Thriller Films | Film & Music | Classifieds.co.uk :

This sector doesn't just appeal to the general public -- it is also a popular genre for DVD and video collectors. The popularity of this genre means that there is usually a good choice when it comes to buying thriller DVDs and videos, both new and second hand.

An overview of popular types of thriller DVDs and videos
The thriller shelf of any DVD or video store is always well stocked. Some people like to watch thriller films -- both old and new -- and others like to watch TV series when they come out on DVD or video. Both general consumers and collectors alike can buy thrillers for various reasons. Some like to buy thrillers starring certain actors or directed by certain directors. Some people like to buy thrillers of a specific type such as spy, political or general action thrillers. Some simply want to watch a certain thriller film or series again because they enjoyed it so much first time round. And, others like to collect thrillers in a series or in a certain foreign language (luckily for most of us these generally come with subtitles!).

There is such a lot of choice in this genre because thrillers have been popular for decades. Popular films and TV series here aren't just from today's TV or cinema releases, there are also a lot of classic thrillers out there on both DVD and video for real buffs.

Primary considerations when buying thriller DVDs and videos
If you are looking to buy thrillers on DVD then check the region rating before you make any purchase. The UK and Europe, for example, are designated as Region 2 so you may find that other Regions won't work on your DVD player. Region 1 for example is American and Region 1 DVDs may not work on some UK DVD players. With the costs of DVD players falling constantly, upgrading your player isn't the end of the world and some players can have their software upgraded (at a modest charge) by a local retailer to make them multi-region. There's nothing worse than sitting down to enjoy a good thriller on DVD only to discover that your DVD player won't play it!

It's also important to check the age rating of any thriller if you intend to watch it with your children. Most thrillers are not designed to be watched by young kids so do bear this in mind -- you don't want to scare them or expose them to too much bad language, sex and violence!

It's also important to make sure that you only buy original copies of thrillers on DVD or video -- the pirate market here is huge and it can sometimes be hard to tell if you are getting an original copy especially if buying over the Internet. Bear in mind that pirated copies are illegal and they will almost certainly not give you such good picture or audio quality as an authentic copy.

Considerations when buying thriller DVDs and videos second hand
Buying second hand thriller DVDs and videos in a shop is a fairly easy task. You can see the actual product before you buy it and make an assessment as to whether it is worth the money. But, more and more people now buy second hand DVDs and videos online which can make the process a little harder as you cannot actually see what you are buying until you've paid for it.

Bear in mind that most people selling DVDs or videos will do so in good faith and for a good reason -- it never does any harm to ask them why they are selling to see if they have a valid reason. A lot of people nowadays, for example, will sell off their videos because they are transferring everything to DVD. Some people sell titles on to make some extra cash or to free up space in their homes. And, of course, sometimes people simply sell because they don't like the DVD or video after all or because it was an unwanted or duplicate gift.

Do ask questions about quality here as you cannot see the item for yourself. Ask direct questions and look for direct answers -- if the seller is evasive then you should probably think twice about making a purchase. So, ask if the DVD or video plays OK, ask if there are scratches or damage and ask if it comes with all the original inserts and so on. If you think that there is a chance that the seller may be selling a pirated copy then ask them directly -- remember that an answer that a DVD is on an original disc doesn't mean that it not pirated but could simply mean that the seller illegally recorded the film or series on to a new disc! If in doubt ask to see a digital photo of the DVD/video and case -- with modern thrillers look for holograms on the case as these are often a sign that it will be an original copy.

It is especially important to check this if you are a collector. Pirated DVDs and videos will almost certainly be worthless in this instance. This is especially true if you are paying a bit more for a rare or deleted film or TV series.