THRILLERand a little HORROR

Horror Definition

Horror films are unsettling movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, disgust and horror from viewers

They startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural

Overlap with fantasy, science fiction and thriller genres.

Horror is based on two fears:

Isolation You are alone, or in the middle of

nowhere. Thus, no one can help you. The Uncanny

You are at your home and the horror is also there. Your home is unsafe, or unhomely.

Modern Horror

No longer classic Good vs. Evil (monster)

More confusing and morally ambiguous

Unhappy endings…realism “A horror movie doesn't just have to

be cheap fun, it can also make a serious point.” Zinoman

THRILLER Common Elements Revolves around anticipation and

suspense Aim to keep the audience alert and on

the edge of their seats The protagonist in these films is set

against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery

Emphasizes the danger that the protagonist faces

Presents a highly stressful climax

Subgenres

Action Thriller An Action Thriller uses physical

action to create suspense within the film: chases, fights, battles, and races

Examples: Die Hard, Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Bourne Identity

Subgenres

Crime Thriller Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that

incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot: serial killers, murderers, robberies, manhunts

Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge

Subgenres

Science Fiction Thriller Science Fiction Thriller incorporates

hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film: heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, advanced technology, “future-gone-bad”, alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, super-diseases

Examples: Aliens, Inception, District 9

Subgenres

Religious Thriller Religious Thriller film incorporates

religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects: exorcisms, demon possession, church cover-ups

Examples: The Devil’s Advocate, The Ninth Gate, The Da Vinci Code

Subgenres: Psychological Thriller

In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film

The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind, rather than from a physical threat

The protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation

Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre

Emphasizes the psychology of its characters and their unstable emotional states

 Complex and tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters

Can also cause discomfort in audiences by privileging them with information that they wish to share with the characters

Often presents a plots twist Examples: Memento, Rear Window, Taxi

Driver