2. What is a genre?
The word genre is originally French, which simply means ‘kind’ or ‘type’. Therefore
film genres categorize different films based on their conventions. However
conventions seem to change over time, as new ones are invited and old ones are
discounted. Many films in the present days can be fit into many different genres or
subgenres, just because the conventions of that film can be followed by the
different genres/subgenres
What is a thriller?
A thriller is a type of genre that is designed to create suspense within the viewers
using suspenseful and sensational action. Thrillers are aimed to thrill the
audience – that is to startle, shock and scare , but thriller need not involve
disgust like the conventions of a typical horror movie.
Sub genres of a thriller
The thriller genre is incredibly large and has a very broad
category, just like the comedy genre. However many sub
genres of a thriller film tend to overlap. for example Law Abiding
Citizen is a psychological thriller, however many can argue that
its is also a crime thriller , so there are many overlapping
subgenres in a numerous amount of films.
3. Suspense
Red hearings
Cliff-hangers (deliberately put in,
to try and confuse
the audience)
Villain driven
plot CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OF
A THRILLER
Twists
Casts:
Investigators
Damsel of Scored soundtrack to
distress Suspense influence audience
Good vs. evil
•A genuine thriller is a film that relentlessly pursues a
single-minded goal.
4. Types of Thrillers
CRIME THRILLERS
The conventions of a crime thriller often focus on the criminals and
their leading up to a crime, then solving the mystery or tracking
down the criminal. This particular sub-genre consist of fast paced
scenes and fiction based plots and its more dramatic and realist
than other sub genres of a thriller. Crime thrillers often emphasise on
the action over psychological elements. The themes includes serial
killers, murderers , robberies, chases, and heists etc.
5. Types of Thrillers
MYSTERY THRILLERS
The mystery thriller relates a lot to crime thrillers. The typical plot of a
mystery thriller is crimes that must be prevented, these crime mainly
include: assassinations, terrorism, serial or mass murderer, or the
overthrow of the governments. It also typically focuses on an
investigator or a detective trying to undercover the crime. This particular
sub-genre allows the audience to also find out information and also
trying to also undercover the mystery too. This causes more dramatic
effect and suspense which follows the conventions of the thriller genre.
6. Types of Thrillers
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
This particular sub-genre heavily focuses on the mental levels of
characters, and how danger is exposed to them mentally rather on a
physical level. This sub-genre also incorporates elements of
mystery, drama and often overlap with the horror genre. Characters
of a psychological thrillers are no longer relied on the physical
strength to battle their mentally unstable state their in. this sub-
genre unusually consists of two or more characters preying up one
another by playing devilish games or physically trying to destroy
another's mental state. The plot also usually plays with audiences
minds, make them think something when rather it’s the other, which
causes suspense within the audience.
7. Types of Thrillers
SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS
This subgenre consists of the manipulation of sophisticated technology
in a plot. For example, having walking robots in both IRobot and artificial
intelligence, or dodging bullets in matrix which most of the plots of this
subgenre is manipulating new technology, in to create suspense in the
film. This also include elements of action and science fiction , thus
creating a more realistic approach as typically the plots revolve around
sophisticated technology. The themes of this sub genre often include
futuristic technology and weapons.
8. Types of Thrillers
SUPERNATURAL THRILLERS
This subgenre consists of elements that are unworldly mixed with
suspense, tension and twists. The typical plot of a supernatural
thriller is that the protagonist and/or the villain has supernatural
powers that lead them to the source of the problem in the plot. If
the plot consist of a villain with an ability of supernatural powers,
this is usually cause by demons / devils/ghost which is slightly
linked to the religious thriller. The reason for this is they would
like it to be slightly realistic by adding religious elements to it ,
thus creating more tension with in the audience.
