NC The Thriller Genre

'Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds. The legal thriller, spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, police thriller, romantic thriller, historical thriller, political thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller, military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job' - (James Patterson, June 2006, "Introduction," Thriller)

Suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are commonly seen in the thriller genre, everything in a thriller film is there to increase the thrill of the film. The film 'Phone Booth' is a widely known thriller film, even though the film isn't as fast paced and as action filled as say the thriller film 'Transporter' the film still is able to deliver a thrill through the situation of the man, non diegetic music is also notably important in developing tension and therefore a thrill.

The theme of a 'monster' character has been increasingly used in thriller films, the 'monster' doesnt have to be a werewolf or an alien it could be a serial killer or even a chemical agent.