A history of the thriller genre

Thriller is a genre which is used in film and television to create suspense, excitement and tension. Thriller is often mistaken for horror sometimes because of the atmosphere of tension its causes for the audience, but they are very different. Horror is very graphic and the audience will feel fear and disgust, were as the thriller genre causes more tension and suspense. Thrillers usually create feelings of intense excitement, suspense, mystery, anticipation, uncertainty, anxiety, tension and has a plot climax.

According to International Thriller writers thriller is characterised by "the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace".

Some of the greatest thriller film directors are Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, these are the men who have influenced the standard of thriller films. Through the years thrillers have become more graphic to provide better thrills and to keep audiences guessing as story lines have become predictable.