Overview of target audience feedback (Survey and Pitch)

From our survey and pitch feedback, we have discovered that the build up of tension and suspense throughout our opening sequence is extremely important, and is what makes a thriller film so exciting. The plot is also a key area which the audience look at in a thriller, as it is what keeps them entertained. From our pitch feedback, we were told that our film was very detailed, and that the opening was suspenseful and interesting. We were also told that we had used the thriller conventions well.
Although, according to our pitch feedback, our plot was too open and was quite confusing. We designed the plot to be confusing,to meet the expectations and the demands from our survey audience, who said they expect mystery in a thriller.However we are going to add flashbacks of how the protagonist got into the field in the middle of nowhere in a jumbled order, to reflect memories and his own confusion. These flashbacks will give the audience clues on how he got there without giving away too much. We are aiming to put the audience in the protagonist's shoes so that they can share his emotions of fear, confusion and suspicion.
We have learnt so much from this research, such as what our target audience look for in a thriller, the themes that they expect, and the importance of the plot and rising tension. Key themes that are expected in a thriller film include mystery, rising tension and suspense. We were advised that our film needs a good storyline, with only necessary violence. Violence for the sake of it ruins the film and can detract from the suspense. The audience wanted to feel empathy for the victim and they wanted their imaginations to run whilst watching the film, so that they become engrossed in the plot.