Sub Genres

Charles Derry: The Suspense Thriller

Charles Derry has looked at many different suspense thrillers in order to come to the conclusion that the directors of suspense thrillers often worry more about the audience response rather than the actual plot itself; meaning that the film is focused on getting a reaction from the audience. Derry has observed Hitchcock's work; one of the greatest thriller directors of all time. Charles Derry realises that instead of having an outright detective in a suspense thriller, many directors opt for normal people who eventually find out the plot themselves towards the end of the film. Derry divides the suspense thriller into three sub-categories which include elements such as murder, rescue, and acquiring identity. The latter meaning some ordinary people in the plot finding out their fate the hard way.

Generic Conventions

A thriller usually has two key aspects; the battle between two people. This battle breaks up the equilibrium. Following this the plot shows many different bad events which ultimately build suspense and lead up to a climax at the end of a film. The common conventions associated with a thriller include - low key lighting, quick cuts, shadows, music that creates tension, and the diegetic sound of breathing. The plot will often make the audience feel as though it could happen to them, this is because the directors cast actors in order to play normal situations. The antagonist of the thriller usually has a hidden identity which the audience will uncover as the film goes on.