The Thriller Genre

A Thriller is a type of film genre that hopes to keep its audience on the edge of their seats as they watch the film.

This genre is known for creating suspense, excitement, anticipation, tension and uncertainty. The directors usually do this by editing the atmosphere and mood as well as advancing the plot and moving onto the climax.

Some of the main conventions of the thriller genre are shadows, quick cuts, tension music, low key lighting and changes in camera angles. There are many more conventions than the ones I have listed. However, most of the other conventions will be to do with the specific subgenres of thriller movies e.g. crime thrillers, action thrillers etc.

There are certain elements that most thriller films will have. These involve:

• The protagonist faces deadly situations that they some how survive
• The protagonist usually kills the antagonist or is somehow involved in their death
• The protagonist is usually outnumbered and outgunned as well as not sure who to trust
• The main character experiences a sense of desperation
• Something happens to get the protagonist involved in the antagonist plans. It’s usually either a family member or loved one gets kidnapped/killed, in the wrong place at the wrong time or the antagonist has a personal vendetta against the protagonist etc
• The plot focuses on a mystery that has to be solved
• The main plotline for the protagonist is a quest of some sort
• In the protagonists point of view
• Reasonably realistic situations or representations of types of characters
• Antagonist fails in their plans or is stopped



Example of Protagonist

• Protagonist saves the day/completes the quest

Not all Thriller films have all of these elements. Most will have about 3 or 4.



Example of Antagonist

Some characteristics of the thriller genre often include a protagonist or a small group of heroes opposed by a superior enemy/antagonist while they are engaging in an ultimate quest or objective. The threat of death or capture is usually prevent most of the time as well as plot twists complicating the matter.