Research into conventions - Miss Miller

Research into conventions

A convention in a thriller film is elements that rate common within different film genres - patterns that can be seen/used in different films from the same category. Examples of conventions in a thriller are; iconography, jump scenes, death, masked antagonists, low key lighting, enigma, long pauses, suspense, shock, tense music and many other things that engage the audience and help them understand the movie more and get a bigger thrill. The clip I have chosen to analyse is called " The Box Scene" from the film Se7en. I have chosen to analyse this clip, as I believe it has many different conventions that engage the audience and help them understand the plot more clearly. 

Firstly, iconography was used and in this case it was a gun. This was when the detective had to point the gun at the serial killer. This links the audience to the character (detective) as it makes them feel like he does not feel safe so he needs to watch his back incase anything happens. This is conventional to a thriller as it shows the audience that the serial killer is a dangerous character and the detective is in danger because he has to have a gun pointed at him for protection, which means the audience is more sympathetic and cares for the detective as they do not want him to get hurt by the psychopathic serial killer. This builds a relationship between the audience and the characters as the audience know someone is going to die as the gun foreshadows death that will most likely occur but the fact that the antagonist is psychotic engages the audience more as they know it will not be a normal death and something else may occur as he is a very clever, scary but twisted character. This occurs throughout the scene every time it shows the detective and antagonist. 


Secondly, the next convention used in this scene was setting. The setting was in a isolated place which no one knows about as it is like a desert and in the middle of nowhere. This makes the audience assume that something bad is going to happen as it is in the middle of nowhere and the suspense has built up throughout so they are on the edge of their seat expecting for something thrilling to happen. This is conventional to as thriller genre as it helped to build on the relationship with the audience and the character (detective) and made them feel sympathy for the character as they are expecting the serial killer to get physical and violence as there is no one around to witness him getting away and killing the detectives. This occurs throughout the scene every time there is a mid shot of long shot. 

Thirdly, the next convention used was tense music. This went on throughout the whole of this scene to make sure that the audience stays under focus as the clip keeps changing from the psychotic killer to the innocent agent who is wondering if he's wife has been hurt. This builds a relationship between the characters and the audience as the music engages the audience which then leads to them feeling more sad, shock and sympathetic for the innocent detective as he doesn't know what has happened to his wife from the psychotic serial killer. This is conventional to a thriller film as it builds up suspense for the audience and prepares them for potential shock. It also helps the audience to start to imagine what could happen next and feel worried for the fragile detective as we feel unsure for him. This occurs throughout the whole scene.

Fourthly, the next convention used in this scene was an enigma. This was going on throughout the clip when the psychotic serial killer was hinting out the death of someone. The purpose of this convention within the clip was to create suspense and make the audience feel more excited to find out what is going to happen next and build a relationship with the characters. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it engaged the audience more and kept them on the edge of their seats to find out what is going to happen next and made them make predictions of what was to come. This use of enigma also builds a relationship between the audience and the character as the audience feel as something is going to happen because the antagonist is portrayed as being clever and twisted so the enigma builds more tension and the audience feel more scared for the detectives as they start to assume something bad is going to happen to them. 

Lastly, the next convention used in this scene was handheld. This was used when the detective (Morgan Freeman) was opening up the box to see what was in it. The purpose of this convention at that point in the scene was to create a jerky image from the character to the box, which made the relationship between the audience and character stronger as it made them feel the chaos and urgency within. This is conventional to a thriller genre as it showed the audience what was happening from the characters perspective, which intrigued and engaged them more. The fact that the audience felt as they were seeing what was happening from the characters perspective made them more engaged in the film and more scared wanting to find out more as they were on the edge of their seats waiting for something to happen. 

This task that made me research into conventions in a thriller genre helped me gain lots of different ideas on what i can use in my own opening thriller sequence to make it as successful. The clip I have analysed was successful in using the different types of conventions to make the audience feel the elements of; shock, suspense and surprise. The conventions I've seen in this sequence and going to use in my sequence are; iconography, enigma and handheld camera. I am going to use these conventions in my sequence because I believe they have the biggest impact on the audience by engaging them in the film more and keeping them on the edge of their seats waiting to find out more and what is going to happen next.  For example; i could use a handheld shot to create a scarier atmosphere to the audience as the shaky recording will make the audience feel unstable and spook them out more into thinking something is going to happen. The most important thing i learnt from this task it that sound is very affective in a thriller film as it adds on the tension being built and engages the audience more scaring them one something does occur. Sound is something very important i will include in my own thriller sequence.