Poetical Poltergeist
Precise and cold hearted
To me Horror is when the movie is trying to terrify you. Jaws does that, Texas Chainsaw does that...silence of the lambs...borderline.
So what exactly constitutes a Movie as "Horror?" Let's debate and define.
- Thread starter kp404
- Start date
I think the trouble with creating a strict definition of horror is that horror (probably more than any other film genre) has a myriad of subgenres that can be associated with it. From "mystery-horror" to "suspense-horror" to "comedy-horror" to "fantasy-horror" to "action-horror" and on and on.
The horror genre is a very large umbrella that covers a lot of varying degrees of films beneath it.
The horror genre is a very large umbrella that covers a lot of varying degrees of films beneath it.
NZA
LOL
keep it simple. what is the movie trying to do?
drama makes you cry
comedy makes you laugh
horror makes you scream
porn makes you cum
these movies dont always actually do that, but they are made in a manner that attempts to play on the emotions that are associated with those physiological reactions.
these emotional goals mean that there are only so many ways to accomplish a reaction in the audience, so tropes and conventions have developed. you know these tropes, so you are usually able to know exactly what genre of film you are watching without having to google it. if you get a horror movie vibe while watching a movie, it is probably a horror movie. this may be because the camera appears to be stalking the characters instead of just shooting the action, it may be because there is a man in a clown mask stabbing people, or it may be the fact that the man in the clown mask is being controlled by satan. you dont need all 3 of these to make it horror, you just need enough to be manipulative
our emotions may need a period of build up, a climax, and a refractory period. the build up of horror will probably be stalking and lore. the stalking builds tension, the lore lets you know why you should be worried. the climax is either a kill or some kind of intense confrontation that poses a threat, whether it be existential or psychological. after this, the movie may go into more lore or some other non-horror element to let you calm down before it starts ratcheting up the horror. this horror movie refractory period is a good time to include a scene of co-eds dancing in their underwear while sharing dialog that may further develop their characters. this is a break from the killing, but once the filmaker feels you are ready to be recharged for some more horror, that scene of them dancing turns into a shot of the killer watching them-you are now back to the build up.
if you notice a movie attempting to manipulate you in this way, it is probably horror. you can replace the clown faced killer with a leatherfaced chainsaw wielding maniac, and you can replace his satanic overlord with a decrepit cannibalistic grandpa and you still have a horror movie.
drama makes you cry
comedy makes you laugh
horror makes you scream
porn makes you cum
these movies dont always actually do that, but they are made in a manner that attempts to play on the emotions that are associated with those physiological reactions.
these emotional goals mean that there are only so many ways to accomplish a reaction in the audience, so tropes and conventions have developed. you know these tropes, so you are usually able to know exactly what genre of film you are watching without having to google it. if you get a horror movie vibe while watching a movie, it is probably a horror movie. this may be because the camera appears to be stalking the characters instead of just shooting the action, it may be because there is a man in a clown mask stabbing people, or it may be the fact that the man in the clown mask is being controlled by satan. you dont need all 3 of these to make it horror, you just need enough to be manipulative
our emotions may need a period of build up, a climax, and a refractory period. the build up of horror will probably be stalking and lore. the stalking builds tension, the lore lets you know why you should be worried. the climax is either a kill or some kind of intense confrontation that poses a threat, whether it be existential or psychological. after this, the movie may go into more lore or some other non-horror element to let you calm down before it starts ratcheting up the horror. this horror movie refractory period is a good time to include a scene of co-eds dancing in their underwear while sharing dialog that may further develop their characters. this is a break from the killing, but once the filmaker feels you are ready to be recharged for some more horror, that scene of them dancing turns into a shot of the killer watching them-you are now back to the build up.
if you notice a movie attempting to manipulate you in this way, it is probably horror. you can replace the clown faced killer with a leatherfaced chainsaw wielding maniac, and you can replace his satanic overlord with a decrepit cannibalistic grandpa and you still have a horror movie.
IT and the Exorcist are the pinnacle of horror shyt in my opinion
them shyts SCARED ME
Yes! SCARED MY MUTHAfukkIN ASS!!!
them shyts SCARED ME
Yes! SCARED MY MUTHAfukkIN ASS!!!
It's also very subjective which makes it harder to nail a definition down
If its comedy horror (Shaun of the Dead), then it is horror. If its action horror (predator), then its horror. If its fantasy horror (the company of wolves) then it is horror.
HipHopStan
Top 113 Poster
jaws isnt scary at all. why is it being mentioned in a horror thread?
After JAWS came out, beach attendance went down from 1975 (the year it came out) to 1980.
A lot of the famous beach resorts in America (particularly on the East Coast) were hit hard financially. I'm not saying that Jaws had everything to do with it, but I'd imagine it didn't help. I know a lot of older folks who were afraid to go in the water for a long time after it came out. That's power.
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But when it is "suspense-horror" this entire thread gets confused as fukk.
Bruce LeRoy
All Star
Nope... not at all.. Henry: Portrait of Serial Killer is based around a real person (Henry Lee Lucas) but it's definitely a horror movie... It's the tone and set up that define what genre a movie belongs in IMO...
After JAWS came out, beach attendance went down from 1975 (the year it came out) to 1980.
I still don't fukk with beaches lol
Also, a real classic Horror leaves a lasting macabre impression
:isthatall: how do you mean breh
EarlyMaridia
All Star
-Rapist dolphins
-Killer sharks
-Poisonous fish
-Jellyfish that can kill you by accident
-Cthulu looking ass creatures swimming in the depths
The ocean is lowkey the scariest horror setting.
