What is a Thriller?

A thriller is defined as a novel, play or movie with an exciting plot that uses suspense, tension and excitement as main elements within the composure. A thriller is often simliar to a puzzle, that your mind has to put together and once you think you've figured it out, the picture on the puzzle changes. Thrillers keep you guessing by being fast paised and many incorperate plot twists and red hearings whilst also including clues that are often difficult to pick up on that enable one to piece together the story.

The main objective of a thriller is to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and captivated.The tension is used to create a stressful climax. It does this by providing a sudden rush of emotions, excitement and adrenaline that create a drive for the narrative. This narrative is usually based around a quest that the main character has to solve and is often portrayed in the view of one specific person rather than a variety.

Thriller films have been used as a genre since the 20's where Alfred Hitchcock began to exploit the idea with his films; The Lodger and Blackmail, which were silent films. Over the decades up until the present, a massive development in technology has allowed peoples thriller ideas to be created in film more easily and much more affectively. This has meant that plots have become more complex and intricate. Some of the most famous thrillers include: