The document discusses various sub-genres of psychological thrillers including conspiracy thrillers, crime thrillers, disaster thrillers, mystery thrillers, political thrillers, religious thrillers, supernatural thrillers, and techno thrillers. It also outlines some common codes and conventions used in psychological thrillers such as deceptive mind games, flashbacks, tensions music, perceptions of reality and existence, and visual iconography involving shadows, confined spaces, running water, fears, mirrors, and low-key lighting.

1. Research into Psychological Thriller
Genre

2. • Conspiracy Thriller- hero is a journalist or private detective, they unravel the secrets of a powerful
organization, good vs evil, lies, propaganda.
• Crime Thriller- focuses on the actions of the criminal and their motives, serial killers, heists,
shootouts, double crossers, psychopathic killers, detectives trying to find the criminals.
• Disaster Thriller- natural or artificial disaster, caused by human actions, floods, earthquakes,
volcanoes, hurricanes, scientist trying the save people, people who are stuck battling the storm or
disaster.
• Mystery Thriller- detective or private detective, focuses on the mystery behind crimes, clues, piecing
things together.
• Political Thriller- looks at the the stability of the government, a hero has to protect a political figure.
• Psychological Thriller- plays on the audiences minds, tries to creep out the audience rather than
make them jump, characters either become or already are emotionally and mentally unstable,
suspense puts the audience on edge.
• Religious Thriller- religious figures, questions, objects and/or institutions are the focus, unveils
secrets about a certain religion, quest to find the truth.
• Supernatural Thriller- otherworldly, the protagonist either has to get to grips with a strange new
world or they are already apart of it, villains usually have a supernatural gift, links to religious
thrillers in terms of demons, possession, apparitions and alien life forms.
• Techno Thriller- technology posing a threat to humanity or taking over the world, links to sci -fi,
robots, aliens.
Sub-Genres of Thrillers

3. Codes and Conventions
Deceptive Mind
Games
Flashbacks
Psychological
Thriller
Black and White Tension Music

4. Codes and Conventions
Mind Perception
Psychological
Thriller
Reality Purpose/ Existence

5. Shadows
Confined
Spaces
Running
Water
Fears
Mirrors
Iconography
Low-Key Lighting
Contrasting Colour
Temperatures
Quick Camera
Movements
Prolonged
Action
Suspense
Non-
Diegetic
Sound
High Pitched
Sound
Silence
Dialogue
Muffled
sounds

6. Similar Films