Media Studies Week 2: Thriller Genre

 Media Studies

Thriller Genre

Overview

In this scene we are introduced to a deranged, mentally ill man who is stalking his victim although coming across as normal and an ‘all round nice guy’ to his neighbourhood. All four elemental techniques (camera, sound, editing, and mise-en-scene) will be used to create a suspenseful scene.  During the scene, the mentally unstable man will approach his victim, a teenage, rebellious, girl who has just stormed out of her house after fighting with her parents. It is during this moment of vulnerability that the man chooses to strike. 

Conventions

• Camera: 

Scene begins with an establishing shot - an aerial view of the neighbourhood. This will set the scene and introduce the audience to where and when this is set.

Close-ups will be used to show the change in expressions and emotions of the two main characters.

Point of View shot so the audience can see what the stalker is looking at (the victim) and his line of sight at each interval.

Over the shoulder.

High angle of the girl to show her weakened and vulnerable state. This will also make the audience able to clearly identify the status and position of the characters.

Low angle of the man to show his power and dominance in this situation

Track movement as the camera follows the subjects

• Sound: 

Diegetic: music that the teenager listens to; slamming of doors during argument

 Non-diegetic: eerie soundtrack; sound effects added to create an element of suspense, such as when the girl is being followed and hasn’t come to the realisation yet

Pleonastic sound: footsteps slowly increasing in volume as he follows the girl

• Editing: 

Match on action: when girl slams door and leaves house

Continuity will create a sense of reality and time moving forward

• Mise-en-scene:

• Low key lighting: cast shadows onto stalker’s face to create a looming sense of danger approaching and display his superiority and threatening character.

• Contrast between dark and light colours to show the difference between ‘nice neighbourhood guy’ (light colours to create an innocent looking character) and the ‘evil villain’ (dark colours to mirror his true personality).

Objectives/Purpose

The use of these specific conventions will allow for moments of suspense to be created, as well as adding a sense of realism as these moments happen often in the world and are continuously overlooked. Many people in the world can fall into the trap that everyone has a good side to them, and that is what makes people so easy to trust. But there are people who abuse this power of earning trust and violate it. The man in this scene that is created comes across as your friendly neighbourhood old man who could do no harm, when in reality, he is waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It is set in an urban area, with a quiet neighbourhood, so it is far from the cliche dark, creepy tower that screams danger, and is rather a place associated with safety, which makes it ironic. 

Tone/Mood

1. Suspense

2. Anxiousness

3. Uncertainty

Characters:

• Teenage girl with a stubborn and rebellious streak in her.

• Middle-aged man

• Girl’s parents