Thriller Conventions

Thriller Conventions

The aim for a thriller genre is to create suspense, tension and excitement of the audience. The general thriller can be paced at a steady speed with fast peaks or a breakneck speed. Suspense is a crucial element to creating a well made thriller. It keeps the audience intrigued and "at the edge of their seats". On this blog I will explore closely common plots, character archetypes and examples of sub-genres of a thriller.

Sub-genres

Conspiracy thrillers- In these types of thrillers you would usually find a loved hero in a sticky situation. As the movie/drama progresses, unveiled villains will appear and the situation will be solved. Example: The Bourne Ultimatum with Matt Damon

Crime thrillers- crime thrillers more often than not focus on the criminal activities of the villains and their activities leading up to a crime being done. They are known to emphasise action over psychological contexts. Example: Inside Man

Disaster thrillers- These focus on a journey of a group of people/ person and their fight for survival against natural disasters (such like the movie 2012). It could also include the wrong doing of a human activity causing mankind to be driven to the brink of extinction

Mystery thrillers- These thrillers are based more over on the psychological aspects of ones mind and how the protagonists decode mysteries within their lives. Audiences are usually ones to help unsolved the mysteries. Example: Flight Plan with Jodie Foster

Supernatural thrillers- also linked with horror movies, supernatural thrillers focus on beings of spirit or ghosts that interfere with the life of the protagonist and their journey to unsolving what happens to them. An example of this thriller is "The Others" starring Nicole Kidman.

Character Archetypes and Narrative conventions

a common occurrence in thrillers is a liked character being taken hostage and the protagonists job to find and save them. This is the case in the thriller "Taken" starring Liam Neeson.

Dark light and nighttime is also evident in a lot of thrillers. Like "The Purge", The characters are fleeing around a city during the middle of the night to save themselves from danger.

An even more common plot is the journey to allow good to triumph over evil! this evil could be natural disasters or human caused. eventually the protagonist(s) finds a way to triumph and to eventually have a happy ending that leaves the audience questioning yet praising the outcome. 

more examples:

-protagonist faces death

-the forces of an antagonists may seem initially cleverer than that of the protagonist

-a quest or journey for the protagonist

-a mystery to be solved

-all actions made by characters are usually realistic and believable

-the desire for justice and morality to individuals

- an interesting aspect is the small presence of innocence and optimism in what seems like a corrupt world the allow the audience to believe there is a way out!

-each character is dragged into a dangerous conflict that could result in death.