What is a thriller film?

A thriller film is one which creates a sense of suspense, excitement and tension for the audience. There are many themes of thriller films which recur throughout the genre.
In a thriller film, there is usually some form of crime or illegal event which the entire film centres around.

Themes
Themes of a thriller film could include terrorism, murder, stalking and situations where the main characters lives are put in danger. The key difference between thriller films and horror films is the distinct lack of gore and heavy violence. Thrillers generally have more of a plot and lower film ratings, meaning that they are suitable for a wider range of audiences.

Characters
There is a wide variety of characters in thriller films which makes it harder for their market to become saturated unlike genres such as action, which can become more cliche over time. Among the typical characters are femme fatales, criminals, assassins, stalkers, police, and those involved in twisted relationships. Thriller characters, unlike those in horror, usually have detailed backgrounds and these are likely to be included in the plot.

Semiotics
There is iconography which we generally associate with thriller films, such as weapons, barred windows, flickering lights, shadows and the colour red. These are all icons associated with danger and can be construed as a warning to the protagonist when he or she comes across them prior to the disequilibrium.

Setting
Settings of a thriller film are usually abandoned buildings, such as warehouses or factories. They are settings which are not usually frequented, like old buildings or alleyways. These sort of settings are chosen because they are ones which our instincts would tell us are dangerous, so it is surprising for the audience that the protagonist will put themselves into this situation.