Initial Planning- Costume

The Thriller genre normally follows a form of general conventions but the main one is that actors will be wearing dark colours to represent the protagonist’s ambiguity. Wearing a colour like black is obviously much better than a bright colour like orange in a thriller as the costume is all part of the Mise-En-Scene which sets the feel and tone of the film. The costume also suggests what kind of person they are, good or bad, and also whether they are wealthy or poor. Not only this, but it can suggest what kind of job they might have too or where they might be going.

Since police are used in most thriller films, a police or detective costume is important. The costume must look realistic to take the film seriously, often for a police officer this is a blue shirt or polo shirt with a navy blue vest and navy trousers. It is important that anyone with the same role all have matching costumes in order to maintain the set look of this character. For detectives on the other hand, most of these characters wear casual clothes and do not have to wear a uniform. However the costume must still suit the character. In the case of detectives, often a shirt and jeans is used under a long coat or jacket, this makes the character look smart but at the same time aware of the stereotypical detective look so that the audience are aware of whom the character is through the use of the costume.

Other characters, such as government agents, hit men, or spy’s typically wear black suits to show their status, but at the same it is clear that they are not everyday business men. The black expensive suits are all worn by all the characters associated with the government or assassin job so the audience is always clear who the character works for, without them talking. This saves a lot of time in thriller films because the director does not need to explain the job they do, as the audience can immediately tell through the costume.

In the case of the assassin/ hit man themselves, their costume should usually involve something that they can move easily in, and that can help them "disappear" into the shadows. Also, it should be something that they can cover up easily with normal clothes as to blend into society and the general public around them and therefore should not be bulky and heavy.

In conclusion the costume that a character wears can tell an audience a lot about the character or the setting they are in without any dialogue or explanation. It is because of this that costume and making sure a character is wearing the right costume is a vital part of making a thriller film. Because if the costume does not suit the characters role it could confuse the audience or ruin the atmosphere of the film, alternatively if the costume does not look good or if it looks cheap and tacky the production value of the film can look very low, giving the entire film a very amateur feel. However, if a characters costume is planned well and suits the role the film will be even more enjoyable to the audience and set the correct tone and feel for the entire film.