Codes & Conventions of Thriller - Iconography.

Codes & Conventions of Thriller – Iconography

Iconography is an essential factor in making up a thriller film. Is it part of the mise-en-scene and helps to construct certain messages to the audience. Iconography simply means symbolic representations, which often has a conventional meaning attached to an image or object.

Shadows:
Silhouettes and shadows are a common piece of iconography associated with the thriller genre as they build up the tension and fear and suggest to the audience that danger is approaching (usually the protagonist is being watched or stalked by a human or some sort of monster/demon threat). Silhouettes and shadows give the thriller the essence of mystery and suspense. An example of shadows being used to create this effect is in Paranormal Activity when a malevolent spirit visits the girl’s bedroom at night (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7l5SF4GiM)

Knives:
Knives are a typical weapon involved in a thriller film as they have connotations of blood, death violence and brutality. As soon as a knife can be seen in a shot, the audience will become aware of an approaching threat and know that the protagonist is possibly going to get hurt. A typical representation of a knife scene in thriller is the well known shower scene in Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4).

Woods:
The woods are a great location that are often used in thriller films as they create a sense of suspense and desperation as characters are often lost trying to find their way out. It is an isolated location that creates a sense of vulnerability and more often than not there is a feeling that the characters in danger may never find a way out or make it out alive. An example of this is the three characters from The Blair Witch Project who went hiking in the Black Hills to research about the Blair Witch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Hw4bAUj8A

Confined spaces:
The use of confined spaces in a thriller creates the feeling of panic within the audience as they too may feel like they are trapped alongside the character. Being trapped in a confined space will often cause the character to begin breathing heavily and crying to present to the audience the intensity of the situation. It also often introduces the start of their struggle as they try to break free and escape danger. A typical representation of a trapped character in thriller is Norman Bates from Bates Motel who is kidnapped and put inside a wooden box to await punishment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bates_Motel_(TV_series))

Street lights:
During a night time scene in thriller, street lights are often used as a way of emphasising the danger the protagonist is in and highlighting the fact that they are almost completely engulfed in darkness (bringing up the question of what lies waiting for them?) besides the eerie street lights. They also further accentuate the protagonist’s isolation and show it off as the antagonist could possibly be waiting in the shadows. All of this creates a sense of mystery and tension for the audience as they are anticipating a possible jump scare or something to happen to the protagonist. An example of this is when Will from Stranger Things is riding his bike home at night before he is kidnapped by an unknown monster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things_(TV_series))