The Thriller Genre

Coventions

Thriller is a genre of not only film but literature and TV too. NOTE; directors includes everything in the shot deliberatley. Thrillers have the following conventions;

• A build up to action
• Creation of fear/anticipation/confusion.
• Dark, shadowy atmosphere. Created by lighting.
• Establishing mood and atmosphere throughout the film.
• Delay in showing the face of significant character, or the action of an important event being recalled. For examples; Seven and Usual Suspects.
• Creation of suspence using soundtrack music.
• Morally amibiguous central character.
• Murder encouraging a suspecting audience.
• Realistic settings to create a sense of 'the unusual' occuring within a normal setting.
• Flashbacks
• Hero(ine) in a situation of threat or struggle.
• Red Herrings.
• Twists and unexpected turns.
• Making and keeping the audience tense on the edge of our seats.
• Encourages us to ask questions.
  

Sub Genres

A thriller can include the following sub genres;

• Action Thriller; In which there is often a lot of violence, a race against time and an obvious hero with enemy. These films usually contain large set pieces with guns and large explosions. These films create a lot of suspension and violence. They can contain elements from crime and mystery films. For example; James bond.


• Crime Thriller; This sub genre is a hybrid of both crime films and thrillers. It is often a told suspenseful story of a failed or successful crime. These films focus on the criminals rather than the hero. These films can be about murders, robberies or kidnapping. For examples; Seven and The Godfather.


• Disaster Thriller; In which the main problems is caused by a natural or artificial disaster such as an earth quake, volcanoes or hurricanes. For example; Twister.


• Drama Thriller; In which the story contains elements from both drama films and thrillers. The film is usually more skow and has a big character build up with plot twists through out. For example; The Illusionist.


• Spy Thriller; In which the hero is a government agent who must take action against rival governments or terrorists. For examples; The Bourne Identity and Misson Impossible.