Thriller Analysis

Michael Jackson's 'The Thriller' video uses generic codes which follow the pop video genre. For instance, it incorporates the conventional boy meets girl and falls in love storyline. However, the video is also unstereotypical in the sense that it displays a film within a film, and we notice this when the two main characters are seen watching the film at the theatre. The scene where the zombies arise from the graves as Micheal sings of "evil rising" as the voiceover speaks of zombies and erosion of bodies, is an example of a convention of pop videos. The video shows cuts between scenes which run in sync with the music and images. In the same scene we can hear the music getting lower as the zombies approach and creep up towards the couple. As they completely surround them, we gain close ups of their rotting flesh and disintegrating body parts.

The effective camera angles and shot sizes used in the video help make 'Thriller' one of the most unique and selectively different videos of its time. The video includes a range of long shots, this is used to establish the location of the couple and makes us aware of the surroundings. Also, the mid-long shots are used to encapsulate the changing emotions of the two main characters, so this helps us follow the narrative. The high angle close-ups of zombies emphasise their horrific and hideous nature, and the long-shot of zombies dancing in co-ordination with Micheal Jackson all effectively link to the pop convention to display a clear relationship between sound and images.

The mise-en-scene within the video is related to the theme of horror and runs in accordance to the motifs featured in the video. The abandoned and deserted area with the decaying building shown in the background work well with the zombie costumes. This gives off a spooky ambiance that the song itself is trying to promote. The young couple can be related to the pop genre audience, as this is visible from their appearance; they are wearing fashionable leather jackets, sneakers (the boy- Jackson) and high heels (the girl- Ola Ray). Together, the smoke machine affects, the zombie costumes and the mid-shot of the female character in shock as Micheal transforms into a zombie and the background eventuallys fades; all follow the conventions encouraged by the pop genre with an included narrative.



The video 'Thriller' refers to intertexuality via the half boy half werewolf with which is evident in the 'American Werewolf in London' film. This enhances the audiences' viewing pleasure as the fans can relate to the already established link to the horror film genre. This idea was not only successful in generating a public interest, but was seen for the first time as a method of filming by referencing to other films, and proved to make the video unique.