Thriller Sub-Genres and Hybrids

 Sub-Genres and Hybrids

• Action thriller: This type of thriller often features a race against time and a fight between a protagonist and an obvious antagonist. An example of an action thriller would be 'Die Hard'. 

• Conspiracy thriller: This type of thriller involves a protagonist trying to uncover a hidden secret. An example of a conspiracy thriller is the 'Bourne trilogy'.

• Crime thriller: A crime thriller focuses on a specific crime or a crime-gone-wrong. The main characters are cops and criminals. An example of a crime thriller would be Quentin Tarantino’s 'Reservoir Dogs'.

• Disaster thriller: A disaster thriller is a natural disaster which is usually the threat or a something which cannot be controlled. An example of a disaster thriller would be Guillerman and Allen’s 'The Towering Inferno'.

• Drama thriller: This type of thriller is a hybrid of drama and a thriller. In this type of thriller film slower paced and focusing is usually used for character development and the plot. An example of a drama thriller would be David Fincher’s 'Zodiac'.

• Erotic thriller: An erotic thriller usually mixes a murder plot with a very sexually active partnership between a male and female. An example of an erotic thriller would be Adrian Lyne’s 'Fatal Attraction'.

• Legal thriller: A legal thriller's narrative usually fixates upon attorneys and lawyers trying to solve crimes, which are often adapted from novels. An example of a legal thriller would be Gregory Hoblit’s 'Primal Fear'.

• Political thriller: A political thriller involves a protagonist ensuring the stability of the government they are working for. An example of a political thriller would be Alan Pakula’s 'All the President’s Men'.

• Psychological thriller: A psychological thriller usually involves conflict, which is mental and emotional, rather than physical, between the main characters, until a violent resolution is made. An example of a psychological thriller would be Jonathan Demme’s 'Silence of the Lambs'.
• Techno-thriller: A techno-thriller usually focuses upon military action, in which technology is described in detail. This sub genre usually has elements of science fiction. An example of a techno-thriller would be Steven Spielberg’s 'Jurassic Park'.