Realism

Realistic setting.
When a thriller is set in what seems like ordianry life it has more impact on the audience.
The thriller dead man's shoes is set in a small town, run by a gang who have been causing harm to others. The main character Richard seeks revenge on the gang who caused the death of his brother. The film is about the count down to each member of the gang he seeks out. Although those killed are not liked characters the audience fears the experience. I think this plot works well as in the end it seems pleasing that the tragedies have happened, but the suspense lives on of what will happen till the remaining surviver.
The seeking of a villan keeps the audience in suspense the whole way through making the film impossible to stop watching.

Costume.
The costumes are that of normal people, nothing seems unusual about the main character. A gas mask is used to show the audience when the film is about to become thrilling and step out of the realistic setting. When he wears the gas mask the audience knows he is about to seek revenge again making the appearance of the gas mask anticipated.