Thrillers use suspense to keep audiences wondering what will happen next and typically involve crime or horror themes. Conventions of thrillers include plot twists, dark lighting, flashbacks, props like guns, quick cuts and music to build tension. A good thriller provides thrills through suspense, tension, and anticipation as the protagonist encounters serious situations in a fast-paced story without becoming elongated and boring. The target audience for thrillers is generally males and females aged 15 and older due to potentially intense violence.

1. THRILLERS
By Ellie & Esther

2. What is a thriller?
A thriller is a genre that is found in television, movies and also
literature. Thrillers use suspense in order to make the
audience wonder what is going to happen next and usually
have a horror or crime theme. As well as that, thrillers
normally have that element of extraordinary things happening
to ordinary people.

3. Conventions of a thriller:
 Surprises & plot twists
 Dark colour schemes & low lighting
 Flash backs
 Props such as guns are used to signify terror
 Makes the audience think/plays with the viewers mind
 Quick cuts & constant change of camera angles
 Flashbacks
 Intense music

4. All of these conventions help to ...
■ Connote mystery and suspense
■ Keep to audience on edge & wanting to know what
will happen next

5. What makes a good thriller film?
■ A good thriller showcases intense excitement; building up suspense,
tension & anticipation of things to come
■ As a movie genre it should provide thrills from a variety of
circumstances presented in the story where either the protagonist or
main character encounters serious situations
■ Must be fast paced
■ Intense/fast music helps tension to build up
■ The use of lighting helps to create shadows which builds mystery
■ The story should not be elongated as it could then become boring

6. Target audience
Usually, the target
audience of most thrillers
is both males and females
aged 15 or over (this is
because they often include
a lot of violence).

7. The two genres speak for
themselves in terms of
their purpose. Thriller
movies, were created to
“thrill” the viewers. That’s
why thrillers easily make
their viewers sit at the
edge of their seats but
not to the point of making
them scared. However,
horror films are designed
to “horrify” their viewers.
The purpose of a horror is
to make you shout,
scream, or even jump
from your seats.
Horrors vs
Thrillers

8. EXAMPLES OF THRILLERS: