Prefilming...Psychological Thriller Basics Take 2

So before we begin filming, there are a couple of basic strategies that really help to create the creepy vibe present in many psychological thriller movies.  These "codes and conventions" employ many key aspects that are important within the Cambridge AICE media studies curriculum regarding film: mise-en-scene, editing, sound, theme, etc.  It really all adds up to creating one unsettling big picture!

So here's a grocery list with some key ingredients persistent in many psychological thriller films, such as 'Black Swan',' Shutter Island' and 'The Machinist', that De-Ranged pictures plans on picking up and using while concocting the opening sequence of "Shattered."

1. low key lighting and shadows..."used to add tension in a scene, and to represent the inner darkness within the characters...create enigma and mystery...dark and tense atmosphere"
2. mirrors as a symbol..."Used to portray the use of reflection of a character's inner self, as well as representing 'the dark side' of some characters."
3. quick cuts, fast paced edits, and variations of camera shots/angles...'Highlight the feelings of suspense and tension, mainly used during important scenes....done to build tension and panic amongst the audience to reflect what is happening on screen."
4. flashback/dream sequences..."give the audience an insight into the character's past...plays with the target audience's mind and makes them think about the action taking place"
5. typical/stock characters..."criminals...prison inmates...menaced women...  characters with dark past...psychotic individuals..."
   
6.  themes of insanity or state of mind/what is real vs. what is not real..."Often a character's perception of the world is revealed to be different to that of others with a more sound state of mind...The idea of what is real and what is not is commonly used in psychological thrillers...This compels the audience to pay attention and interests them as it forces them into thinking so that when they decipher the story they feel a sense of achievement."
7. music or lack there of..."mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds...there may even be no music at times...atmospheric sounds and sound effects are used to create an eerie sound and build tension."
8. coloring in set and costuming (part of mise-en-scene)..."The colours used in psychological thrillers are predominantly red, black and white.  They have connotations of danger, violence, blood, evil, and mystery."
   

There we have it.  Hopefully, De-Ranged Pictures will prove successful in creating a film that twists the audience's psyche by offering a special look into the fragile mindset of our main character, Abigail, in the original film "Shattered."  With these tips in mind, we hope to do justice to the genre of psychological thriller and create something new that is as entertaining as it is unsettling.  Looks like we have a lot of work ahead of us!


Codes and conventions of a psychological thriller. (2013, February 7). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/paigewebbx/codes-and-conventions-of-a-psychological-thriller-16401609