Locations and set design

Locations for a Thriller

A location for a thriller film can be pretty much anything. Traditionally, things such as haunted houses, caves, old hospitals and castles are used. However, because thrillers can often have twists and turns, locations could be things such as Islands, schools or other places which aren't as stereotypically associated. One present theme among the many thriller films I've watched is for the setting to be the city. For example, The Dark Knight, Dark Water, Sin City, Changeling.

Set Design

Set design within a film can add more scary and tense elements. For example, Dark Water takes place mostly within a block of flats. The flat we see in particular is very dark, dingy and damp. This makes us feel on edge and expectant that something bad is going to take place. Films like The Sixth Sense are also set within a flat which is quite poor and rundown, which sets the scene and mood of the film.