Thriller Conventions

In my Media Class, we discussed Thriller Conventions, to establish what aspect of a film make it a thriller.

1. a crime at the core of the narrative (often murder, but not always)
2. a complex narrative structure, with false paths, clues and resolutions
3. a narrative pattern of establishing enigmas (problems) which the viewer expects to be resolved
4. a protagonist who is systematically, dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web of intrigue by an antagonist.
5. Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situation
6. Themes of identity
7. Themes of mirroring
8. Themes of voyeurism
9. Protagonist with a "flaw" which is exploited by the antagonist
10. Titles often reflect an aspect of the protagonist/antagonist's psychological state
11. there is often a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist is in peril
12. Mise-en-Scene which echoes/mirrors the protagonist plight

Protagonist - is the main/central character of a story, the leading actor; it doesn't matter whether they are the hero or the villain.

Antagonist - is the character that is opposed/ a rival against the Protagonist