Generic conventions of a thriller

There are many conventions of thriller films. These are things the audience expect to see in the film.

• Set at night time - Thriller films are often set at night time. This is because things seem more eerie when it is dark and this therefore creates more tension and suspense for the audience.
• Low key lighting - The low key lighting is used as this makes scenes within houses or during the daytime seem eerie and therefore more scary for the audience.
• Fast paced editing - The use of fast paced editing adds suspense for the audience as adrenaline is created through the quick, business of the film.
• Non-diegetic fast paced music - The fast paced music used supports the fast paced editing used. The music being fast paced fits in with the editing and starts to create adrenaline by the audience, which creates tension and suspense that is finally released during the crescendo of the music.
• Makes the audience think - Thrillers are a genre that plays with the audiences mind causing them to create problems that are not there. These problems can sometimes play on the audiences minds after  they've finished watching the film or they could just think about it during the film. This creates fear within them as the problems they create do not exist but it constantly panics them.
• Not always a happily ever after - Thriller films do not always end happily. This is a common thing for thrillers as they are created to be scary and full of tension and suspense and to scare the audience, therefore having a happy ending may ruin the façade created in the film. However some directors choose to have a happy ending as this rounds off the film nicely, leaving more opportunity for a sequel. Some thrillers also make the audience think the ending is nice and happy but then something changes suddenly that scares the audience one final time.