Thriller Sub Genre Conventions.

Thriller Sub Genres involve their own unique conventions depending on the sub genre chosen. For example the conventions are different between psychological thrillers and crime thrillers or action thrillers and a conspiracy thriller.

Crime thriller:

A crime thriller has a mixture of both crime films and thrillers that conveys a suspenseful portrayal of a successful or failed crime. These thrillers often focus on the criminals rather than the policemen. Crime thrillers usually reinforce action over psychological aspects. A few main ways to represent these actions are by including robberies, chases, murders or hostages. A crime thriller is usually fast paced with quick cuts and camera angle changes; it usually contains a soundtrack that gives tension and worry. The lighting used will contain the use of shadows and mirrors to create a tense portrayal to the audience. Some examples include Untraceable, The Killing and Seven.

Supernatural thriller:

In which the film brings in an otherworldly element mixed with tension, suspense and plot twists. Sometimes the hero or villain has some psychic ability. In which the conflict is between main characters, usually one of which has supernatural powers. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with basic horror movie elements such as ghosts, secret powers and psychic phenomenon. Supernatural thrillers combine these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally avoid many graphic elements of the horror film in favour of sustaining a mood of threat, tension and unpredictability. Supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malicious paranormal force or trapped in a situation clearly influenced or controlled by another worldly entity beyond their comprehension. For example the movies Fallen, What Lies Beneath and The Skeleton Key.