Mise-en-scene in thriller films

Mise en scene is a French term meaning what is in shot? It can also be defined as the arrangement of scenery and properties to represent a place where a film is set. Mise-en-scene helps establish what genre a film is by setting the tone through lighting, costumes, props, settings, body language, facial expressions and positions of characters.

1) Lighting and colour -  Lighting helps the audience assume what type of genre the film is through the way the lighting is displayed. for example there is low key lighting (which is usually used in thrillers) and high key lighting. In my group we are going to be using different levels of low key lighting as this creates a mysterious atmosphere. Colour is also a convention for mise en scene as it associates emotions with different colours. For example:

• White typically represents purity and innocence
• Green typically represents envy 
• Black represents evil or danger through the darkness 
• Red represents lust or love, anger or danger, blood or violence
• Blue represents coldness, sadness or depression
• Yellow-represents sunshine or happiness

In our thriller film opening we will use colours such as red, black and white to symbolize love, violence, blood and death.


2) Costumes and make-up/hair - The use of costume and make up make actors develop more as a character which creates a forced judgement  on how the audience perceive them. The costume may include things like style of dress, garments, accessories and hairstyle. Make-up can make characters either seem more appealing/glamorous or normal (without makeup). Make up in the earlier years of cinema was used to highlight facial features as black and white films could not show every detail. In thriller films make up is used to create a fearful effect, for example by smudging their make up it will make women look more in need or in danger. Ripped costumes give the impression that something bad has happened, suits can make a character look more important and black clothing can make someone look more sinister.

3) Setting and props - Location is key when it comes to mise-en-scene as it sets the tone of the film. This can be an outside location or an inside location. With a thriller film the typical conventions of setting would be a dark ally or woods. However these conventions have been used to much making them become cliched. Props  can help determine the narrative, identity of character and genre. Semiology can come into this as well such as by using to a gun to symbolize violence. 

4) Facial expressions and body language -  By using this the camera is able to capture the emotion of the characters. This includes hand gestures, postures, and facial expressions which is shown clearly by the physical, mental, or emotional actions. With the non verbal communication the audience is able to assume characteristics about the character on how they are feeling by not being directly told. For example, if a character is scared we can tell by their worried facial expression.


5) Position of characters and objectives in a frame -  The way characters are positioned within a frame can tell the audience a lot about the character. This includes levels of social status by which how the characters are centered and angled. In thriller films, a murderer usually the dominates the scene and the victim  which can be displayed by staging the levels of the characters.