OneTusk.com has an interesting essay on genre, specifically the Horror genre and the difference between it and Thrillers. He makes a lot of sense. I don't think I'll be so snobbish as to actually insist on his definitions in casual conversation, but it's good stuff to keep in mind when sitting down to write a horror story:"I realized that what I'd been mistaking for true horror was simply terror. Horror movies should horrify, thrillers thrill and terrify. There's a subtle difference.
Let's get down to brass tacks for a minute. I looked up 'horrify' and got 'To cause feelings of horror.' Great, thanks. But for horror, I got this:
• An intense, painful feeling of repugnance and fear.
• Intense dislike; abhorrence.
Painful repugnance. Abhorrence. That works. Now, if I watch a Friday the 13th flick, I really don't feel that. Why? Because most slasher flicks are simply thrillers. There's seldom anything horrific--at least in a movie--about people being stalked and killed one at a time. But compare the feelings you get from watching a slasher flick to the feeling of watching John Hurt 'hatch' in the middle of Alien. I can't imagine anybody who didn't twist and turn when they watched that scene unfold."
4 comments:
From what I've heard, I'd absolutely agree with you. Same with the Saw movies.
Which is interesting for me, because I think of myself as a horror fan, but I can't bring myself to watch those films. Scenes of TRUE horror or more disturbing than I want to put myself through.
So, by this definition, I'm more a fan of the Thriller. I like spooky and creepy stories, because they're exciting. I'm VERY reluctant to subject myself to intense emotions though.
Make that: "Scenes of TRUE horror ARE more disturbing than I want to put myself through."
Sweet, I'm a horror snob! :)
Thanks for checking out the rant. I actually wouldn't stop anybody mid-stream in a convo and say, "Hold on now--horror or terror?" But I just figure the scenes that really stick with you are the ones that horrified the hell out of you. It's a matter of how sticky you want stuff to be.
Now as to films like HOSTEL--I really can't get into the "Let's strap you down and carve bits off of you" subgenre that seems to have gained some traction recently. That's just me. While I agree that's squirmy/bouncy, a whole movie based around that premise (as the trailer made it out to be, anyway) just doesn't hold any appeal for me. I much prefer the "Hold out hope of escape...CLANG!" variety. Like the original ending of EVENT HORIZON, for example. I mean, when you strap somebody down, I keep thinking, "Well, they wanted a slasher movie but didn't want to go to the trouble of having to run through some woods with the camera on..."
But again, that's me. I think far too much about this stuff. Thanks again.
You're very welcome! Thank YOU for the very useful definition.
I hope I didn't come across like I was suggesting YOU'RE a snob. I was just trying to figure out how I'd put your article to practical use.
Thanks again for the interesting article.
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