What Are The Characteristics Of A Thriller?

Location in a thriller is a vital aspect as it coincides with the twisting plot. Without the typical haunted house, or smoke-filled forest, thriller's therefore would not contain the same dramatic atmosphere.

Thrillers are known for having unraveling plots and complex mind games, hence audiences being so gripped and tense. Plots also tend to be addictive, making the target audience excited to see what happens next.
Many stereotypes are seen in thriller characters, such as: the girl tends to be slightly idiotic, the heroic protagonist tends to be played by a white English or American male, or the sidekick is commonly black.

As well as character stereotypes, thriller's in general tend to have certain expectations. For example, audiences expect to be 'thrilled' and have a large number of violent scenes to watch.