The Conventions of the Thriller Genre

Thrillers often create feelings such as exhilaration, suspense, anticipation, nervousness, and (of course) a thrill. It creates these feelings through their use of low-key lighting, enhanced diegetic sound and expression of emotion through tense music. These things are what thrillers are known for. Often these films are based around revenge, or someone seeking to restore equilibrium. Common thrillers can include such themes as terrorism, crime, and sometimes psychological horror, although there is almost always have a rational explanation rather than supernatural. They often aim to create suspense and jeopardy, as well as placing violence centrally in the plot.