Research into the Thriller Genre

After our continuity piece, we were given the task to create the opening to a thriller. For this we had to research what the thriller genre actually involved. Thriller is a genre of fiction in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country, or the stability of the free world. Part of the allure of thrillers comes from not only what their stories are about, but also how they are told. High stakes, non-stop action, plot twists that both surprise and excite, settings that are both vibrant and exotic, and an intense pace that never lets up until the adrenalin packed climax.

As James Patterson, a successful American author of thriller novels, explains:

"Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds. The legal thriller, spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, police thriller, romantic thriller, historical thriller, political thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller, military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job."

General Forms and Conventions of a Thriller

• Thrillers often take place wholly or partly in exotic settings such as foreign cities, deserts, polar regions, or seas. Examples of this would be Ridley Scott's "Alien", as it is set on a spaceship.
• In a thriller, the hero must thwart the plans of an enemy, rather than uncover a crime that has already happened; while a murder mystery would be spoiled by a premature disclosure of the murderer's identity, in a thriller the identity of a murderer or other villain is typically known all along. Before the eventual defeat of the villain, there is usually an emotional battle between the protagonist and the antagonist.
• The antagonist is usually very well versed in technology and is often highly trained in terms of resilience and battle skills. This means that there are lots of action scenes, which usually keep the audience interested.
• Suspense and tension are used extensively, to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. Also, twists are often used in the story to keep the audience guessing, as well as forcing the audience to think.
• There is typically a male protagonist, although women have become increasingly common. Examples of this would be Angelina Jolie in "Taking Lives" and Sigourney Weaver in "Alien".
• The audience is often able to relate to the protagonist, as they are normally shown to have human flaws and weaknesses, however accustomed the character is to danger. Sometimes the protagonist is even an everyday person who has been drawn into the danger.

Sub-Genres
The thriller genre can include the following sub-genres, which may include elements of other genres:

• Action Thriller
• Conspiracy Thriller
• Crime Thriller
• Psychological Thriller
• Disaster Thriller
• Horror Thriller
• Erotic Thriller
• Political Thriller
• Supernatural Thriller
• Sci-fi Thriller
• Spy Thriller
• Drama Thriller
• Legal Thriller