top of page

What Is A Thriller?

Thriller is a large genre made up of a variety of subgenres that aim to leave the audience feeling exhilarated, breathless and suspenseful. They target what makes people feel uncomfortable and uneasy and build on this throughout the film.

The most popular subgenres of thriller are:

  • Crime: Targets events such as kidnapping, heists, revenge and being on the run.

Examples of Crime thrillers:

  • Silence of the Lambs

  • Se7en

  • Dial M for Murder

  • Psychological: Targets the mind and requires the audience to think, usually doesn’t

have a set structure

Examples of Psychological thrillers:

  • The Butterfly Effect

  • Black Swan

  • Insomnia

  • Action: Fast-paced movies involving mostly fight scenes

Examples of Action thrillers:

  • Taken

  • The Bourne Identity

  • The Departed

  • Sci-fi: Involve supernatural elements such as Aliens

Examples of Sci-Fi thrillers:

  • The Blade Runner

  • 2001

  • District 9

  • Religion: Use religious figures, events and symbols

Examples of Religion thrillers:

  • End of Days

  • The Da Vinci Code

  • Stigma

Stereotypical features of Thriller movies

  • Complex plotlines and narrative

  • Lots of events happening at the same time

  • Confusion from both characters and audience

  • Ominous music to reflect what is happening in film

  • Low-key lighting

  • Complex characters

  • Plot twist/s

  • Strings

  • Jumpscares

  • Manipulation (usually through a character the audience think is good but turns out to be the villain)


bottom of page