1. CONVENTIONS OF THE
THRILLER GENRE
HENRY MCPHERSON

2. THE THRILLER GENRE
INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE
OF FILMS BUT IT IS POSSIBLE
TO IDENTIFY COMMON
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH
ARE SIMILAR FOR MANY
THRILLERS

3. THRILLERS USUALLY AIM TO CREATE SUSPENSE AND
EXCITEMENT FOR THE AUDIENCE

4. THE HERO IS OFTEN AN OUTSIDER,
ISOLATED, SECRETIVE BUT MORAL

5. THE HERO IS USUALLY THE ONE WHO SOLVES
THE ENIGMA AND REVEALS THE TRUTH

6. THEY’RE USUALLY SHOT IN
URBAN OR SUBURBAN SETTINGS

7. THE NARRATIVE USUALLY REVOLVES AROUND A PUZZLE OR
THE INVESTIGATION OF AN ENIGMA

8. THE ANSWER TO THE PUZZLE WILL BE MORE RATIONAL
RATHER THAN A SUPERNATURAL EXPLANATION

9. THE ENIGMA OR PUZZLE IS USUALLY
SOLVED BY THE END OF THE FILM

10. TEXT

11. VIOLENT CRIME IS CENTRAL TO MOST THRILLERS

12. THE HERO AND VILLAIN, ALTHOUGH OPPOSING EACH OTHER
CAN ALSO BE QUITE SIMILAR

13. IT OFTEN REVEALS THE WORKINGS OF PARTICULAR INSTITUTIONS
SUCH AS THE POLICE, THE ARMY OR THE GOVERNMENT

14. THE THRILLER CENTRES ON INJUSTICES IN SOCIETY BUT
SOLVES THESE WRONGS