Thriller Sub-Genres!!

As I mentioned in my Questions and Answers on: Thrillers there are many different sub genres but all consist of keeping the audiences suspense. Using elements of different topics or genres in thrillers turns it into a sub genre; which when you think about it must be all thrillers since you always have to have a topic to thrill with whether it be crime, sci-fi etc... Anyway but a simple way of putting this is : Thrillers have sub-genres that link in with different types of films here’s how to identify a couple of them...

Psychological Thriller

Psychological thrillers focus more on the mind, emotions and reactions of the character more than the physical element of what has happened to them. The main character is often forced to deal with a situation they cannot psychologically understand. A good example of this is Abandoned (2010) starring Brittany Murphy, where the hospital are forever trying to convince the main character that her fiance who she claims had an operation
there doesn’t exist and that she is mental, and use as a basis to plot her downfall.

As a result the protagonist in psychological thrillers is often forced to self-examine their mental state as well as have other people examine them or even take advantage of them, putting them through life thrilling situations as they struggle to make sense of their situation. The suspense often comes through this with two or more characters 'preying upon each other’s minds' throughout the film. In the end the protagonist solves their issue and discovering what is a reality and their antagonist’s intentions for their downfall.

Crime Thriller 

 

Crime thrillers are a mix of both thriller and crime films with the suspense and tension being built up and based on and around a criminals crimes. In terms of central characters they can focus on either the criminal(s), the protagonist or both following the crime(s) leading to threatening confrontations, further crimes. The crimes and confrontations often include murder/serial killings, robberies, heists, shootouts, chases and double-crosses(where one opposition is tricked out, ruining their plan). Crime thrillers often conclude with a final confrontation, with the antagonist/criminals downfall, and even in some cases, with the antagonist getting away! E.g. In the 2009 re-make of the thriller The Stepfather directed by Nelson McCormick, about young man's investigation about his mothers fiance who turns out to be a serial killer who specifically pinpoints single mothers and their families. The serial killer gets away after escaping the final confrontation, with the film ending on with on him with a change of appearance luring another single mother into his trap. Unlike mystery films crime thrillers follow action at the present rather than investigating it afterwards and unlike crime films are more fast-paced with thrills, suspense and tension throughout.   

Action thrillers
 Action thrillers have a main protagonist who endures thrills and action to accomplish his objective. It may also be the case where the action is thrilling in a more threatening way and appears to have deeper roots and motives than that of an action film.A perfect example of this is the Dark Knight (2010) which is respected as one of the best action thrillers of all time.

Although these are the main three trypes of thrillers and the ones we considered for our film in order to appeal to our target audience there are also other sub-genres that can be often interlinked with these main three...

Conspiracy and Spy thrilllers can be linked with Crime thrillers.However with Conspiracy thrillers e.g. Alfred Hitchock's The 39 Steps, it starts out as a small affair and unravels into something bigger - a big conspiracy which should be an urgent concern of the government. With Spy thrillers it is based on a spy who may be on a mission to stop a conspiracy or persue paid crime themselves.

Erotic thrillers although highly sexualised and based on erotic content, can be linked to Psychological thrillers as some viewers could argue what the root of the characters highly sexualised nature is...although this is not often shown in erotic thrillers, separating it from the psychological sub-genre as they do not show what has happened psychologically for these things to happen.