What is a Thriller?

'Thriller' is a genre that can be quite tricky to identify. It's vague and the name of the genre itself isn't really anything to go by. So how can we describe a thriller?

'A thriller is a difficult genre to pin down because it covers such a wide range of films. Thrillers are films of suspense that are supposed to instill terror into the audience' - Susan Hayward.

'When you enjoy something, you must never let logic get too much in the way. Like the villians in all James Bond movies. Whenever Bond breaks into the complex: 'Ah, Mr Bond, welcome, come in. Let me show you my entire evil plan and then put you in a death machine that doesn't work' - Jerry Seinfeld.

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television that includes numerous and often over-lapping sub-genres. Thrillers are characterized by fast-paced, frequent actions and resourceful heroes who must thwart the more powerful and better equipped villain.


Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is a villain-driven plot whereby he/she presents obstacles a hero must overcome. The genre is flexible and can engage the audience through a dramatic rendering of psychological, social and political tensions. Alfred Hitchcock said thrillers allow the audience to 'put their toe in the cold water of fear to see what it is like'.

What categories of thrillers are there?

• Spy (eg. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)
• Political (eg. The Manchurian Candidate)
• Conspiracy (eg. The Bourne Identity)
• Legal (eg. Michael Clayton)
• Psychological (eg. 127 Hours)