Conventions of a thriller

Conventions of a Thriller

 

1. Mise-en-scene (Set)

Aliens

one convention of mise-en-scene in Alien is the idea of fear and death. This is evident all the way through the movie as there are multiple dead bodies that can be seen at different parts throughout it. Also, in Alien, most of the areas they visit are inside and underground as well as being in tight rooms and corridors. This creates a sense of claustrophobia and fear as there is nowhere to escape if something happens.

What Lies beneath

One convention of mise-en-scene of What Lies Beneath is the idea of fear. This is seen throughout the movie as there are mysterious happenings all the way through such as the bath turning on with no one putting it on, things falling off shelves and sounds. It is more evident in the bathroom as there seems to be steam coming from it at most times. This creates a sense of fear as it is rather thick smoke but also smoke can be seen as ghostly as in allot of other thriller movies smoke is used to represent a ghost is around and creates a sense of fear as it obscures the whole scene giving it a sense of fear as we do not know what is behind the smoke.

2. Mise-en-scene (costume)

Aliens

Some of the characters in Aliens wear a stereotypical costume that could be present in action thrillers even though it is a sci-fi horror thriller. This is evident especially in the middle of the movie as most of the heroes carry guns as they are military. This could be seen as a convention as many movies that are not even action thriller movies, but still thrillers, the heroes carry a gun, one example of this is Oblivion, another sci-fi thriller.

What Lies Beneath

The characters clothing is just common clothes that people would wear that are nothing special. However, this is also a convention as in other thrillers, they do not wear anything out of the ordinary, such as in Shallow Grave. This could be seen as a convention as in many thrillers, characters wear normal clothes. This also helps empathise with the character as they are no different from us.

3.Cinematography

Aliens

One convention in Aliens cinematography is the use of close ups and canted angles as at many parts they can be seen. Such as looking up on a character when they are about to be killed. This can be seen as a convention as many other movies have this in them to represent paranoia, such as Psycho as there are ECUs to create uneasiness. This is evident all the way through Alien.

 

What Lies Beneath

There are many conventions also used in What Lies Beneath. One that is used is low angle shots, especially near the end, of the male character. This is used to show that he is the dominant character and also that he is in charge. There are many low angles to make the female character seem vulnerable as he is above her.

Editing

Aliens

Editing is used throughout Aliens to create pace. This is most evident when the aliens first attack as the editing dramatically speeds up to create a sense of pace and also to show  all the action happening. There are also many cut always to different characters to show what is happening to them. Fast editing is used in many different thrillers as the action picks up so can be seen as a convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp7SNoYOQmY

Aliens Xenomorph scenes 0.53-1.25

What Lies Beneath

Editing is also used to create a sense of desperateness in What Lies Beneath. This is most evident when the male character attacks the female. when he is trying to drown her, the editing kicks up to show him drowning her, but when the drug starts to wear off, where she tries to take out the plug, it kicks again to show her desperateness of trying to take out the plug. This tells us that editing is used as a convention when the action is most prominent.

5.Non-diegetic Sound

Aliens

In Aliens, non diegetic sound is used to create tension as when action happens or is about to happen, a more fast paced type of sound track is used. This is used as a convention as it is evident throughout most other thriller movies. Many parts of the soundtrack also have a type of heartbeat sound to it.

What Lies Beneath

Non diegetic sound is used to also create tension in What Lies Beneath. this is more evident when something is about to happen and a loud evident sound plays to make the scene seem scarier. Also, some of the music has a heartbeat in it to show fear and despair in different parts as well as panic as it gets faster. This is heard in many different thrillers, so is a convention.

 

 

 

6.Diegetic Sound

Aliens

Diegtic sound is used to make the areas that the characters enter scary. This is more evident when they enter an alien infested area. Then a hissing sound is heard that can be heard by the characters. This is usually just a ruptured pipe, but the aliens also hiss. This is used to create tension as we don't know if the aliens are there or if it is a pipe. Something like this is heard in many other movie, such as wind could represent breathing if it is soft enough.

What Lies Beneath

Often, there are noises that can be heard such as water taps running and creaks of floorboards. This is also evident in other horror type movies, such as The Woman In Black. These are used to create tension but also used to signify that something is about to happen.

Representation

Aliens

The soldiers in Aliens are seen as the stereotypical thugs-for-hire as they are all fairly muscular, even the female character. However, women are represented differently within Aliens as the main character is a female who has to end up saving the day, and also one of the marines is a women, yet she carries the biggest weapon.

What Lies Beneath

The two main characters are represented as the stereotypical couple as they love each other, but as with most other horror movies with couples in it, they then develop issues between each other. This is a convention as in many other thriller movies,  the couple then grow apart then may become enemies, such as the do in What Lies Beneath.