Conventions of Thrillers

Thrillers mainly consist of a a series of negative events which build tension and suspense. Meanwhile the protagonist fights for justice while the antagonist seeks to destroy it.

The thing about thrillers that separates them from horrors is that they manipulate the content so the audience believe that it could potentially happen to them, making the experience much more frightening and intense.

Conventions

- Fast shots in quick succession.

- Music connoting tension = high strings, low bass.

- Dark lighting.

- Mysterious noises and shadows.

- The antagonist in control.
- Montage shots.

Characters
The protagonists are more often than not, males that are the 'leader of the pack' and want to restore justice and fight back, not just cower away from the fight. For example, in the adventure thriller 'The Grey' where Liam Neeson, playing Ottway, becomes the leader and helps others fight for survival in an extremely isolated part of Alaska.

The antagonists often have their identity concealed or partially unknown, so the audience uncover the true identity as the move progresses. This is the case in the most recent Bond film 'Spectre', where the antagonist reveals himself to be super-villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Also, in many thriller movies, the explanation for the antagonists actions is often for revenge. For example, in the movie 'Cape Fear', where Robert De Niro plays the antagonist that seeks revenge on the lawyer who provided the fundamental evidence that convicted him of rape.

Camera Work
With the protagonist, there's often many close up shots and reactions shots to highlight their emotions. To help conceal the antagonists identity, shots of them will be dimly lit and will cut quickly to avoid them being revealed to the audience. Or, shots including the antagonist will show them in front of a bright light so that they appear simply as a silhouette, or they'll appear as a shadow with a voice over, over the top. An example from the antagonist in 'Spectre' is shown below and an example from 'The Revenant' trailer.

Sound
Orchestral music is often used to increase suspense and tension. This is done by using very deep and low bass and contrasting high pitched strings that keep the audience on edge. Minor chords are also played because they have connotations of sadness and create an eerie feeling within the movie.
Diegetic sounds such as creaking doors/floorboards or footsteps are used to emphasise the feeling of being crept up on, consequently increasing tension.
As tension builds, the music usually increases in pace, which subsequently builds tension and suspense even further. All of these features are displayed within the trailer for the 2013 version of 'Silence of the Lambs' which is linked below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuX2MQeb8UM



Flashbacks
Flashbacks are commonly used in thriller movies. They create the sense of disorientation of time and space. The confusion of the audience also makes them much more vulnerable to feelings of fear and anxiety.They also lead the audience to believe that there's more to the story than meets the eye. Flashbacks often used to reveal more about the protagonist or antagonist and can either reveal why the antagonist is doing what they're doing or help them identify with the protagonist. Flashbacks are famously used in the thriller 'Inception'.