Thriller Research

What Is a Thriller?

A 'Thriller' is a genre of film that covers a wide range of sub-genres. It it supposed to create the felling of suspense and tension, you should be on the edge if your seat wanting to know what is going to happen next. They are usually fast-paced, have frequent action and there is usually a hero, villain and damsel in distress. It would usually be a villain driven plot where he presents the hero with obstacles he has to overcome. The heroes in most thrillers are frequently "hard men" who encounter danger in their everyday lives: spies, soldiers, law enforcement officers. Or in some cases the hero is an everyday citizen who comes across the trouble by accident. A thriller usually climaxes when the hero finally defeats the villain, saving his own life and the lives of others.

This is an example of a popular psychological thriller, 'Taken'

Conventions of a Thriller

• Fast-Paced
• Tense
• A plot twist
• Villain/Antagonist/'Baddie'
• Hero/Protagonist/'Goodie'
• Heroine - Helpless until her help is needed
• The plot is only told from the viewpoint of three characters. Either the goodie,the baddie or an onlooker.
• Dim lighting
• Guns
• Close-ups
• Dark colours
• The Villain usually has a 'team' of accomplices
• The goodie is usuall isolated

Types Of Thriller

• Action
• Disaster
• Crime
• Spy
• Psychological
• Conspiracy
• Drama
• Legal
• Medical
• Political
• Techno
• Religious

Transporter- This is an example of an Action Thriller. There are car chases, a bank robbery, guns, police, explosions and there is often an obvious antagonist. These are all typical features of an action thriller which makes it a high octane movie.

The Bourne Ultimatum - An example of a spy thriller in which there is usually a government agent as the hero who takes violent action against rivalry governments or terrorists.

I Am Legend - Sci-Fi Thriller.