Shot types and camera movement in Thrillers

Shot types and camera movement in Thrillers

Different camera angles can create represent characters in many ways and also show their language and emotions. Thrillers use camera angles such as close up shots to makes the audience focus on that character by placing them in the front of the camera. This allows the character's emotions to be better presented to the audience as more subtle changes in the character's face (e.g. widening of the eyes) can be seen by the audience and can show a change in emotion that would be otherwise harder to notice in a long shot. These close ups are often used in Thrillers because they often add tenseness to the scene as the audience focus more on the actions and emotions of the characters and so are more invested and concentrated on the elements of the scene that add intensity to it.                                  

Close ups also help the audience to feel as if they are in the film and gets them to start asking questions that they would otherwise not ask at a medium shot like why certain details exist in a scene and what do they symbolise. Close up camera movements also makes the audience feel like they are actually in the film as the character has been brought towards them. For example, when the character is close to the camera and is breathing heavily, the audience may try to mimic the character's breathing. 

Another camera movement is tracking; this is a fast paced camera movement, which is also known as a Dolly shot. It is a simple tracking movement which is used to follow the character. A tracking shot is used in 1980's 'The Shining' (which uses many Thriller elements) which is also a long shot that uses a steadicam and is at a slightly low angle. This creates an ominous feeling in the audience with the slow pace and drawn out length of the scene. The low angle makes it feel as though the audience are following the tricycle like a dog and are at the boy's mercy. This tracking shot is also used in other Thrillers to create and establish a situation or setting and can increase the audience of the surroundings in the movie that come into play later on in the plot. This is done in the opening of Panic Room with a tracking shot of the house as the camera freely roams and moves through the different areas of the house (some of the different shots of this opening are shown below)