Focus Group

Conventions/Expectations of a thriller

Questionaire to focus group - We asked the following questions to a focus group made up of our agreed target audience, which is 15-19 year olds. The focus group was made of a 50/50 split to students who took media and those who didnt, allowing a range of answers from people with experience of filming a thrillers and those who simply watch them as audiences.

1. What is your favourite thriller film?

2. How do you feel towards a male protagonist?

3. How do you feel towards a female protagonist?

4. What kind of atmosphere do you feel low key lighting sets?

5. Do you feel that on screen violence is necessary for a good thriller?

6. Do you feel that flash backs should be in black and white?

7. Should music be used in a thriller, if so what type?

8. Is there a certain type of setting that should be used for a thriller, if so what type?




One of the intresting points to come from the feedback was the idea of having a female as the central protagonist. Thr group felt that mainly a female should be used as a victim and not someone who is acting as the heroine. They also agreed that on screen vviolence was not necessary to make a good thriller, an idea that we had agreed with beforehand as a group. The idea of flashbacks was met with a mixed reception as some said that it would become confusing for the audience, while others saying that they are effective in mapping out the narrative of the film. Our focus group agreed that the setting of an abandoned house was perfect iconography for a thriller, as well as an overgrown garden.

Jade Smith, Elliott Joyner, Matt Simmons, Laurence Ruthven