Delineating between Thriller and Horror Genres: A Comparative Analysis
Hankerin'for a dash of dread at the movies? Eh, you're probably gorging yourself on suspense and chills, sittin' there with your buttered popcorn, expectin' a scare. But how to tell a thriller apart from a horror flick? Fret not, ol' sport, and prepare to dive into the spoopy world of screams and scares.
Savorin' the Distinct Flavas of Horror and Thriller
Horror and thriller films, just like novels, comics, and TV shows, invade every corner of the entertainment realm. From the books you read to the games you play, you can't escape 'em! Like drama and comedy, these genres got their own quirks – but these aren't shy and retiring wallflowers.
As story expert Robert McKee notes in Story, "each genre has its unique conventions, but some are relatively uncomplicated and flexible." This flexibility can make it tricky for movie-watchers and creators alike to pin down defining characteristics. How many times have you blended the two in your mind, keepin' you on the edge of your seat as terror and suspense writhe together?
So, what exactly separates a horror movie from a thriller? Is it really as easy as one wants to scare the bejesus out of ya, and the other just wants to freak ya out and leave ya hanging? Let's dive deeper and find out!
Horror, a Cauldron of Shivers and Shocks
Brigid Cherry, in her book Horror, outlines the many faces of terror. Basically, the goal is to unsettle and disturb viewers in any ol' way that tickles the filmmaker's fancy. If we look straight-up, we usually associate the genre with monsters, ghosts, and all sorts of unspeakable horrors lurkin' in the shadows. But horror goes much deeper than that. There's always a psychological undertone lurkin' around, makin' one character or another go all sorts of crazy.
McKee breaks horror down into three sub-genres: the uncanny, supernatural, and super-uncanny. The uncanny involves creatures from outer space or science, while the supernatural deals with spirits and other spirits of the spiritual realms. The super-uncanny keeps you guessin',swinging between the two possibilities. Everything stays plenty confusing, which just adds to the fun, right?
Thriller, a Rush of Excitement and Anxiety
A thriller is all about speed – it wants to excite, to close your eyes and hold your breath. As expert Kate Watson puts it, "Thrillers are typically connected with a visceral response and frisson." This means the response could be positive or negative – it means they want to take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions!
Charles Harris defines the thriller as more of a style, kickin' the tension up a notch. These bits 'o drama usually take place in cities, and they're all about wit and fast-paced action. Thrillers'll often use fear as the backbone for the plot, but make the protagonist vulnerable. If there's no possibility of failure, it ain't a thriller – it's just an action movie like Indiana Jones or James Bond.
Common Ground
Both thriller and horror films are designed to give you the heebie-jeebies, but they execute in different ways. There are crossover sub-genres like psychological horror and psychological thriller, and supernatural horror and supernatural thriller. These combos mix and match traits, blurrin' the line between the two.
So, next time you're watchin' a movie that's got you grippin' the edge of your seat and freakin' out, pay attention to the tropes and conventions. You'll quickly figure out whether it's a slow-burn horror or a tense thriller that's got ya. Whatever the case, just sit back, enjoy the ride, and scare yourself silly!
Developing a script for movies-and-tv that intertwines elements of horror and thriller genres can be an engrossing endeavor. Screenwriting such suspenseful narratives requires understanding the unique characteristics of each genre.
Horror stories aim to unsettle viewers, creating a feeling of dread through various tactics, such as supernatural or uncanny entities, while thrillers tend to focus on creating a sense of exhilaration and anxiety, commonly setting the action in city environments and relying on wit and fast-paced action. However, sub-genres like psychological horror and psychological thriller often merge the two, making it challenging to distinguish between them at times.
