Psychological thriller genre research

Genre conventions

Mise en scene

Costume

An effective costume can make the viewer feel emotion for example with this image from Donnie Darko a costume design is used that looks similar to a rabbit but naturally the viewer will feel strange if they see this. The antagonist in the film may wear dark clothing to connote death, and mystery, and the protagonist would wear the complete opposite creating a clear contrast between good and bad.

Make up

Make up can be used to create an unnatural look that can discomfort the viewer like in the the image below but it can also be used to represent a particular persons characteristics. Fake blood can be used to create fear especially if it is from an unusual place, for example if a person was to cry blood that would be discomforting.

Props

Mirrors are common props in thrillers to perhaps represent a darker side to a character and when used in the way that the person in the mirror moves and the other doesn't it can create an effective reaction from the audience or there is an object or a person that shouldn't be there in the reflection. Props can also be used to create clues, which foreshadows the events, this way the audiences becomes more engaged to discover these events.

Lighting

low level lighting can create tension and suspicion as the viewer is left to their own imagination, naturally the audience would fear the unknown. Lighting can also be used to create shadows which also creates tension, but also creates a sense of depth; this can make the audience feel more immersed.

Setting

The two most common settings for a psychological thriller would be a city or in a building; this is for verisimilitude making the film more atmospheric and the audience may feel like the events could happen to them.