Mise En Scene

Lighting

Silhouettes are used here to create uncertainty and tension

Lighting in a thriller is of huge importance in a thriller as they often incorporate the use to dark lighting to create shadows and silhouettes. Using silhouettes in a thriller creates tension by evoking fear from the unknown, and builds up mystery to further add tension.

An example of back lighting

Thrillers frequently contrast between the light and dark (also known as 'chiaroscuro'), this can disorientate the audience and make them feel insecure and uncertain about what's going to happen next.








In my media opening sequence, I chose to go against the typical convention of using a lighter setting, and film in a late afternoon/early evening time frame. I chose to do this in order to try and alter the perception of the audience in that there's more safety and security in the light, and I wanted to try and make the audience feel uncertainty about their safety in their own homes, and therefore have their feelings reflect onto my film. I also decided to film the latter stages in a darker setting in order to show the contrast of how there's as much threat and danger in the light, as there is in the dark.

Props

Use of the mirror highlights both sides
of the character in 'Nightcrawler'

The infamous axe in 'The Shining'

Props in films are predominantly used to highlight the character and their actions. This evokes different emotions from the audience such as fear, and also creates tension because the audience may not be sure about the intentions of the character. Typical props are weaponry e.g guns and knives.

Environmental props like mirrors are popular in thrillers because it allows a chance for the director to create confusion, for example with other figures appearing in the mirror. This may also leave the audience affected after the film and create tension in their own homes as they may be scared to look in their own mirrors.

Location

The location in any thriller is of paramount importance because it can make or break a scene. If the location is off, the scene lacks a setting in which the audience believes the characters are immersed in, and therefore the audience don't believe in the scene.

In thriller films particularly, the locations used are often set in isolated, unsafe and  ambiguous places that make the character look more vulnerable and therefore make the audience feel uneasy. Staircases and dark places, like alleys for example, are also frequently used and are popular in thrillers, using a staircase allows for a high-angle shot on the character, making them look increasingly vulnerable, and dark alleys are also popular because the dark lighting means the audience can't always tell what's happening with characters, creating tension.

Costume

From these costumes you can see
they're police officers, showing the
audience they're authority figures.

Costumes in any films, not just thrillers, are used as a way to communicate to the audience about the person's status, for example their occupation or socio-economic status. The way a costume is worn is also used to suggest to audiences, for example if the costume a person is wearing is dirty and ruffled, suggesting a situation whereby the character may have been in a fight for example, and therefore the character is more focused on the situation rather than their appearance.