Typical shots in thriller films

We are researching common shots and camera movements in thriller films to help us decide on one shots we should use for our short film, this will help influence our current ideas and help build on that as well.

The camera movement in thriller films is either very steady or moves around a lot (in particular scenes), while there is conversations it is common for the camera to stay still and focus on the people talking through shot reverse shot, so usually in these types of scenes there will be a shallow focus on the characters. However, if it’s a fast moving scene with a lot of action, the camera will move a lot to follow the action. There will also be camera movement in scenes where something has gone wrong, this illustrates panic and encourages the audience to feel more involved. It also creates more suspense in the scene.

High angle shots are commonly used in thriller films. The high angle is usually on the vulnerable/weaker character, this connotes that they are not in control, low angle shots are used on the more powerful/superior character to illustrate their power and control. This clearly separates each character for the audience to see that one is more powerful than the other. The powerful and weaker character can switch by the end of the film as one character may begin being weak and vulnerable but then they will gradually become stronger and more powerful throughout the film and defeat the antagonist. Close ups are also commonly used, they are used to show a characters reaction/emotions and to illustrate important details in that scene. Another commonly used shot is a tilted angle shot, this is to cause a lot of dramatic tension and make the scene disorientated. Sometimes this is used when the victim is lying on the floor and looking at what’s happening so basically a POV shot but also a tilted angle as well. Extreme long shots are usually used often in thrillers, they are usually used for an establishing shot to set the scene and show the surroundings, for example, it could be a deserted town and it’s clearly showing where the characters are through this type of shot. Hand held camera shots are also sometimes used, these are to encourage the audience to feel more involved in the film and what is happening. POV shots, as I mentioned briefly before, are used to put the audience in the characters perspective. In a scary scene this could be to create more suspense and tension and make the audience more scared or it could simply be used to show the audience what the characters are looking at because it could be a significant piece of information. Over shoulder shots are one of the main shots used to build up tension, it is most commonly used in horrors and thrillers and usually used around mirrors because it helps build suspense and so the audience can see what’s happening as well as the character.

Many thriller films use a zoom; this is to create drama and tension in the scene. It can also be used to zoom in on a particular item or something significant like an injury or after something terrible has happened. Another way it could be used is to zoom in on something that isn’t easy to spot as it doesn't stand out, this is to illustrate to the audience that something is there and has been there the entire time which creates tension and builds up suspense. A tracking shot and panning shot are also used a lot in thrillers, these shots illustrate movement, they can be used really well in thrillers, sometimes used to make out that a character is being followed or watched. It can also be used to establish a scene (as in a lot of other genres too), this is so the audience can see the full view of the location of the scene. Panning and tracking shots are also good for building suspense and tension for the audience, this is because the audience doesn’t know what’s going to be shown next and this especially in thrillers, combined with sound editing can create mystery of what’s about to happen.

We are going to combine our research for thriller films and mystery films to ensure we incorporate both genres into our films.