Sub-Genres of a Thriller

Before I researched what a thriller was, I thought it was just a movie that includes anticipation and suspence. I had no idea that there were loads of sub-genres within it: 



Action Thriller

An Action Thriller uses lots of physical action to create suspense within the film. Like a traditional Action film, they will often have continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. Often, these scenes will contribute to the overall sense of danger that the main character is facing.

An example of an Action Thriller is 'Die Hard', where a New York City cop gets trapped in a Los Angeles high-rise occupied by terrorists on Christmas Eve.

http://www.movietickets.com/movie/mid/11548/n/Die-Hard

Crime Thriller

Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that combines the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually focuses on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt. In contrast to traditional crime films, the storyline focuses around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers use action and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense.

An example of a Crime Thriller is 'The Usual Suspects', where police investigating an exploded boat on a San Pedro pier discover 27 bodies and $91 million worth of drug money. The only survivors are a severely burned Hungarian terrorist and Verbal Kint, a crippled con-man.  Kint is pressured into explaining exactly what happened on the boat. His story begins six weeks earlier with five criminals being dragged in by New York police desperate for suspects on a hijacked truck and ends with the possible identification of a criminal mastermind.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/plotsummary

Psychological Thriller

A Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film in with the traits of a regular Thriller. The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind, rather than from a psychical threat. The main characters in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation. Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre.

An example of a Psychological Thriller is 'Taxi Driver'. Travis Bickle is an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran living in New York City. As he suffers from insomnia, he spends his time working as a taxi driver at night, watching porn movies at seedy cinemas during the day, or thinking about how the world, New York in particular, has deteriorated into a cesspool. He's a loner who has strong opinions about what is right and wrong with mankind. For him, the one bright spot in New York humanity is Betsy, a worker on the presidential nomination campaign of Senator Charles Palantine. He becomes obsessed with her. After an incident with her, he believes he has to do whatever he needs to make the world a better place in his opinion. One of his priorities is to be the savior for Iris, a twelve-year-old runaway and prostitute who he believes wants out of the profession and under the thumb of her pimp and lover Matthew.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/plotsummary

Science Fiction Thriller

Science Fiction Thriller include hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will include heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology. These elements can be used in a Science Fiction Thriller to create anticipation and suspense. Often, this sub-genre will explore the “future-gone-bad” theme, including plots that revolve around alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, and super-diseases.

An example of a Science Fiction Thriller is 'District 9'. In 1982, a massive star ship bearing a bedraggled alien population, nicknamed "The Prawns," appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. Twenty-eight years later, the initial welcome by the human population has faded. The refugee camp where the aliens were located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9, where they are confined and exploited in squalor. In 2010, the munitions corporation, Multi-National United, is contracted to forcibly evict the population with operative Wikus van der Merwe in charge. In this operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical and must rely on the help of his only two new 'Prawn' friends.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/

Religious Thriller

Religious Thriller film incorporates religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects. Though some films can revolve around a specific church, many Religious Thrillers include supernatural experiences not pertaining to a certain religion. Exorcisms, demon possession, and church cover-ups are typical themes of Religious Thrillers.

An example of a Religious Thriller is 'Devils Advocate'  where a young, seemingly unbeatable lawyer from a small town in Florida. When he gets an offer to go to New York and work for a large firm, him and his wife Mary Anne jump at the opportunity. Soon, Mary Anne begins to dislike the city and Kevin's job. She urges him to quit and go back to Florida but he sees her as insane. The longer he works however, the more his wife makes sense, but is it too late?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118971/plotsummary

Conspiracy Thriller

A thriller in which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognises. 

An example of a Conspiracy Thriller is 'Snake Eyes'. In an Atlantic City casino, an important boxing match is taking place. The fans are cheering and the boxers are hitting. But in the middle of the fight, someone is murdered in the audience. It is up to a cop who was at the boxing match to find out who the daring killer is...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120832/plotsummary

Legal Thriller

A thriller in which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives.

An example of a legal thriller is 'Runaway Jury'. When a day trader is shot in cold blood at his workplace, his widow sues a major gun manufacturer. Holding them responsible for his death, she dispatches idealistic lawyer Wendell Rohr to oversee the case. A good man of principle, Wendell takes charge. On the defense team, another man will take charge: Rankin Fitch, a powerful and ruthless jury consultant riding high on his frequent successes. But in the middle of it all is the jury, which both Wendell and Rankin are determined to sway. But what they're about to discover, is that one man and one woman stand in their way. Nicholas Easter is one of the jurors and he's the one collaborating with Marlee, his girlfriend, on the final outcome of the case. But as the case progresses, questions arise as to what the motives are of all those involved, and what some will do to secure the final outcome.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313542/plotsummary

Erotic Thriller

An Erotic Thriller emphasises eroticism throughout the film and also shows how a sexual relationship plays an crucial role in the plot. Since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration erotic thrillers have become very popular.

An example of an erotic thriller is 'Sleeping with the Enemy'. Laura and Martin have been married for four years. They seem to be the perfect, happiest and most successful couple. The reality of their household, however, is very different. Martin is an abusive and brutally obsessed husband. Laura is living her life in constant fear and waits for a chance to escape. She finally stages her own death, and flees to a new town and new identity. But when Martin finds out that his wife is not dead he will stop at nothing to find and kill her. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102945/plotsummary

Political Thriller

A thriller in which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs them.

 An example of a political thriller is 'Seven Days In May'. An unpopular U.S. President manages to get a nuclear disarmament treaty through the Senate, but finds that the nation is turning against him. Jiggs Casey, a Marine Colonel, finds evidence that General Scott, the wildly popular head of the Joint Chiefs and certain Presidential Candidate in 2 years is not planning to wait. Casey goes to the president with the information and a web of intrigue begins with each side unsure of who can be trusted.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058576/plotsummary

http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/thriller

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Sub-genres