Props for Thrillers

PROPS

IN A THRILLER, THEY USE PROPS (WHICH ARE TYPICALLY VIOLENT) AS A METHOD TO SUPPORT THE

PLOT, AS DEATH IS A MAIN THEME WITHIN THRILLERS.

THE PROPS CAN RANGE TO SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A PHONE OR TO A VIOLENT

WEAPON. MOST PROPS ARE USED TO ADD VERISIMILITUDE OR TO THE BUILDING

TENSION.

EXAMPLES (WEAPONS) A WIDE RANGE OF GUN

STYLES, A RANGE OF KNIFE TYPES, EXPLOSIVES, BROKEN

GLASS & FIRE

IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, THE WEAPON IS ADAPTED TO SUIT THE

PERSONALITY OF THE ANTAGONIST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIGGER THE WEAPON/MORE DAMAGE IT DOES NORMALLY MEANS THE

ANTAGONIST IS MORE VIOLENT AND TWISTED.

AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN KILL BILL. THE SWORD USED BY THE

ANTAGONISTS ARE NAMED AFTER A CHARACTER, SUITS THE CULTURE AND ADDS VIOLENCE

WITH THE LOOK.

OTHER: A PHONE, MONEY, COMPUTER, RELIGIOUS

SYMBOL, BRIEF CASE, MASK/TO HIDE IDENTITY ARE ALSO USED TOO. EVEN THOUGH THEY DON’T ADD VIOLENCE-

THEY CAN BE JUST AS USEFUL

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE THRILLER FILM "TAKEN" THE PHONE WORKS AS A PROP. THE ROLE OF THE PHONE IS

TOO TELL THE PROTAGONIST AND AUDIENCE WHAT IS

HAPPENING, WHICH IN THIS CASE BUILDS TENSION.

THE MOST COMMON WEAPONS USED IN A

THRILLER ARE GUNS & KNIFES- AS OTHER

EVERYDAY OBJECTS SUCH AS CHAINSAWS AND AXE ARE STEREOTYPICALLY

PLACES WITHIN HORROR.

DUE TO THRILLERS HAVING MORE VERISIMILITUDE THAN HORRORS - TO SEEM MORE

REAL, WE'LL USE OBJECTS SUCH AS A KNIFE. CONSIDERING THE

OTHER FACTORS