Thriller films can be categorized into several subgenres based on their themes and conventions. A psychological thriller focuses on a character's distorted mental state and often uses plot twists and an unreliable narrator. A crime thriller emphasizes criminals and their violent acts, sometimes making the audience feel empathy for the criminal. A mystery thriller centers around an investigator solving a crime, creating suspense through unknown elements. A science fiction thriller manipulates technology to generate danger, sometimes questioning if the scenarios could become reality. An action thriller relies on physical action, stunts, and fights to drive the plot and keep audiences excited.

1. Thriller
Sub-genres
AS media studies

2. What is a Thriller?
A thriller is a genre in media in which the moods of excitement,
anticipation, fear and suspense are portrayed. There is a ‘thrill’ in
which the audience will experience when watching media of this
genre.

3. Types of Thrillers:
Will often revolve around a
character's thoughts and
involve themes of paranoia.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME
A movie focusing on the
criminal and the extremities of
law enforcement procedures.
MYSTERY
An ongoing battle between
the protagonist and villain in
order to resolve a crime.
SCI-FI
A thriller that will push the
bounds of modern science
in order to create a risk.
ACTION
A movie that will involve
plenty of physical action to
create suspense.

4. Psychological
thriller
01

5. PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
★ Often told through the perception of a psychologically stressed character who portrays characteristics of
distorted mental image.
★ These movies will incorporate elements of mystery, drama, action and paranoia. This genre will often have
the audience confused on who the actual ‘bad guy’ is.
★ Literary devices and techniques: plot twists, unreliable narrator, red herring (an irrelevant topic introduced to
divert the audience’s attention).
★ Themes: death, identity/purpose, mind, perception and reality.--> amnesia is a common plot device used.
★ Codes and conventions:
○ Shadows and low-key lighting to represent the inner darkness of a character.
○ Mirrors to reflect a character’s dark side.
○ Location and costumes are very normal and modern to portray that ‘normal’ characters can have a
dark side.
○ eerie , intense music.
○ Quick shots is used to symbolize an often chaotic thought process. The audience can feel the
emotions of the character.
○ Camera wracking to confuse the audience.
○ Flashbacks give context to why the character could be going through emotions.
○ Pills and medicine are used as props to signify mental distress and mental disorders which also give
more context as to who the character is and why they may act a certain way.

6. 02
Crime thriller

7. CRIME THRILLER
★ Thrillers that will focus on the criminals rather than law enforcement as they bring across elements of violence,
murders, robberies and double-crossings.
★ Themes: betrayal, ruthless ambition, conspiracy, pessimism and corruption derived from the setting’s policing; or
the suspenseful results of mistaken identity and undercover work.
★ Literary techniques: glamorization of the criminals as the movies are often centred around them, can involve
characters with a moral code or may develop this throughout the movie, intimidating antagonists is a feature that
builds tension, there is potential for the audience to feel confused after watching a crime thriller as they don’t
know whether or not to feel bad for the criminal or condemn them.
★ Codes and conventions:
○ Quick cuts to heighten the suspense.
○ Red herrings to distract the audience and make them think they know what’s gonna happen.
○ Silhouettes and shadowing are used to portray the ‘dark side’ of the criminals.
○ Props of masks and guns to mask identity and portray danger.
○ Characters are put through high stakes that almost cause anxiety for the audience as we begin to create
an emotional connection to them.
○ Weapons, law enforcement and criminals.
○ The hero is typically a police officer or private investigator but there is potential to feel empathy for the
criminal as there is a more in depth understanding of why they do what they do.

8. Mystery thriller
03

9. MYSTERY THRILLER
★ A mystery thriller is almost the opposite of a crime thriller but has very similar conventions. In this case the thriller is
focused on the investigator or hero as they attempt to uncover the crime and the ways in which they uncover the
mystery is shown throughout the movie.
★ There is always an element of time running out. The antagonist is always racing against the clock in order to solve a
crime. There is a key period of time after a crime has been committed for real breakthroughs in an investigation to
occur.
★ Themes: assasination, terrorism, serial or mass murders.
★ Codes and conventions:
○ Suspense is created for the audience as they too are trying to uncover the mystery and are in the unknown
just like the characters. They will feel similar emotions.
○ Red herrings are commonly used to put the audience in the wrong direction as they think they may of just
solved it.
○ Often the criminals can pose to be the normal or heroic characters and the audience can experience a plot
twist when their true identity is revealed.
○ The sound is usually slow and weary signifying the idea of the unknown.
○ Many canted angles and tilted shots are used to show discomfort.

10. Sci-Fi thriller
04

11. SCI-FI THRILLER
★ This thriller consists of the manipulation of sophisticated technology in order to create suspense and a sense of
danger. For example a killing robot.
★ There are elements of an action thriller used as usually a fight will break out between man and technology. There
are also many elements of a futuristic or parallel world which creates unease among the audience as it leaves
them with the question; ‘could this actually happen?’
★ Themes: artificial intelligence, the future, first contact with aliens, and end of humanity.
★ Codes and conventions:
○ The soundtrack used in these thrillers will be relatively ‘spacey’ with the use of techno music and music
abnormal to modern society.
○ The location and settings are usually other worldly and may contain places with ruins which are replaced
with an upgraded ‘new world’.
○ The location could also contrast this and contain very little almost like an apocalypse has occurred.
○ Camera can replicate a very robotic stance almost like the robots used in the movies.
○ The costumes used are normally very futuristic always using colours of silver or white to replicate
sophisticated technology.
○ Props are interesting as sometimes the props are actually characters in a way as they could be robots. Guns
are also commonly used but resemble more of a man weapon than a technological weapon.

12. Action thriller
05

13. ACTION THRILLER
★ A thriller of this genre will use action and scenes of physical brutality to create suspense within the film. There
will be a lot of involvement with physical ability in these films.
★ There will be elements of physical stunts, chase scenes, and fights. These are all portrayed to create a real
chaotic exciting timeline and plot for the audience. It's the ultimate fight between good and evil. A real typical
super hero film like spiderman will often fall into this category.
★ Themes: ransoms, captivities, heists, revenge.
★ Codes and conventions:
○ CGI in modern technology has a become a really effective convention to use to create a thrill when
watching. Explosions often giving the audience jump scares.
○ Quick cuts are often used to resemble that chaotic, frantic tone that's found in the fighting sequences. It
can also resemble the characters emotions.
○ Camera panning is also used to incorporate as much of the fight scene as they possibly can.
○ Upbeat , fast paced music is used to lift the adrenaline of the audience as they feel something important
could occur at any moment.
○ Another non-diegetic sound often is used is the beating of a heart to replicate how the character is feeling.
○ Props often used are that of guns and lasers; almost spy-like technology. There can also be different forms
of weapons used like Thor’s hammer in the Avengers. The props will often signify danger.