The Thriller Genre

Here is a post that discusses and explains the typical conventions of a thriller, what a thriller is and what makes a thriller. As I am making a thriller I need to know a lot about the genre.

Typical conventions - The thriller genre is commonly about the battle of justice and injustice where in the conclusion, a price has been paid. A thriller film is based on suspense. These elements are reinforced by minor elements e.g. chasing. Thrillers can be much subcategorised, creating hybrid sub-genres, each creating a main other element to the thriller genre giving it a different type of story. Some examples of the sub- genres:

·        Psychological thriller – where the conflict between main characters is emotional and mental, not physical.

·        Conspiracy thriller- a thriller based on a conspiracy

·        Crime thriller- a thriller revolving around a crime that has been committed

·        Disaster thriller – where a thriller involves a disaster such as a tsunami

·        Legal thriller-

·        Medical thriller – a thriller based on an illness that effects the whole world

·        Mystery thriller- a thriller based on the unknown

·        Political thriller- where politics is involved in the main story line

·        Religious thriller- a thriller that involves religion

·        Supernatural thriller- a thriller that involves the supernatural

Key elements/conventions that are taken into account for a thriller- Whilst shooting a thriller and watching a thriller, elements have to be taken into account to make it the genre it is;

• Setting/place and time
• Dark scenery
• Action
• Main theme
• Start of narrative
• Main event
• If it is chronological of non-chronological/ flashbacks
• Pace of shots/variety of shots/editing
• Idea of character(for introduction)

The key elements that are involved in a thriller can be;

• Chase
• Psychological dimension – the unconscious/unknown
• Close ups- human elements
• Normality vs. unexpected
• Darker side of life
• Injury, death
• Nightmare
• Disturbing
• Flashbacks- disjoint time
• Credibility/believability
• Distortion of reality

All these features I can use when shooting a thriller opening myself.