The Thriller genre:
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'Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements.'
Generic conventions of a Thriller:
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Protagonist vs Antagonist
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The protagonist is faced with death
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The antagonist initially has the advantage and strength over the protagonist
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The narrative is mainly focused on the point of view of the protagonist
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Two major themes that underline the Thriller genre include justice and moraltiy
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The non-diejetic soundtrack is used to assist in building the tension and suspension
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Battle between protagonist and antagonist on either physical or mental level or both
Sub Genres of Thriller, and examples:
Action thriller: A subgenre of both action and thriller in which the protagonist confronts dangerous adversaries, obstacles, or situations which he/she must conquer, normally in an action setting. Action thrillers would usually feature a race against the clock, frequent violence and a clear antagonist. Examples include Dirty Harry, Taken, The Fugitive, Snakes on a Plane, Speed, The Dark Knight, Casino Royale, The Hurt Locker, The Terminator, Battle Royale, the Die Hard series and the Bourne series.
Conspiracy thriller: In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only s/he recognizes. The Chancellor Manuscript and The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum fall into this category, as do films such as Awake, Snake Eyes, The Da Vinci Code, Edge of Darkness, Absolute Power, Marathon Man, In the Line of Fire, Capricorn One, and JFK.
Horror thriller: Type of film that blends the horror and thriller genres: focusing on suspense, tension and adrenaline while having an emphasis on fear, terror and/or gore. Many horror films tend to cross over into the thriller genre due to their suspenseful and tense nature. Personages of supernatural origin may be present in such films. Examples of horror thrillers include Saw, The Strangers, Hostel, Eden Lake, Psycho, Jaws, Scream, Final Destination, The Exorcist, Devil, The Uninvited and The Orphanage.
Techno-thriller: A suspenseful film in which the manipulation of sophisticated technology plays a prominent part. There is a bit of action and science fiction. Examples include The Thirteenth Floor, I, Robot, Source Code, Eagle Eye, Supernova, Hackers, The Net, Future world, eXistenZ, and Virtuosity.
Crime thriller: 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(s) rather than a policeman. Central topics of these films include serial killers/murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, heists and double-crosses. Some examples of crime thrillers involving murderers include, Seven, No Country for Old Men, Heat, New Jack City, Silence of the Lambs, Untraceable, Mindhunters, Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, Collateral and Copycat. Examples of crime thrillers involving heists or robberies includes The Asphalt Jungle, The Score, Rififi, Entrapment, Heat, and The Killing.
Political thriller: In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May (1962) by Fletcher Knebel, The Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth and The Manchurian Candidate (1959) by Richard Condon established this subgenre. Examples include, Topaz, Notorious, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Interpreter, Proof of Life, State of Play, The Ghost Writer and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Psychological thriller: In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Characters, either by accident or 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. This subgenre usually has elements of drama, as there is an in-depth development of realistic characters who must deal with emotional struggles. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as are The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Machinist, Flight plan, Shutter Island, Secret Window, Identity, Gone Girl, Red Eye, Phone Booth, Fatal Attraction, The River Wild, Panic Room, Misery, Cape Fear, Funny Games, and Captain America: Civil War.
Comedy thriller: A genre that combines elements of comedy and thrillers, a combination of humour and suspense or action. Films such as Silver Streak, Dr. Strangelove, Charade, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, In Bruges, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Man, The Big Fix, and The Lady Vanishes.
Erotic thriller: A type of thriller that has an emphasis on eroticism and where a sexual relationship plays an important role in the plot. It has become popular since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The genre includes such films as Sea of Love, Basic Instinct, Chloe, Color of Night, Dressed to Kill, Eyes Wide Shut, In the Cut, Lust, Caution, and Single White Female.
Legal thriller: A suspense film in which the major characters are lawyers and their employees. The system of justice itself is always a major part of these works, at times almost functioning as one of the characters. Examples include, The Pelican Brief, Presumed Innocent, The Jury, The Client, The Lincoln Lawyer, Hostile Witness, Perry Mason novels and Silent Witness.
Spy film: In which the protagonist is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. The subgenre usually deals with the subject of fictional espionage in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of John Le Carré). It is a significant aspect of British cinema, with leading British directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed making notable contributions and many films set in the British Secret Service. Thrillers within this subgenre include Spy Game, Hanna, Traitor, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Tourist, The Parallax View, The Tailor of Panama, Mission Impossible, Unknown, The Recruit, James Bond franchise, The Debt, The Good Shepherd, and Three Days of the Condor.