Conventions of a Thriller

THRILLER.

A thriller is a film with an exciting plot, usually involving crime and espionage. They often have villain-driven plots, whereby presenting obstacles that the protagonist must overcome. They have a number of subgenres, including political, supernatural, crime and psychological thrillers. This genre of film is defined by the moods they provoke, heightening the viewers feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. Thrillers build up tension towards a climax, while also using red herrings, plot twists and cliff-hangers to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Another important literary element is the cover up of essential information from the viewer, as to keep them guessing and anticipated.


Suspense is a key characteristic which keeps the audience hooked until the climax - it gives the viewer a combination of fascination, apprehension and tension, which develop from mysterious events in the plot which may lead the viewer guessing at the outcome and left with the feeling of impending doom. In terms of narrative, suspense is contrasted with surprise. It is also linked with hope; the audience have faith that the ending will turn out to be good, but there is an element of anxiety and fear as we are unsure of whether 'things will go right.'


In thrillers, there are certain characters which are generally involved, including criminals, assassins, victims, psychotic individuals, agents, police, conmen and many more. Themes may involve political conspiracy, terrorism, pursuit, revenge and murder, tied in with a plots which include ransoms, heists and kidnappings. This usually leads to an investigation and, especially in crime thrillers, a 'whodunit' technique is used. The protagonist is set against one of these problems and emphasises the danger that they must face. This character is usually an ordinary citizen, either unaccustomed to danger or 'hard men', e.g. detectives. Their problem generally revolves around menace, violence and mind games. Life may be threatened, and there is a sense of being trapped in a situation with seemingly no way out. Thrillers usually take place in ordinary suburbs and cities, but can sometimes be set in more exotic places such as foreign cities or polar regions.


Subgenres


Action - usually running against a clock with frequent violence.


Comedy - a combination of humour with suspense and/or action.


Conspiracy - where the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies.


Crime - suspenseful account of a crime, usually focusing on the criminal rather than the police.


Erotic - where a sexual relationship plays an important role in the plot.


Horror - focuses on suspense and adrenaline, emphasising on fear, terror and often gore.


Legal - a suspense film in which major characters are lawyers. The justice system is usually involved.


Political - where the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government.


Psychological - in which the majority of the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional rather than physical.


Spy - the protagonist is usually a government agent who must take violent action against other agents.


Supernatural - brings in an other world element (e.g. fantasy and psychic ability).


Techno - manipulation of advanced technology is used, with a bit of science fiction and action.