What is a Thriller?

THRILLER AS A GENRE 


Every genre has defining characteristics, for example, with thrillers:


-Suspense.
-Tension
-Excitement.


-Sub-genres are mystery, crime and psychological thrillers.


Atmospheres of:


-Violence.
-Crime.
-Murder.


-Show society as dark corrupt and dangerous.
-Often feature a happy ending in which the villains are killed or arrested.


-Red Herrings.
-Plot Twists.
-Cliffhangers.
-High levels of anticipation.
-Adrenaline rushes.
-Ultra heightened expectation.
-Anxiety.
-Terror.

-Common elements in psychological thrillers are mind games, psychological themes, stalking, confinement/deathtraps, horror-of-personality and obsession. While elements such as conspiracy theories, false accusations, paranoia and sometimes action are common in paranoid thrillers.