What is Thriller?

Thrillers are types of films known to promote intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. These types of films are virtually synonymous and interchangeable categorizations, with similar characteristics and features.

“If the genre is to be defined strictly, a genuine thriller is a film that rentlessly pursues a single-minded goal - to provide thrills and keep the audience cliff-hanging at the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax.”- Filmsite.org

To create this tension in the viewer, its main characters are usually placed in a situation that in real life would be considered impossible to escape from; whether it be a dangerous mission to a menacing situation the genre itself has life threatened, usually because the principal character is unaware of the situation. However thriller genres always tackle a common enemy in the shape of outside forces such as corrupt government to hive like aliens. 

To differ from each other thriller hybrids are usually formed create varieties of suspense thriller that are not too cliché to the audience always still leaving them clawing at their seat in anticipation of what is going to happen next.

Action/Adventure Thriller

A mixture of action and thriller, Action thriller movies utilise the fast paced, centred definite plot of the action genre and the uncertainty, nerve-wracking tension from its thriller half to create suspense within the film. This sense of suspension is increased by the traditional action genre’s iconic features of chases, battles and stunts creating that feeling of uncertainty in the audience of ‘whether or not the character will survive’ furthermore leaving the character with the overall sense of danger the thriller genre is trying to achieve.

Example: Dark Knight Rises, Die Hard, The Bourne Identity

 Sci-fi Thriller

Taking aspects from sci-fi, Sci-fi thrillers are suspense films in which the manipulation of sophisticated technology plays a prominent part with in its storyline. With the use of plots usually revolved around science; genetically enhanced humans to out of this world creatures help to create the sense of anticipation and suspense utilising both genre elements to deliver great shocks and ‘hair grabbing’ moments.

Example: I-Robot, Jurassic Park, Eagle Eye, The Thirteenth Floor

Spy Thriller

This mix of genre usually has the protagonist as a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or terrorists as time goes on. The subgenre usually deals with the subject of fictional espionage in a realistic way harnessing the use of low key lighting to add to its sneaky effects. However some spy films fall safely in the action genre rather than thriller for example James, with the use of frequent shootouts and car chases whilst showing aspects of Thriller elements.

Example: Taken, Spy Game, Traitor, The Tourist 

Psychological Thriller

These two in my opinion make the best kind of hybrid by having a totally different look and plot compared to all the other types of hybrid. In this form of genre the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Characters, either by accident or by their own curiousness, are dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve. Characters are not reliant on physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies, but rather are reliant on their mental resources, whether it is by battling using their wits with a strong opponent or fighting for their sanity in the character's own mind. The suspense created by psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters working upon one another's minds, either by playing deceptive games with the other or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state.

Example: Phone Booth, Shutter Island, Red Eye, Psycho

Crime Thrillers

This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal or criminals rather than a policeman. Central topics of these films include serial killers/murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, heists and double-crosses.

Example: Seven, The Asphalt Jungle, The Score