Common Features of a thriller film

Common Features of a Thriller Film


-A thriller is a book or film designed to keep a reader or viewer in suspense.
-The aim for thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats
-A thriller provides the sudden rush of emotions, excitement, sense of suspense and exhilaration that drives the narrative

The primary elements of the thriller genre:

• The leading character faces death, either their own or somebody else's.
• The main storyline for the main characters is either a quest or a character who cannot be put down.
• The main plotline focuses on a mystery that must be solved.
• The film's narrative construction is dominated by the main actors point of view.
• All action and characters must be credibly realistic/natural in their representation on screen.
• Either by accident or their own curiousness, characters are dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve.

Characters include
-criminals,
-stalkers,
-assassins,
-innocent victims (often on the run),
-menaced women,
-characters with deep dark pasts,
-psychotic individuals,
-serial killers,
-sociopaths,
-agents,
-terrorists,
- police officers ,
-private eyes,
-people involved in twisted relationships,
-world-weary men and women,
- psycho
-fiends

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Sub-Genres of Thriller:

-Action Thriller eg Die Hard, Kill Bill, The Bourne Identity
-Crime Thriller eg The Usual Suspects, Jagged Edge
-Film-Noir, eg The Sweet Smell Of Sucess
-Psychological Thriller, eg Memento
-Science Fiction Thriller, eg Aliens
-Religious Thriller,  eg The Ninth Gate