Certain Conventions...

There are certain things that come up in most thriller films.

They can be divided into categories or codes:

Character:

• murderers
  
• crooks
• gangsters
• hero
• victim
• protagonist
• antagonist

also included in character are the types of motives, such as revenge, greed etc.

Themes:

• mystery
• thrills
• suspense
• obsession
• paranoia
• tensity
• sexuality
• death

this is what the film is about as well as the reactions it evokes in the audience.
The themes underpin the narrative, speaking of which...

Narratives:

• death
• assassinations
  
• capture
• police interviews
• chases
• meetings with mobs etc.
  

The narrative is what happens in the plot. it includes the structure of the film and sound!
which includes dialogue sound effects and music. (diagetic sounds and non diagetic)

Iconography:

• mise-en-scene
• colour
• shadows
• everything that you see
• props

the iconography is the visual elements, including lighting, camera, setting, dress c0des and the above.


All of these elements can be altered to fit any genre and are what make up films.