Thriller genre conventions include protagonists facing problems against the clock such as escapes, missions or mysteries involving unseen threats. Subgenres include crime thrillers about serial killers or manhunts; film noir of the 1940s-50s with cynical heroes and flashbacks; psychological thrillers relying on the mind over physical threats; science fiction thrillers exploring "future gone bad" scenarios; and religious thrillers involving exorcisms or demonic possession. Settings include ordinary cities and exotic locales, while characters typically involve criminals, victims, and deranged individuals. Famous thriller films include Psycho, Fight Club, Seven, The Dark Knight, Leon: The Professional, The Birds, and Vertigo.

1. THRILLER GENRE
CONVENTIONS

2. PLOT
• The protagonist in thriller films is set against various problems, often against the clock:
• An escape, a mission or a mystery
• Threat is often abstract or unseen, a dangerous enemy
• Suspense and information the audience doesn’t know

3. SUB GENRES
• Crime Thriller
• Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually centers on a serial killer,
murderer, robbery, or manhunt. As opposed to traditional crime films, the storyline focuses both around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers use both action
and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense.
• Film-Noir
• Film Noir is not simply a sub-genre, but rather a term for a distinct, stylistic type of crime-drama or thriller that was popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Film-Noir is
characterized by a black-and-white style with stark lighting effects. The main character is usually a cynical hero. Film-Noir relies on a narrative voice and various flashbacks to
explain the intricate plot.
• Psychological Thriller
• In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film. The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind,
rather than from a psychical threat. The protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation. Because of their nature, many
Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre.
• Science Fiction Thriller
• Science Fiction Thriller incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will incorporate heroes, villains,
unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology. These elements can be used in a Science Fiction Thriller to create anticipation and suspense. Often, this
sub-genre will explore the “future-gone-bad” theme, including plots that revolve around alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, and super-diseases.
• Religious Thriller
• Religious Thriller film incorporates religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects. Though some films can revolve around a specific church, many
Religious Thrillers include supernatural experiences not pertaining to a certain religion. Exorcisms, demon possession, and church cover-ups are typical themes of Religious
Thrillers.

4. SETTING
• Ordinary cities and suburbs
• Sometimes in exotic settings:
• Cities
• Deserts
• Polar regions
• Oceans

5. CHARACTERS
• Characters usually include criminals, stalkers, assassins, innocent victims (often on the run), menaced
women, characters with deep dark pasts, psychotic individuals, spree killers, sociopaths, agents,
terrorists, cops and escaped cons, private eyes, people involved in twisted relationships, world-weary
men and women, psycho-fiends, and more. The themes frequently include terrorism, political conspiracy,
pursuit, or romantic triangles leading to murder

6. NOTABLE FILMS
• Psycho
• Fight Club
• Seven
• The Dark Knight
• Leon: The Professional
• The Birds
• Vertigo