Thrillers can be shown through different media like literature, films, television and games. There are literary techniques commonly used in thrillers like red herrings, suspense and cliffhangers. Thrillers usually involve a beloved hero defeating a villain, though sometimes the hero is killed off unexpectedly. Thrillers can overlap with other genres and include subgenres like spy thrillers, crime thrillers, horror, psychological thrillers and erotic thrillers. Common filming locations for thrillers include abandoned places like warehouses and convenient places increase suspense.

1. Conventions of a thriller
By Niamh Barrett

2. • Thrillers can be shown through different
media’s, such as: literature, films, gaming
and television.
• There are many inputs into the making
of a film to suggest its genre. Many
literacy techniques may be used like: red
herrings, suspense and cliff hangers.
There is usually a climax in the thriller
when the hero beats the villain or finds
out who their villain is.
• Many thrillers can be overlapped with
other genres e.g. comedy thrillers. Most
involve a resourceful beloved hero who
powers over the vicious, detested villain.
In many thrillers the hero may be killed
off to present tragedy and go against the
watchers view; to show that sometimes
bad rules over good- sort of the realistic
view of society.

3. • Spy thrillers- hero usually a government
agent e.g. like James Bond
• Crime thriller- focused on criminals e.g.
se7en
• Horror- has a lot of suspense and
emphasizes on blood, fear and gore e.g. saw
• Psychological thriller- circulates around
mental issues
• Erotic- usually a sexual relationship involved

4. • Convenient places for thrillers to be filmed are woods, churchyards,
abandoned warehouses, subways/airports etc.
• Titles are usually shown in red and black to portray blood, gore and
darkness.
• Lighting is often dark, low key lighting, which creates contours/contrast
due to only using one light one light; casting parts of the object in
shadows.
• A common Sound used for this genre is diegetic breathing (usually used
after a chase or training session e.g. spy). The music in some scenes may
be discordant with screeching noises or may be added to build tension.

5. Merry Thrillmas