Typically, thriller films focus around
multiple aspects, such as:
• The storyline revolving around one case
that has to be solved
• The law being bent or broken by multiple
characters
• A plot twist that occurs midway which
will affect the protagonist
• Characters facing conflict that will be
difficult to overcome
• The antagonist eventually is caught and
will serve time for the crime that they
committed

STORYLINE FOCUSED AROUND ONE CASE – USED
Throughout the opening of our film the audience are
introduced to the case of Daisy Walker’s murder. Despite
being a victim of a serial killer’s rampage, the opening of
the film focuses specifically on Daisy Walker and her
connection with DCI Banks. The film then continues with
DCI Walker working solo on the case and through several
problems

BREAKING OF THE LAW – Used
Our film definitely uses the convention of law breaking. In
our opening we immediately reveal a murder case and
later show 3 suspects on the evidence board. We felt this
aspect was important as it suggests characteristics
about the suspects shown and allows the audience to
figure out who committed the crime.

THE PLOT TWIST - Challenged
In our film, the plot twist occurs in the opening 2
minutes, where the protagonist (DCI Walker) is informed
with the closing of the case, which ultimately encourages
him to take it on himself. Whereas in most thriller films,
the plot twist is revealed midway.

CHARACTERS FACING CONFLICT – Used and Developed
We used the idea of characters facing conflict throughout our
film opening – at the beginning when DCI Walker is introduced
we instantly see this connection between himself and the girl
shown in the photographs. Later on when DCI Walker is
informed about the closing of the case, we instantly can
sympathise with him as he is facing this problem. We developed
the idea of conflict by creating a emotional and mental conflict
shown through the disappointment and agony that DCI Walker
faces when he realises that he is on his own to discover who
killed Daisy Walker.

STOCK CHARACTERS
• Criminals
• Stalkers
• Assassins
• Innocent victims
• Police
Protagonist
- Hero
- Often police
officer
Antagonist
- Villain
- Criminal

Mr Clark played the character of DCI
Walker, who is also the protagonist
and hero in our storyline. This is a
convention of the thriller/crime genre
that we have followed and
represented in our opening.
Conor Sawenko and Edgar Walker
played the other police detectives in
the film, who are less important than
DCI Walker. However, this was
another convention that was
replicated in our film opening.

We created three suspects that were featured on the
evidence board. You don’t actually see the characters in
person in the opening, however they would be present later
on as the film progresses. We took photos of 3 classmates
and asked them to pose like criminals. Although, they are
aren’t present in person in the opening they are a huge part
of it, as that’s what DCI Walker is trying to discover – Who
killed Daisy Walker?

We looked into the film
‘Hot Fuzz’ which is set in
a rural town. We wanted
to move away from this
idea and set our film in a
city similar to ‘Se7en’
which is set in a big city.
We wanted to set it in a
city to follow the stock
setting idea that big cities
makes it harder to find
criminals. We wanted the
case to appear on a big
scale and being in the
centre of a city would
force the case to be
maximised.

CAMERA
• We used a variety of
close up, medium
and few long shots
throughout.
• We focused mainly on
the characters and
not on the
background as they
were the most
important part of the
shot.

EDITING
• We edited shots so
they were fast-paced
which created a
feeling of tension and
suspension.
• We used intercutting
between the
evidence board and
DCI Walker and the
two detectives and
DCI Walker.

SOUND
• We used sound to accompany the panning shots of the
evidence board as well as near the end of the opening
when DCI Walker exits his office in anger.
• We also used minimal dialogue. Next time I would
change it so that there was a bit more dialogue to
enhance the content.
• One of our tracks we created on garage band which
was used on our opening.

MISE EN SCENE
• We used some props such as the evidence board and the
mug of coffee that DCI Walker drinks from. However, I
would have liked to include more such as a phone or a
weapon to make the film appear more crime orientated
and it would emphasise the settings a bit more.
• We used lighting for the DCI Walkers office to focus
on him a bit more and a sense of mystery in the
room.
• DCI Walker is presented wearing a full suit which
you would expect from a detective. The other two
officers (PC Hunt and PC Clark) did not wear a suit
which I would change next time as it would be more
believable for the audience.
• Body language was used to create reactions and
moods from characters. For example, DCI Walker
appeared furious when he left his office which
emphasised the importance of the case for him.

Traditional iconography
shown in thriller films
follow the lines of:
- Police stations and
evidence
- Urban cities
- Minimal range of
colours
- Weapons
- Shadows
- Confined spaces

The first thing we wanted to replicate from several
crime/thriller movies is an evidence board which we
recreated. This was our main prop throughout the film
as it was featured for the majority of the opening and
stimulated the conversation.

• Weapons are usually used in thriller films, however,
we didn’t use a weapon as it wasn’t featured in our
storyline.