it's main conventions that aim to build suspense for the audience, presented in a dark and scary setting with the main hero that manages to survive after all their acquaintances are brutally murdered.  Genre conventions are presented in order to engage with the audience and help us become emotionally attached to the characters; as we sympathise with the situations that they are in.

Other Thriller genre conventions 

• Builds suspense and tension
• Cliff hangers
• Dark and gloomy setting
• Eerie music for emphasis
• Evil character (usually goes on a killing rampage)
• One survivor

We looked at the openings of three films that emphasise these thriller conventions; Dawn of the Dead (2004) directed by Zack Snyder, Taken (2008) directed by Pierre Morel and Cabin Fever (2002) directed by Eli Roth.  They all present the genre of Thriller; with each opening overshadowing and giving the audience clues as to what is to come.  

Dawn of the Dead (2004) - Zack Snyder

This zombie, bloody gore fuelled movie presents an opening of a doctor examining an x-ray of a patients skull; in the putrid greenly coloured hospital.  The connotation of this emphasises the main plot of the story; of how a skull would present 'death', the sickly coloured green walls contrasting with a normally hygienic setting.  This presents the idea of the virus as humans are slowly turning into zombie's as the disease breaks out throughout the film.  As a nurse seems to be talking to the doctor without him paying as much attention; we can see how she doesn't seem too dominant.  The opening scene focuses on her life as how she arrives at the neighbourhood in which she lives in- she is greeted by a little girl.  This little child must have an importance as we are introduced to her so early in the opening sequence giving her some sort of significance.  Suspense is slowly built up as the audience are on the edge of their seats- when the nurse and her partner as asleep; the little girl that we are earlier introduced to is there. The couple are woken up by the now transformed zombie child as she brutally attacks them; biting the husband leaving him in a pool of blood as he frantically struggles from her attack.  In this opening sequence to Dawn of the Dead; we can easily empathise with the techniques that the genre presents- such as the eerie music and quick shot cuts showing one scene to another.  This builds the tension and really portrays the Thriller genre as the audience are affected by the film.  This opening to the film gives the audience a hint on what is to come later on; as we can see that it is likely going to be full of blood and zombie attacks.

Taken (2008) - Pierre Morel 

This film opening differs to Dawn of the Dead in terms that it builds suspense differently- characters aren't killed off immediately through a zombie attack. The opening seems to be rather bright as we focus on Liam Neeson; a father trying to reminisce over his relationship with his daughter who has grown up right before his eyes.  As he looks through photo's of her childhood- it emphasises the importance of the relationship between him and his daughter and we can see that this is going to play a large part in the film; as he tries to strengthen that relationship. The father seems to be lonely; as he prepares a present for his daughter for her birthday, yet it seems that his ex-wife isn't too welcoming of his arrival at her party to give her the present.  As we see him being hired to be a security guard for a pop-concert- a knife wielding assailant attacks the singer and we see him quickly break his harm for her defence.  This opening suggests how this man is strong and has the ability to defend any harm coming his way.  This film seems to take a while as the suspense isn't as quickly built like the other two films; we slowly begin to learn about the characters and the situations that they are in.

Cabin Fever (2002) - Eli Roth 

The suspense and tension is raised quickly in Cabin Fever as the films opening credits seem to really present the thriller genre.  We are presented with the titling credits that appear to be a scary font - with hooks on the end adding to the mise-en-scene.  Whilst sounds of birds song and beautiful nature slowly turn into the buzz of swarms of flies; what seems to be a white background transforms into a bloodstained rotting cloth.  The eerie music slowly climaxes in the background reaching a certain pitch which really creates a rise in tension.  The title credits quickly then cut to scenes of nature- with a drumming sound that seems to present something slowly appearing.  The scenes seem to be of an abandoned location as we see shots of trees and overlooking a lake.  It gives a sense of isolation; suggesting that a group of people may later become trapped in this area.  We see a gruesome looking man; hooked rabbit kill in his hands- as he approaches a dog presenting him with the kill.  We then discover that the unresponsive dog is because he has been brutally slaughtered.  This scene quickly cuts to a shot of a typical american college girl.  We can see that the mise-en-scene presents a build of tension that uses the thriller conventions to thrill an audience.