DS: What are the conventions that are commonly used in thrillers?

Common conventions include:

• Shadows/silhouettes often crated with partial obscurity for mystery
• Tense and upbeat music to accompany chases/fights etc.
• Urban areas to connote faster and more dangerous lifestyle
• Antagonist and protagonist
• Equilibrium and deliquilibrium
• Twist at the end to surprise audience
• Femme Fatale for 'hardboiled' hero to chase
• Car chases and gun fights

Example of thriller with these conventions - 

Inception (Nolan, 2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VXkUzf1et4