Thriller (Research)

Hello, reader. Welcome to my blog. This post is very special because I'll be dissecting the anatomy of a genre that I'll be using in my film opening. Thriller. Let's begin.

What is the thriller genre in cinema?

According to No Film School, "The thriller genre movie definition is characterized by the moods it elicits." Thrillers are about the feeling of suspense and worry. Basically, a thriller is a combination of anticipation and suspense that makes the audience wonder what comes next.

How I perceive the genre:

For me, thriller films play with the viewer's mind, showing them only what they want them to see at the moment. Fragmenting the information to generate that hypnotic feeling that keeps them captivated. Just like a roller coaster.

How does cinematography contribute to creating tension in thrillers?

Cinematography in thrillers uses specific techniques to generate that feeling of unease in the audience. For example, over-the-shoulder shots to make the viewer feel uncomfortable, as if they are there too. Characteristic cinematographic elements in this type of film include low light or dim lighting, which provoke anxiety in the viewer. Another key detail would be the framing and shots such as "frame-within-a-frame," small and tight compositions, as well as low angles and close-ups.

Now, I will use a film I recently watched as an example. I think I can explain the entire genre with Parasite (2019).

I noticed that one of the main themes in Parasite is social class. Bong used all the elements that make up the film ingeniously to develop the plot, the characters, and the main ideas. One of those elements is the cinematography.

Cinematography in Parasite:

Dear reader, I found some very ingenious ideas that I plan to use in my film. I realized that space is used extensively in Parasite. For example, the wealthy family lives in a mansion with a huge window. While the poor family lives in a basement apartment with a very small window. The wealthy family has a view of their enormous yard, and the poor family has a view of the street.  The other poor couple also lives inside the mansion, in a cramped space without windows. This differentiates the families according to their social classes. Upper class, plenty of space. Lower class, little space.  

Framing and camera positioning:

Framing techniques using objects from the film and the characters themselves were also employed.  Additionally, many scenes are filmed from behind.

As an extra point, I'd like to add that in the film, the contrasting characters are separated by physical objects.  Furthermore, they almost never share the same screen space despite being in the same location.

Lighting:

The poor family's house is lit by sunlight during the day and streetlights at night. They also have a harsh white light that creates unflattering shadows for both the house and the characters. The poor family is always exposed and vulnerable to the view of others because their window faces the street. In contrast, the rich family always enjoys privacy. The light in their home is a soft yellow, the kind of flattering lighting you see in hotels and luxurious places. The lighting in Parasite emphasizes the vulnerability of the characters.

Takeaways:

Thrillers focus on anticipation and suspense more than action, elements that keep the viewer glued to the screen.

Light and limited space can increase the vulnerability of the characters and how we perceive them.

Visual elements can communicate both the genre and the theme of the film.

Cinematography is essential for creating tension. This can be achieved through framing, lighting, angles, and visuals.

That's all for now, reader. Thank you for reading this collection of thoughts.

-Dragorite