US actor, Ben, having blown top, strangles her heartlessly in suspense film? (8)

I believe the answer is:

thriller

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'suspense film?' is the definition.
(I know that thriller film can be written as thriller)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thriller that I've seen before include "best-selling album" , "Exciting novel or film" , "suspenseful book?" , "Very exciting contest" , "Suspenseful adventure story" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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