This paper is the result of an exploration into the contemporary psychothriller and its matrix genre, the thriller. It was inspired by the lack of critical attention devoted to this type of film, so popular with the audience yet apparently a thorn in the critics' side. The main aim of this paper is therefore to contribute a small piece of criticism to fill this noticeable gap in film genre theory. It begins with a brief overview of contemporary film genre theory, which provides the background for a vindication of the thriller as a genre and specifically of the psychothriller as a borderline sub-generic category borrowing features from both the thriller and the horror film. **********
