Thriller Sub-Genres: Codes and Conventions

Thriller Sub-Genres

Action Thriller:

Action Thrillers will often take thriller conventions and codes and add a substantial amount of physical action into the film. This physical action is used to create more tension between the protagonist and the antagonist therefore also creating more suspense. They contain a continuous motion of action like stunts, chases (e.g car chases), battles and races which in turn contribute to the sense of danger felt by the characters. Action thrillers use fast-pasted music and camera shots which makes the film itself more fast pasted and therefore creates greater tension. Also, the building of fast paced shots draws out the suspense, creating and highlighting the sense of relief once the tension has broken- this can be repeated many times through out the film, strengthening a sense of anxiety. 

Example movie: The Bourne Identity

Supernatural Thriller: 

In supernatural thrillers often an otherworldly force is introduced as character (usually the antagonist); also many characters in supernatural thrillers often have a super ability, for example being able to fly or read minds. These otherworldly elements can create tension and suspense as the extent of the power/force is unknown and the intentions of the force is unclear. The supernatural power will, in many instances, disrupt the peace and cause conflict. Lighting is a large factor in supernatural thrillers as it helps create the otherworldly effect. Supernatural thrillers can use fast flashes of light and lighting of all different colours to make the supernatural element more realistic hence building more tension. Supernatural thrillers can also fall into the category of or employ similar codes and conventions to religious thrillers, psychological thrillers and even horror thrillers.

Example movie: The Sixth Sense

Religious Thriller:

Religious thrillers can be similar to supernatural thrillers but they usually employ a religious element such as religious themes (e.g Bible stories), questions, and objects (e.g a holy relic). The addition of the religious element usually makes the film more realistic and therefore creates more tension as the audience becomes more engrossed in the story line. The religious element also helps the thriller sup-genre differ from that of a supernatural or psychological thriller. Story lines of a religious thriller frequently include a demon-possessed individual, a church cover-up, and/or a sacred artifact like a relic. A religious thriller can be based around historical events which also make the film more realistic and therefore builds more suspense.

Example movie: Angels and Demons

Psychological Thriller

Psychological thrillers involves plenty of conflict like a thriller only the conflict is mental rather than physical. The fact that the conflict occurs in the protagonist's mind helps the sub-genre vary from others. This conflict is used to create a similar tension like an action thriller where it creates more suspense only the danger isn't physical but rather threatens the protagonist's sanity. The conflict commonly occurs inside the protagonists head or is a battle of wits between the protagonist and the antagonist (e.g Now You See Me). Psychological thrillers use a range of tilted camera often to show the distorted state of mind a character may be experiencing at the time.

Example movie: Shutter Island

Mystery Thriller:

The element of mystery added to the thriller genre makes the film more dramatically tense because as the plot develops it is not only the protagonist who is trying to solve the mystery but, usually, the film also allows the audience themselves to attempt to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist. Another element that adds to the sense of danger is the fact that the protagonist is generally racing against the clock to save the day and prevent a crime or the antagonist getting away with the crime. This then shows how a mystery thriller can have similar codes and conventions to a crime thriller.  

Example movie: Inception

Crime thrillers usually have a large association with assassinations, terrorism, and serial/mass murdering which, like a mystery thriller, adds to the sense of lurking danger. The specific focus on crime rather than the protagonist issuing justice for the crime is often what sets a crime and a mystery thriller apart. Crime thrillers can also have similar aspects to psychological thrillers if the film is seen through the eyes of a character especially the killer.

Example movie: The Dark knight

Horror Thriller:

The use of horrific graphics and/or themes makes the thriller intensely suspenseful and heightens the fear of danger. Horror thrillers use of extreme close up camera shots of the protagonists face highlighting their fear and making the audience even more fearful whilst building suspense even more. Also the common use of the colour red adds to the sense of danger as red has connotations with blood, death and danger itself making the film seem even more frightening. Many horror thrillers also use depth of field to focus on important symbols or motifs while the blurred background can often cause a sense of anxiety for the audience as they can not see what is truly happening. Horror thrillers, very much like the thriller genre itself, use extremely low lighting to create tension like the depth of field effect where the audience can not see what is happening and so causing panic. Horror thrillers films can be edited to have many jump cuts during the time of danger or leading up to a major reveal, this creates a sense of uneasiness deepening the audiences awareness of fear already growing from other factors. Lastly horror thrillers can differ from psychological, as the two sub-genres are very similar, because horror thrillers do not have to include a supernatural element but rather just a horrific character like a serial killer.

Example movie: The Cabin in the Woods