Genre Research: Other Genres

Thriller

Camera angles, movements, and shots: High angles and birds eye shots are used to make the characters look vulnerable. Fast pans add suspense during action shots. POV shots can put you in the character's shoes as they go through their dilemma in the moment. Close-ups show emotion, vulnerability, and reactions of characters. 

Common costumes, lighting, actors, makeup, props, and scenery: Costumes usually fit the time period usually either present time or could be adapted based on location (ex. Space). Lighting is very contrasted. Some scenes may be shot with bright lighting to make sure the audience has a full understanding of everything that is happening or the scene while, other scenes may be casted in darker more moody lighting to add drama and suspense to the unknown, the situation, or the antagonist. Makeup is usually done pretty natural for characters. In addition, some scenes require special effects for injuries and gore illustrated on film. Props usually consist of  survival gear, new technology to defeat the antagonist, or everyday objects. The scenery is usually a type of post-apocalyptic abandoned scene. This can include empty houses, stores, shacks, etc. Actors are usually method actors, performers who can invoke a believable and emotional experience to the audience. Thrillers hinge on suspense, so the mis-en scene of the film has to focus on building anticipation.

Editing in Thrillers: All thriller films use fast and slow paced editing in their films. This is very good at creating suspense, tension and also conveying emotions and/or representing characters. Most commonly, thrillers use fast and slow paced editing specifically to create suspense and tension within a scene. Jump cuts for example, can be seen in the thriller genre due to their disorientating effect on a character or scene. Shot, reverse, shot is another editing technique used especially to show the audience something that the characters do not know. Another editing technique used is parallel editing; where the audience is shown what two characters are doing at the same time. One shot usually has an effect on the other in these type of shots. 

Elements of Genre: The main element of a thriller is suspense; putting the audience on edge through impactful storytelling. Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense as if one simply shows the audience a room full of people and it explodes, only shock is felt. However, when an audience is shown of a room full of people and a ticking time bomb is about to go off then,  suspense is built. Thrillers are meant to heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra- heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and even terror.

Examples of Films:

Get out, Ma, A Quiet Place, Glass, Parasite, Joker, Night crawler, Gone Girl, Bird Box.

Common Sound in Genre: Thrillers have eerie scores to direct the narrative of the story. The aim of the music is to keep the audience on their toes.  Silence is widely used to create tension to a certain scene. The non-diegetic music in thrillers is fairly repetitive, creating anxiety and agitation for the audience. Non-diegetic sound used to increase the tension and create a sense of pessimism, desperation and paranoia. Sound bridges are used to cut to another shot, without the action being interrupted, this is very important in a thriller as it allows the audience to still feel tension even when the action is no longer viewable. Finally, Dialogue is diegetic, and often the dialogue creates a very tense atmosphere.

Positives and Negatives of the Genre: 

Positives: 

• Suspense keeps the audience engaged.
• Eeriness of the genre is appreciated.
• Themes/story of this genre generally interesting.
• Uses a lot of camera angles and shots.
• Thrillers tend to be more story focused and not relying on sequels; story is self contained.
• Use of visuals and audio to invoke suspense.

Negatives:

• Genre not accepted by all, not as mainstream as action/adventure films.
• Story lines sometimes too complex, has to reveal all in a single movie.
• Actors have to be decent for the movie to have its effect. 

Horror

Lighting: Up lighting

• Silhouette- Shadows show movement of antagonist so the viewers imagination creates their worst fear.
• Spotlighting- Drawing attention to main focal point.
• Underexposure
• Prominent and projected shadows
• Shooting through objects and elements- Creates strange and irregular shadows.

Angles:  Bird eye (high angle): used to make the actor look vulnerable.

• Close up: used to see characters reactions
• Tracking shot: shows if a character is being watched or followed.
• Reversed shot: shows the consequences of a person's actions by using time.
• Long shot: used to establish the scene ( ex: how deserted a town is)
• Over the shoulder shot: Used to build suspension
• Reaction shot: To show fear after jump scare.
• POV shot: when character is running from antagonist.

Movement: Running from antagonist

• Choreographed fights (hand to hand and/or weapon use)
• Scared/surprised faces 
• Hysterical crying 
• Stunts (Jumping out of windows, dramatic deaths, vehicle chases)

Mis en scene:

• Sets with fog and dark lighting
• Strobe lights for added attack effects 
• Regular clothes costumes and set design to make things appear scarier because they are more realistic.
• Special FX makeup used to create realistic wounds and creatures
• Shooting Locations appear to be isolated and rural.

Elements of genre: Scary locations

• Spooky music
• Fear of the unusual
• The dark
• Fear of death
• Shocking plot twist
• Unsafe feeling

Examples: The Shining, Frankenstein, The Conjuring, Halloween, Scream, and The Blair Witch Project

Sounds: Suspenseful music

• Non-diegetic sounds (Ex: Monster noises)
• Sound Motif (Ex: Michael Myers from Halloween)
• Fear inducing score (Ex: Psycho shower scene theme)
• Screaming
• Silence (Bird Box/A Quiet Place)
• Emphasis on Diegetic sounds (door creaking, crows, wind, footsteps, Sirens etc.)

Positives: The fear of death until the end credits of movie conveyed by overall music, graphics, and special effects (Ex: IT). A shocking plot twist because it leaves the audience following one story which changes drastically throughout leaving you intrigued and sometimes confused on previous motives (Ex: Psycho's false beginning that grows darker throughout the plot). 

Negatives: Unrealistic plots and monster/creature effects: It takes away from the overall scary experience with improper Mis en Scene (Ex: Ghostbusters). Unnecessary blood for unwanted effect: Makes scene more comical and unrealistic (Ex: Kill Bill).

Hard to follow plots: We can’t be fully frightened when we do not fully follow along on with what's happening (Ex: Into the Forest).