Research into Conventions - Miss Miller

Conventions

Conventions are typical elements featured in films that you expect to see. Conventions are different depending what genre the film is categorised as. Thriller conventions are things such as, low-key lighting, an isolated setting and an eery soundtrack. These create the surprise, suspense and shock elements to the thriller, making it more successful for an audiences viewing. 

The clip in which I have chosen to analyse is from 'Halloween'. This particular clip demonstrates many thriller conventions throughout that I thought I could easily talk about.

The first convention in which is clearly visible is low-key lighting. This is portrayed throughout the clip however, darker at some parts to allow for the audience to focus on the main, centred object or being - shown in screenshot for example. This creates a sense of foreboding and enigma from the way you cannot see everything clearly and so something could be lurking in the darkness in which the audience are unaware of. As darkness eventually leads to blackness, it creates a sense of fear as 'black' connotes danger and the unknown. This keeps the audience feeling on edge and gripped to the scene as they want to see what happens and what appears from the darkness. If the scene was high-key lighted, it would create a whole different effect. The killer would be more visible, the scene would seem more positive and the audience wouldn't feel so connected with the victim as the situation wouldn't be seen as bad. The fact it's low-key lighted gives the impression that no one is around to save the victim and that even if they were there is no hope in them getting to her as from the message that darkness gives off. This is a convention of the thriller genre as suspense is created which is a main element in which successful thrillers contain. Low-key lighting creates tense moments and gives the scene a negative and unknowing look. 

A further convention of the thriller genre is handheld camera movements. This creates the effect of enigma as it gives the scene an edgy, tense feel. The audience feel as if they are in the scene and part of it as it is as if they are holding the camera. It also makes the scene seem more realistic and like a general expected viewing of what the scene is really like. The audience are then able to relate to the character more for example with the female victim, as it's as if the audience are traveling with her when trying to escape from contact with the killer. The unsteadiness of the camera movement creates suspense as it reflects the panic created by the killer approaching. This is conventional to the thriller genre as using this movement creates exactly what a thriller should create - suspense. It either shows the view from a character or still an audiences perspective but as if they are there filming it in the scene. This makes them feel more involved and therefore creates a bigger impact on them when something unexpected happens and so this creates the shock or surprise element in which successful thriller create. 

A killer with a hidden identity is also a common convention of a thriller work. The use of the mask to hide the identity of the killer creates a sense of fear. This is because the character could already be existent in the film and so the killer could be in fact a character that is seen to be a positive one. The mask is completely white and covers the whole face with just eye and breathing gaps giving the audience and characters no detail of the face of the killer whatsoever. All that is shown is the hair, however, many people can have very similar if not the same hair and style but a face is much more recognizable. Unknowing who is behind the mask creates suspense as not just the characters in the scene are unaware of who they are but also the audience. It's not as if the audience know and the characters don't, so as the audience also don't know who the killer is they can relate to the characters especially the victim as they feel worried for them, hoping that they will get out alive. Thrillers have this as a convention because normally the killer isn't revealed until the end and so keeping them unidentified is vital in creating the shocking, unexpected ending. With the identity of the killer hidden, it leaves the audience to ponder on who the killer actually is and creates the suspense that is intended.

The sharp object use of iconography in order to kill is also a further convention of the thriller genre. It is shown just as the killer is about to murder the female victim. The most common iconography use is a knife as shown to be used in this clip - portrayed in screenshot. A knife is a everyday object that is used in the home in ways to simply prepare food most commonly. The way this is an everyday object but used in a different way - in order to kill - creates a sense of fear. Everyone owns this object and so it creates fear as the audience are aware of it's capabilities and the way that everyone can get in control of a knife so easily. It is used to kill which is seen as unnatural and so also creates suspense as it means that the killer doesn't think in the same way as a 'normal' person would. The audience feel fearful of the object and the way in which it is used and so are weary of the character in control of it. Audiences then feel obliged to fee worried for characters that come into contact with characters that have such iconography in their control. This is a convention of a thriller film as the majority of thrillers have a killer of some sort that needs a weapon to kill their victims with. Therefore, a sharp object is usually used such as a knife or axe, this creates a more brutal murder too with evidence left such as blood splatters. 

The eery soundtrack is another convention of a thriller film. It is shown from the beginning however, stops when the female victim gets her leg/foot stuck in the lift. Just after the soundtrack silences, the girl screams. The way the soundtrack stops creates the shock of the scream as it emphasises it and makes the audience feel a jump as it is unexpected. The soundtrack is also eery from the distinctive way in which it sounds which creates a sense of enigma and foreboding as its unnatural and suspenseful. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the soundtrack brings the scene together making more of an impact on the audience - especially when it suddenly stops. Likewise in this clip, it can be used to emphasise other sounds or movements and so creates a more successful shock or surprise feeling.

In my thriller opening sequence I will use a few of these conventions such as the low-key lighting and handheld camera movements as I like the effects they create. From exploring these conventions I can see what ones help make a thriller successful and from the research in which I have done, I can also see which ones are more important.