lighting in Thrillers

 

Common lighting setups used in thrillers

Lowkey lighting is often used in thrillers as it can create an unsettling effect for the audience which creates the feeling of suspense which is what thrillers are all about. lowkey lighting is a high contrast lighting typically used in thrillers and horror movies.  

Many thrillers used chiaroscuro lighting when doing jump scares or hiding most of whats in frame. 

Here it is used to create a smokey feel to the room and possibly to disguise the man with his back turned to us this would have been done on purpose to create an unsettling feeling for the audience. Here you can also see how the three-point set up is used.