Thriller Sub-genres

What is a Thriller?



They are typically known to create excitement and suspense, a high level of anticipation and severe wracking tension. A successful thriller will keep the audiences 'on the edge of their seats'.the characters usually have some form of conflict related to an event, someone or even themselves. However this subject is usually fairly shadowy or abstract.

Types of Thrillers-


1.Conspiracy thrillers

Also known as ' Paranoid Thriller', it usually includes an amatuer journalist/ investigator who accidentatlly unravels a serious happening or conspiracies, then attracts a lot of attention and usually ends up a hero. It generally includes 'goodies' and 'baddies' and occasionally a love story along side. There are lots of lies rumors propaganda, physiologically interesting audiences.

EXAMPLES OF CONSPIRACY THRILLERS:

• The International
• North by Northwest
• Valkyrie
• The Assassination Bureau

Conspiracy thrillers will usually feature the police or some sort of security organisation e.g. MI6 or CIA. They also feature rumours, propaganda and lies which will create tension between the main character and the other characters. 

2. Political Thriller
These are closely linked to Conspiracy Thriller, however they tend to have more of larger scale backdrop, such as the government. they are based around power struggles, common themes include terrorism, corruption and warfare.

EXAMPLES OF POLITICAL THRILLERS:

• The Man Who Knew Too Much
• JFK
• City Hall

3. Spy Film
Spy films deal with the theme of fictional espionage either in a realistic way or in a fantasy way. The British film industry is famed for spy films with the most famous being the James Bond films and a lot of spy films are based around the British Secret Service.

EXAMPLES OF SPY FILMS:

• 007: Casino Royale
• 007: Die Another Day
• The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

Spy films will usually feature government agents and missions. There is always a strong risk of being found out by the enemies and there is always a main enemy in spy films. Spy films offer a mix of escapism, technological thrills and exotic locations e.g. James Bond films. The spy is the main character and is portrayed strongly as a hero figure. There also tends to be a woman involved and a sub-plot of romance between the spy and the woman.