History of the Thriller Genre Thrillers are the genre that most people relate to Suspense—a pleasant intrigue and excitement about what may happen next, combined with dread, expectation, and occasionally even fear— all of these factors are what defines thrillers. These emotions emerge throughout a story because of unforeseen circumstances that force the audience to consider the ramifications of characters’ choices. A memorable climax is reached as the tense emotions intensify. For ages, the thriller genre has kept viewers on edge with tension and excitement through crime and suspense, plots and retaliation. Many people associate thrillers with Alfred Hitchcock and his films, such as Psycho (1960) and Frenzy (1972), which feature plots involving murder, embezzlement, false accusations, and other incidents. But the genre of thrillers existed long before these films were made. This first recognized thriller is the classic novel of The Count of Monte Cristo which tells the...