RESEARCH - Holiday Homework 2

PANIC ROOM

Conventions of a thriller film

One convention is that thriller films are usually set in cities. In Panic Room, the film is set in Manhattan, New York.

Another convention is that there is always an element of violence, crime and murder showing society in a dangerous way. In panic room, the three robbers carry guns and other weapons. They use this to try and break into the panic room.

Another convention is that the protagonist is often an ordinary character. In this film, the protagonist is a divorced mother of an only child. They are both normal characters that live their life just as others would.

Another convention of a thriller film is that the identity of the villain is shown from the beginning as opposed to being shown later. In this film, you see the three robbers faces as soon as they make an appearance in the film. Well all except one (Raoul) because he just wanted to wear a mask. He later shows his identity.

Another convention of a thriller film is that the protagonist tries to overthrow the plans of the villain themselves. In the film, Meg (mother) tries to get her daughter out of the panic room because she is with two of the robbers.

Another convention is that there is a dilemma to which the audience can somehow relate to. In the film, While the daughter is stuck in the panic room with the two robbers, her health starts to deteriorate because she is diabetic and her blood sugar levels are running low. It is up to Burnham whether to inject her or not to make sure she's still alive. In the end, he ends up giving her the injection and you feel some remorse for the character as he isn't all that bad.

Another convention is that there is often a happy ending where antagonist is either killed or arrested. In the film, Junior and Raoul end up dying whereas Burnham gets arrested. And at the end, meg and her daughter are seen to be in a park house hunting.

Another convention of a thriller film is the element of suspense and tension where you think the actions of a character are almost impossible and that they are not going to be able to do it.