What is a thriller...?

Thriller is a wide genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense/ tension/excitement/thrill as its main conventions. Thrillers heavily control how the viewer is feeling as they have such a massive impact on them resulting to the audience giving such a strong reaction - shock. Thrillers use a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing and fast-paced.

The whole idea of a thriller is to keep the audience on 'the edge of their seats' as the narrative builds and builds to its climax. Tension is usually built when something is revealed to the audience; for instance: one of the characters being placed in a situation where, perhaps, it's quite menacing or mysterious, it could be a situation where the character has to escape. Life itself is threatened because the principal character is put in a situation which at the time, seems impossible. 

Thrillers can broaden so widely to what can be 'classed' as a thriller. Thrillers have sub-genres as a thriller film can be so widely defined - this is called a 'hybrid'. The main sub-genres within a thriller would be:

1. Action
Example: 'UNKOWN'





















2. Adventure
Example: 'INDIANA JONES'

3. Sci-fi
Example: 'ALIEN'

4. Crime
Example: 'DISTURBIA'





















5. Western
Example: 'COWBOYS AND ALIENS'


















( This film is a good example of sub-genre, it is a western film but it also collaborates with the genre of 'sci-fi')

6. Romantic/Comedy
Example: 'DAY AND KNIGHT'





















7. Supernatural
Example: 'THE OTHERS'

8. Political
Example: 'V FOR VENDETTA'



















Genre is so important to not only an audience but also institutions. It is important to an audience because: it identifies to the audience what it is about, and then helps the audience decide whether this film would appeal to them because of what context it comes under. To institutions it is important as they can categorize their film to a particular genre, and then advertise it to particularly appeal to a certain audience.