There are many different types of thrillers, these are split into sub-categories/genres:
- Spy thrillers (from Russia with love by Ian Fleming)
- Political thrillers (The day of the jackal by Frederick Forsyth)
- Military thrillers (The guns of Navarone by Alistair Maclean)
- Conspiracy thrillers (The chancellor manuscript by Robert Ludlum)
- Medical thrillers (coma)
- Forensic thrillers (Balefire by Ken Goddard)
- Psychology thrillers (Suspicion by Alfred Hitchcock)
- Horror thriller (silence of the lambs)
- Action thriller (James Bond)
- Disaster thriller (The day after tomorrow)
- Crime thriller (Memories of murder)
Conventions
Thrillers are about good vs evil, justic vs injustice where a price normally has to be paid for the ending to occur. Thrillers normally progress with a sense of danger and foreboding but with excitement at a pursuit/action part.
Normally a thriller will only be told from three certain points of view. There will be the protagonist (main character) who we will feel sympathy and empathy for, or the villain who we may also be made to feel sympathy for at a past experience they have had which has led them to the present. we may also be told from an outsider point of view which can make the audience more observant to whats going on.
Events in the plot help it to progress and make the audience guess what is about to happen next but 99% of the time they will be wrong. Also there is never any dialogue to explain what is happening and why so the story contains mystery which in turn builds up the suspense.
Most often the hero/protagonist is a strong male, who fights constantly so good can prevail. the villain can be anything from a mental character to a monster but their traits are usually revenge, anger, twisted outlook on things. There will also be a helpless 'damsel in distress' who is sexy and provocative who has to overcome a major difficulty to help the hero/protagonist.
Main themes of thrillers are usually fears of today's society so we can relate to the story being told, for example terrorism, isolation, war, pain etc.
