Subgenres

Action thriller

In which the work often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. These films usually contain large amounts of guns, explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. These films often have elements of mystery films and also crime films but these elements take a backseat to action.

Scene from the Transporter movie starring Jason Statham released in 2002, evidently of the action thriller genre. Other examples include the James Bond Films and also the Jason Bourne films.

Conspiracy Thriller

In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. The Aquitane Progression(novel) fall into this category, as do films such as Three Days of Condor, 

Capricorn One and JFK.

 

 

Kevin Costner in JFK released in 1991, again typical of this sub genre

 Moreover, with this subgenre we also see the extension to gaming, evident in the Metal Gear Solid series. The Metal Gear Solid series contains a shadowy group known as "The Patriots" who manipulate politics in America. There are also references to numerous conspiracies in the games. Many of the characters betray the main protagonist, as well as one another, creating a very paranoid atmosphere.

Crime thriller

This particular genre is a hybrid type of crime films  and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Some examples include  Reservoir Dogs and the Inside Man.

 

 

Action scene from Reservoir Dogs released in 1992 and since has become the cult of an independent film and also showed the rise to fame of director Quentin Tarantino.

 Disaster thriller

In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. Examples include the 1974 film Earthhquake

 

 

Scene from the film Earthquake released in 1974 directed by Mark Robson

 

Drama thriller

In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama films. These films are usually slower paced and involve a great deal of character

 development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige

 

Scene from the 2006 film, The Illusionist starring Edward Norton, pictured above.

Erotic thriller

Largely defined as a sexual thriller. It has become popular since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The genre includes such films as Basic Instinct, Color of the Night, Eyes Wide Shut, Fatal Attraction and Looking for Mr. Goodbart.

                                                                                  

Scene from the 1999 film ‘eyes wide shut’, produced by Stanley Kubrick also famous for satirical science fiction film drama ‘Clockwork Orange’. The film above can be classified as a neo-noir psychological thriller.

 The sub genre psychological thriller can be defined as  a narrative that makes the characters exposed to danger on a mental level rather than a physical one. Characters are no longer reliant on physical strength to overcome their brutish enemies (which is often the case in typical action-thrillers), but rather are reliant on their mental resources, whether it be by battling wits with a formidable opponent or by battling for equilibrium in the character's own mind. Examples of these genre include the Talented Mr Ripley, Blue Velvet and the classic 'Suspicion' by Alfred Hitchcock.

A scene from the film, 'The Talented Mr Ripley', starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, which was directed by Anthony Minghella.