Genre Research

Thrillers (Genre Research)

Thrillers are a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as the main elements. A an example of a subgenre is a psychological thriller. They usually heavily stimulate the viewer's moods such as a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, suspense, excitement, tension, and terror. Devices such as cliffhangers are used a lot. The cover-up of important information from the viewer, and fight and chase scenes are common methods in all thrillers, although each subgenre is independantly different.

Thrillers tend to have protagonists who are usually unaware of the antagonists' true colours.

An action thriller is a sub genre In which the hero/heroine confronts dangerous enemies, obstacles, or situations which s/he must conquer, normally in a violent or suspenseful situation. Examples include Unknown, The Adjustment Bureau, Taken, the Bourne films, etc.