Thriller Genre Research

1. Genre Research
Thriller

2. • Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and
television programming that uses suspense,
tension, and excitement as its main elements.
Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods,
giving them a high level of anticipation,
uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of
this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing.
Dictionary Definition

3. • As well as other genres, thrillers have two main
types of different segments, these are sub genres
and hybrids. Hybrids are bring two different
genres together for example rom-coms, drama
and action, comedy horror. Sub genres on the
other hand are different sections of the same
genre, they focus on specific elements of a genre,
for example for thrillers a sub-genre could be
crime thriller, comedy thriller, erotic thriller, legal
thriller etc.
Thrillers Sub-Genres and
Hybrids

4. • Comedy thriller is type of sub-genre that combines elements
of comedy and thrillers, a combination of humour and suspense
or action. The examples for this type of genre are: Mr. and Mrs.
Smith, Silver Streak and Kiss Kiss.
• Conspiracy thriller is a type of a sub-genre in which the
hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies
whose true extent only s/he recognizes. The examples for this
type of genre are: Awake, Snake Eyes and The Da Vinci Code
• Crime thriller: This particular genre is a hybrid type of both
crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a
successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on
the criminals rather than a policeman. Central topics of these
films include serial killers/murders, robberies, chases,
shootouts, heists and double-crosses. The examples for this
type of genre are: Seven, The Silence of the Lambs and Kiss
the Girls
Thrillers Sub-Genres and
Hybrids

5. • Erotic thriller is a type of thriller that has an emphasis on
eroticism and where a sexual relationship plays an
important role in the plot. It has become popular since the
1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The
examples for this type of genre are: Sea of Love, Chloe and
Colour of Night.
• Legal thriller is a type of sub-genre in which the major
characters are lawyers and their employees. The system of
justice itself is always a major part of these works, at times
almost functioning as one of the characters. The examples
for this type of genre are: The Pelican Brief, Presumed
Innocent and The Jury.
• Political thriller is a type of sub-genre in which the
hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government
that employs him. The examples for this type of genre are:
Topaz, Notorious and The Man Who Knew Too Much
Thrillers Sub-Genres and Hybrids

6. • Psychological thriller: In which the conflict between the main
characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical.
Characters, either by accident or their own curiousness, are
dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not
prepared to resolve. Characters are not reliant on physical
strength to overcome their brutish enemies, but rather are
reliant on their mental resources, whether it be by battling wits
with a formidable opponent or by battling for equilibrium in the
character's own mind. At times, the characters attempt solving,
or are involved in, a mystery. The suspense created by
psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters
preying upon one another's minds, either by playing deceptive
games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the
other's mental state. The examples for this type of genre are:
Shutter Island , Red Eye and The Machinist
Thrillers Sub-Genres and
Hybrids

7. • Spy thriller: In which the protagonist is generally a
government agent who must take violent action against
agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists.
The examples for this type of genre are: The Tourist , Taken
and Unknown.
• Supernatural thriller: In which the film brings in an
otherworldly element (such as fantasy and/or the
supernatural) mixed with tension, suspense and plot twists.
Sometimes the protagonist and/or villain has some psychic
ability and superpowers. The examples for this type of
genre are: Chronicle, Horns and Lady in the Water
• Techno thriller: A suspense film in which the manipulation
of sophisticated technology plays a prominent part. There is
a bit of action and science fiction. The examples for this
type of genre are: Jurassic Park, Eagle Eye and I, Robot.
Thrillers Sub-Genres and Hybrids

8. • A thriller film needs to hook the audience and
keep them on edge, building tension and
suspense. It does it by hiding information or
identities from the audience to heighten the
interest of audience. For example it will include
information to take the audience off track and
confused.
Thriller – Main Purpose

9. • The most important characteristic of thriller is
suspense. The suspense in a film just keeps the
audience watching more until the climax is
reached. The other thriller characteristics are:
enigmas, extraordinary events, drama,
investigation, antagonist in danger, fast pace,
complex storyline, crime narratives and cliff-hangers.
The main characters are: antagonist,
protagonist, authority (e.g. Police), figure of
innocence. The main conventional themes are:
ransom, kidnapping, mind-games, death-traps,
paranoia and death.
Characteristics, Conventional
Themes and Characters

10. • Thrillers are often based around crime but not
always, for example the movie Taken is under
the genre of a thriller but is not based around
crime. It almost always has a complex structure,
it can have a lot happening at once and some
information is only found out right at the end of
the film which leads to the audience finally
understanding the film. They can make the
audience feel on edge the whole time, making
them ask questions, guessing what is going to
happen next.
Plot or Narrative
structure

11. • Mise-en-scene
- Location: Usually set in large, crowded cities to show a view of
the other side to an individual in their normal life. As well as
thrillers are set in forests, houses or abandoned places.
- Costume: Antagonist usually wear dark clothing to connote
danger and death.
- Lighting: Low key lighting, lots of shadows that creates mystery
and tension.
• Sound
- Usually slow or fast music that builds tension.
• Cinematography
- Camera shots: Usually hand held shots, point of view and close-ups
• Editing
- Fast paced, lots of cuts to create suspense.
Technical Elements