The thriller is both a novel and a movie genre with different, partially overlapping subgenres. Thriller is characteristic of tension that is present not only in short passages, but almost throughout the course of action. Short-term, or representatives like Matthew Reilly even almost continuous, fast-paced action but may also occur. Frequently encountered are spacious suspense, cliffhanger, etc.

  The thriller is very similar to the mystery-genre or the detective novel, but they differ in their story and tension-curves. In a thriller movie the hero often have to fight against moral, psychological or physical violence caused by his opponent. The highlight of the movie is mostly the very close but definitive victory over the evil, with the hero who often rescues hisself and sometimes others. Thrillers which are influenced by tragedies