Conventions of a thriller movie: The Black Swan

Analysis of a thriller

The American psychological thriller-horror, The Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky, was released in 2010 and starred Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel and Natalie Portman. The plot is based on the production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet performance. 

The opening of the movie uses non-diegetic sounds to create the ambiguous atmosphere for the audience. The opening scene incorporates a close-up camera shot of a female with manicured nails, drawing on a white piece of paper with black chalk. This contrast in colours and close-up shot/high camera angle could have been used as a metaphor for the audience. This scene is paired with non-diagetic sounds which plays the song "Swan Lake". Slowly throughout the scene, the tempo of the music fastens, which creates a tense atmosphere. As the music fastens, the girl starts to put more pressure on the chalk; which ultimately ends in the paper turning black. The title then spells "The Black Swan" in bold white letters. The use of white is perhaps used to imply to the audience that Nina, the main character, starts out innocent at the start of the movie, but then begins her tortured journey as a paranoid schizophrenic.

This use of camera angles, sounds and props could be used to give a brief hint of the narrative to the audience. For instance, the black chalk being held by a well-maintained hand that slowly begins to apply more pressure to the paper, could be used to symbolise how the actress, Nina, is losing her mind; therefore subliminally exemplifying her unstable mental-state. Reflecting the characters frantic emotions creates a dense atmosphere for the audience and sets the mood for the rest of the movie. 

In one particular scene, the audience is finally able to see Nina's utter madness through the use of mise-en-scene. She is costumed in an all black-feathered tutu and a crown that covers her face with black netting. This dark colour is a typical convention of a thriller as it suggests negativity, loneliness and evil. The next use of mise-en-scene is through Nina's makeup. The actresses white face-paint and dark eyes make the audience feel on-edge and almost scared of the character, due to her fierce movements that overall contrast usual delicate ballet performances. Her black eye makeup creates a sense of ambiguity, where although the audience knows who she is, it's as if she becomes a complete different person or entity. This theme is complimented through the use of props such as red contact lenses, is not a common prop that a sane person would wear. It almost suggests stress, anger and tiredness, which ultimately creates a connection between the audience and the character, as they begin to comprehend what devotion Nina put in to be able to play the lead role as 'The Black Swan'. In addition, the red eyes could also imply she is turning into something demonic, however this is in her imagination; overall thrilling the audience rather than scaring them. 

Within the same scene, the mise-en-scene is complimented through the use of non-diagetic sound. As Nina dominates the stage, the audience is able to hear the sound of large wings moving through the air as Nina simultaneously moves her arms in a swan-like way. This makes the performance seem realistic. Although this could be perceived as non-diagetic, some could argue that Nina, in fact, hears this noise too; implying she truly believes she is transitioning into the 'black swan' and is therefore mentally unstable. As the scene comes to an end, Nina begins to grow feathers that pierce through her skin. However, her face seems overwhelmed with joy that such a thing has taken place. This creates suspense, tension and shock for the audience and they may also feel a connection with the paranoid schizophrenic's imagination. This is due to the diagetic sound that continuously get's louder, making the audience feel en-captured to what's taking place; inevitably clearing their own thoughts and beliefs in order to tune into Nina's. This is paired with constant cuts with the use of editing, which disorientates the audiences due to the various changing scenes.

Before the movie ends, Nina goes back to her dressing room to find her enemy, who's played by Mila Kunis. A close-up shot is used to show how Nina walks in crying in a white costume. This use of camera angles and mise-en-sene pairs well together because it shows the questionable and brief innocence of the character she plays, due to white signifying purity and tears showing weakness and vulnerability. Nina's rivalry is shown through a 180 degree rule- behind the shoulder shot, which shows Nina's point of view. This use of editing is key for thrillers because it gives the constant sense of someone watching, which manifests tension for the audience. The dialogue is used to show how Mila threatens Nina by telling her she's going to take her lead role as the black swan. In response to this, Nina strangles and stabs Mila with a shard of glass that is left from the shattered mirror. A low angle shot is used to show how Nina is looking down on Mila whilst she strangles her, this is effective to the audience as it shows the dominance of Nina's alternate personality. Through the use of props, Nina's eyes begin to turn red to express her anger to the audience. This demonic approach cohere's to the thriller genre as it excites, yet scares the audience.

The final scene is of Nina in her final performance as 'The Black Swan'. This scene is extremely important in expressing the thriller genre to the audience as it shows Nina's now demolished mental stability. With the use of mise-en-scene, she starts in a white feathered costume which suggests her now declining, yet still innocent personality. With the use of constant editing through quick cuts, the audience once again would feel disoriented, this is a good technique as it reflects Nina's own disorientated mind. The diagetic sound of the song "Swan Lake" becomes increasingly louder and more daunting. This is paired with the use of red lighting that hits Nina every few seconds, this use of mise-en-scene lighting could show how she switches from sane to insane within seconds, as red is normally perceived as a negative colour. This could also be Nina's way of expressing blood to the audience, as she had just stabbed her rivalry. The finale of the performance ends with an extreme close-up of Nina's face. Her makeup has smeared down her face due to crying, yet she is holding her head high. The use of white spot-lighting could of been used to show how the character was finally free from her paranoid mind as she has perfectly completed her performance. A low angle is then used to show how the dancers crowed around her. In this shot, the audience spots Nina's rivalry, Mila. A high angle shot is then used to show blood seeking through Nina's white costume, it's then clear to the audience that she had stabbed herself instead of Mila in one of her paranoid schizophrenic episodes before the last show. 

It's then suggested that Nina dies, due to the transition of the fading spotlights above her. Although this creates a suspension for the audience, there is also a sense of relief. As if Nina is finally free. From this movie, it's clear that typical thriller conventions are used such as  dark costumes, dark lighting, intriguing props, quick cuts and camera angles and shots to show facial expressions and their surroundings. This overall came together to thrill the audience.