The term "genre" functions as the head noun within the phrase. The proper noun "Patriots Day" and the noun "film" act as noun adjuncts, modifying "genre" to specify a particular category. Collectively, the entire term operates as a compound noun phrase that seeks to classify the specific motion picture.
The 2016 motion picture directed by Peter Berg is a hybrid of several categories. It is primarily an action thriller, employing suspense and high-stakes sequences to depict the Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent city-wide manhunt. Concurrently, it functions as a docudrama or historical drama by meticulously reconstructing real-world events, incorporating archival footage, and focusing on the factual accounts of survivors, law enforcement officials, and other individuals involved in the incident.
The most precise classification is therefore a historical thriller. This subgenre is significant as it distinguishes the work from purely fictional thrillers by signaling its basis in factual events. This classification requires the narrative to balance dramatic storytelling conventions with a responsibility to the historical record, shaping both audience expectations and the criteria for its critical evaluation.
