It Is difficult to define the genre of thriller because it can cross over many other genres such as Psychological thriller and even horror. However,

there are some specific characteristics that define thriller and one is that it “thrills” one who watches/read it. The plots should be shocking and

feature unexpected and unanticipated events like car chases or murders. The characters in a thriller should be placed in dangerous or thought provoking circumstances that intrigue the audience and keep them

hanging on the edge of their seat.

Thriller contains conventions that feature in all genres such as protagonists (hero’s), antagonists (villain’s) and plots that build up to a “denouement” (wrap-up) that shows the defeat of the antagonist; who is

preferred to be extremely malevolent in order to strike fear and suspense in the audience. Successful thrillers usually include life-and-death issues which can fall under murder mysteries and crime investigations but it is

most important to place the significant characters (protagonists) in serious danger in order for the audience to sympathise. Finally, the genre of

thriller; if it is successful; should leave the audience biting their nails and double checking their home security at night!

Definition of “Thriller”

The genre of Thriller has been in existence since the early 20th century, one of the first films to be made in the genre was called “The Lodger: A story of the London Fog”. It was a silent film due to the lack of technology in that time period but nevertheless, succeeded at conveying the themes and conventions of a thriller film through suspense-inducing camera angles and techniques such as extreme close up shots and screenshots of cryptic dialogue that make up for the lack of audio, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds.

In contrast, contemporary film has the advantage with the advances of latest technology and the ability to edit using software's and even use the technique known as “Foley” to add in anything in the soundtrack that might need buffering. A great example of contemporary thriller is the film “Se7en” (1995).

History of “Thriller”

Considering the potential explicitness of the genre thriller, the target audience will range from 18 to 30. It would be a problem for younger audiences because thriller is very intellectually demanding and potentially distressing as it might have gruesome, gory features.

It would be unethical to let audiences below the age of 15 witness graphic imagery. Our target audience is sure to be a very pensive group of people who like to be intellectually challenged because

Thriller films typically involve solving some sort of puzzle or even a crime. A plot of a Thriller has to be thought provoking and

completely unanticipated in order to be successfully “thrilling”. Our audience needs to be mature and able to sympathise or empathise

with the protagonists in order to support the right character throughout the plot. They must be accustomed to viewing explicit

and graphic images otherwise they may be to “squeamish” and “resistant” to watch the film.

Target Audience

The primary purpose of a thriller is to simply “thrill” it’s target audience with surprising/shocking plots and suspense inducing

camera work (e.g. disorientating camera angles), fast paced soundtracks (e.g. that resemble heart beats) and intriguing

protagonists with menacing antagonists. It has to be thought provoking by providing a dramatic conclusion that avoids

conventional endings that are predictable from their over-use. This means the thriller has to be unique with it’s climax.

Intention and purpose of the genre

One of the most successful thriller films made is the 1960 film “Psycho” which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and runs for 109

minutes in black and white. It is based around a secretary who steals a large amount of her employers money and manages to

escape with it into a motel that is operated by a young man who is very ordered and dominated by his mother. It has an eerie setting

especially as it maintains a black and white composition. This makes the overall vibe lack generalizability because society is used to

seeing colour to help translate the emotion being conveyed for a character. Although, the lack of colour does connote the fight

between the forces of good and evil or the innocent VS the menacing. A few more examples of successful thriller films are; Silence Of The Lambs (1990) and The Shining (1980) which are

considered more recent than Psycho.

Successful Thriller Films

Alfred Hitchcock (born 1899) directed Psycho in 1960 and Vertigo in 1958. He was often nicknamed “The Master Of Suspense” from his success in the media industry.

David Fincher (born 1962) directed Se7en and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Martin Scorsese (born 1942) directed Shutter Island in 2010 and The Departed in 2006.

Each film director has produced thrillers in very contrasting periods of society. Despite some being limited to the equipment available at the time they all managed to produce equally successful thriller films through CREATIVITY and thinking outside the box.

Well Known Directors of Thriller Films

Paramount Pictures

Media Institutions That Produce and Distribute Thriller Films