What is a Thriller?

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television that includes numerous and often overlapping sub genres. Thrillers are fast paced with frequent action and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more powerful and better equipped villains. 

Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is a villain driven plot, whereby he presents obstacles the hero must overcome. The genre is flexible and can engage the audience through a dramatic rendering of psychological, social and political tensions. Hitchcock said thrillers allow the audience to "put their toe in the cold water of fear to see what its like".


Most thrillers have a MacGuffin. The term 'MacGuffin' was popularised by Alfred Hithcock. It is something in a film that is used to drive the story of the film, yet whatever the MacGuffin is isnt actually important to the audience.