2. Action thriller
Action thrillers often see a main character who acts
as a protagonist who is faced with problems and
obstacles that can see them putting themselves into
dangerous situations. There is often a sense of
danger and violence along with a sense of panic as
the characters begin to run out of time.
A police man (the protagonist) is faced with problems
such as gaps in the road and lack of fuel when he is
told that unless the bus stays above 40mph it will
explode with all of the civilians on board. He has to go
against time to save the passengers which sees him
put himself in danger.
This film could fit into crime thrillers as it shows police
against a criminal (good against bad).
3. Comedy thriller
Comedy thrillers use suspense in addition to wit and
unique character personalities to create a humerous
storyline which commonly uses action and
deception to aid the storyline.
A married couple who both have careers as assassins find out that they
are after each other and end up battling it out against each other in their
home before deciding to team up and go against the people that they
work for. The use of deception against each other makes this comedic as
the audience know before them that they are actually trying to kill one
another. It also has multiple one liners and the two characters bounce off
of each other allowing for a comedic effect.
This film could fit into action as there are multiple fight scenes but the
comedic side of the narrative makes it less serious and more entertaining
for the audience than an action film would.
4. Conspiracy thriller
Conspiracy thrillers often overlap with crime and
action in showing a hero go against a large and
influential group of people. They are often influenced
by real events that they add a twist to.
A man sets out a trail using paintings and a murder to lure a professor
into uncovering a mysterious, religious artefact. The religious plot is
based on the relationship of Jesus as told in the bible and the narrative
suggests that they had a child of which this artefact reveals.
The murder in the narrative overlaps with the crime sub-genre as it
becomes a quest to find the man who has set the trail up.
5. Crime thrillers
These usually give an account of criminals against a
police officer or group of powerful people. It
commonly shows the case progressing as the
criminals become more troubled and closer to getting
caught. Themes shown include murder, theft, chases
and more combining an element of action as they
right and wrong battle it out often ending with the
right side coming out on top.
6. A young girl is kidnapped from a private school by a man
pretending to be a teacher and it leads to Alex Cross
investigating the case to prevent the real victim, a world leader
and his son. It shows the Kidnapper go against a powerful group
of police who are well known for solving crimes ending with the
good side on top and the criminal deceased.
This could also come under action as there are multiple
scenes with minor car chases and the attempt of an escape
and attempted murder of the world leaders son.
Also, it could come under psychological thriller as the audience
find themselves thinking seriously about who the kidnapper
could be as there is a plot twist towards the end.
7. Horror thriller
This relies on the build up of tension and suspense
to cause a moment of adrenaline in which the
audience are shocked and often scared. The horror
genre itself crosses over into thriller based on the
suspense related definition of the genre. There is a
focus on fear, terror and gore in most films of
this sub-genre.
Two strangers find themselves waking up in a room with no
escape but the deathly and quite gory option. They have no
recollection of how they got there but it turns out to be the
work of a serial killer that is known to the police.
It could also link in with the psychological film genre as the
audience find themselves wondering why the serial killer
has done this and how the men could escape.
8. Legal thriller
These films are often based on the justice system
and follow lawyers and their employees. They can
cross over into crime thrillers if they are based
around a certain case or criminal. They often use
differences in power to create a dominating character
which is often seen as the threat throughout the film.
A juror and an outside helper work to manipulate a court trial over a major gun
manufacturer.
Most films in this sub-genre come under crime also because crime is often
based on good against evil and legal thrillers are based on the fate of the bad
decided by the good.
9. Political thriller
These films often follow a specific character that
feels immense pressure to ensure the stability of the
government when it comes under threat. This
sub-genre can often link into legal thrillers due to the
topic of government and law.
This film sees a family accidentally find out about an assassination plot by
influential people and find themselves trapped and between right or wrong
when the assassins do everything they can to try and stop the family going
to the police. The father of the family feels pressure to protect his family
from the assassins or save the greater good. This shows that this sub-genre
often uses a question of morality to bring in a political theme.
This could also fit into the crime sub-genre as there is a criminal offence
being carried out also leading to some legal links.
10. Psychological thriller
This sub-genre uses emotional and mental conflict
between characters and see them accidentally
putting themselves in danger. They are often clever
narratives that uses mental resolutions and
problem-solving to intrigue the audience as they try
and work out what the characters are thinking. The
aim of these films are to get the audiences thinking
hard and trying to work it out themselves. The way
the audience are effected can overlap with the way
the audience are effected in crime thrillers.
11. Gone girl follows the aftermath of a murder in a small town which becomes the focus of the media
especially when the victim's boyfriend is thought not to be as innocent as originally thought. This leads
to his mental stability taking a turn for the worse as he feels the pressure whilst also dealing with the
loss. The use of the emotional and mental stability of the man causes this to become a psychological
thriller as the audience also begin to find themselves trying to subconsciously solve the crime in their
heads as they watch him be victimised by the media.
This links into the crime sub-genre as there is a murder committed which is a common theme.
12. Spy thrillers
These films often see a government spy take violent
action to bring down an enemy. This sub-genre links
in with most of the other sub-genres in the narrative
and the themes. This sub-genre is a large part of
British cinematics and often plays with stereotypes
around spies and government departments.
A government agent is accused of disloyalty to his employers and has to work
alone, without his team on which he normally relies, to find out the real spy
and prove his loyalty. He takes action to bring the real spy down.
This causes it to cross over into the action sub-genre as there are violent and
fast pace scenes that show conflict between good and bad.
This sub-genre could also overlap with political and legal genres as they are
both to do with the powers that be and the conflict between good and bad, the
good side often being the government.
13. Supernatural thrilers
These films use themes of superpowers or psychic
abilities to build suspense, tension and create fear
within the audience. There is often a battle between
good and evil that uses plot twists to keep the
audience on edge.
A man finds himself growing horns on the side of his head shortly after his
girlfriend dies. This is supernatural as the narrative suggests that the
girlfriend or someone linked to her has supernatural powers and are
punishing him as they blame him for her death. This allows tension to build
as the audience debate whether he is guilty or not.
The murderous and death themes suggest an overlap with the crime
sub-genre but also the psychological sub-genre as the audience try and
solve the narrative before it is revealed.
Some supernatural thrillers cross over with horror as they use these powers
to create fear of the unknown.
14. Techno-thriller
Uses technology to bring in a supernatural kind of
theme to tell a modern and sophisticated narrative
that often uses both violence and mental
manipulation, overlapping with both psychological
thrillers and supernatural themes.
A cop who hates technology and the robots that have been integrated with
society is asked to solve the murder of a man that worked with the robots. It
becomes known that one of the robots may be to blame for the death leading
to a threat on humanity. The cop and robot fight for power as they have a
hatred towards one another bringing in the violent element and the idea of
robots and humans together is advanced and sophisticated.
The low likelihood f this ever happening means that it could be argued that this
sub-genre overlaps with the supernatural sub-genre but that isn't the case for
all techno-thrillers.
In this case but not all, the themes could also cross over with the crime
sub-genre as a murder is committed.
