What is "Horror"?

[jonnothin]

Some of my favorite horror movies on Earth weren't rated R or rated at all!

Creature From The Black Lagoon
Gargoyles
Poltergeist
Horror Hotel
The Black Cat
Black Sabbath
Jaws
The Haunting
...there's tons more but I don't want to hog up space

 

[Kholi]

i agree kholi, that's what i was trying to get at before with the scholar definition i gave earlier in the thread. In order for it to be considered horror, the vehicle that is horrifying can't be explained by science today.

Yeah, I know. I totally get what you're saying. I know a few people that actually know that same definition and they totally agree.

Horror is supernatural, for the most part.

There are two killers that are just alike, two different movies--

In Scream, you've got the mask faced killer running about with a knife ripping people knew bowel holes. This killer gets beaten and bruised, but dies when shot (depends on which scream, by the way.) That's thriller.

In Halloween, Micheal Meyers wasn't having any of that sheise. Shot, stabbed, impaled on a white picket fence (remember that one?)... this guy was a supernatural being that couldn't be killed by conventional means. That's horror.

I totally get it. I raelly didn't want anyone to have to explain the theory behind their horror when it came time for judging-- which means I was just trying to help.

But hey, whoever wants to enter whatever, go for it. My [pending] entry probably won't be considered horror because it's so PG-13 that it's... well.. PG.

 

[DarkMatter]

Well, I just finished Irreversible. And I have to say, I am disturbed, not as much as Tetsuo, but still, it left a mark. The murder scene was definitely brutal but ridiculously realistic, i wonder what the effect was that they used, cause it worked.

But since this is a horror thread, I'm going to say that it is NOT a horror movie. Though horrifying, it doesn't contain anything would qualify as a monster, just humans doing very awful things. If i had to put a genre label on it, I'd say it's an "art-thriller".

I also wonder what kind of crazy rig they had to do all that camerawork.

What did you think when that guy got his head bashed in with the fire extinguisher all one shot. I veven watched it in slo-mo how the hell did they do that.

 

[Ben Sliker]

i missed zombiefest, so i'm going a pretty safe route and shooting up the undead!

But ah, to each his own, there are some that just won't be convinced of a definition for a genre! (That is, unless Jarred comes in and throws the size 20 boot down on a definition for us.)

 

[DarkMatter]

But hey, whoever wants to enter whatever, go for it. My [pending] entry probably won't be considered horror because it's so PG-13 that it's... well.. PG.

Lol, i'm shooting for G, I want to terrorize children. jk.

 

[Ben Sliker]

What did you think when that guy got his head bashed in with the fire extinguisher all one shot. I veven watched it in slo-mo how the hell did they do that.

i had heard about that before i watched it, i still couldn't believe my eyes, if i hadn't been prepared for that, i might have vomited. Probably just some very gifted visual effects artists and some filters to cover it up, it is also a very dark scene, which gives a little more room for error in that area.

 

[Matt Sconce]

The thread was meant to give people a clear idea of what kind of entries constitute as horror.

I agree, and I believe people are confused and telling people many different things. Everyone seems to have their own definition of horror, and is setting what entries are "Horror" based on mere opinions and likes and dislikes. Horror has a section at the local blockbuster. Go there and see what is classified as horror.

This is the Wikipedia definition of a horror film we should be basing our judgements on. It is Universal and makes this truly an open genre horror competition instead of a narrow, biased one.

"A horror film is dominated by elements of horror. This cinematic genre incorporates a number of sub-genres and repeated themes, including but not limited to slashers, vampires, zombies, demonic possession and Satanism, alien mind control, evil children, cannibalism, werewolves, animals attacking humans, inanimate objects brought to life by bane enchantment or twisted science, and haunted houses..."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film

Halloween is supernatural. A lot more supernatural than SAW would be.

Saw is horror. Horror does not have to have a supernatural element. To say that it does is to create your own definition of it. Again, to prove my point, you need only look to the nearest video store. Not all Horror movies are supernatiural.

The dictionary defines horror is defined as the following.
hor·ror
n.

1. An intense, painful feeling of repugnance and fear. See Synonyms at fear.
2. Intense dislike; abhorrence.
3. A cause of horror.

A film needs cause the above to be horror.

Msconce... your Hero fest entry wasn't even considered a hero entry by a few people, because it had a ninja in it and you had to defend it, right? Why suffer the same fate because it's not so clear what the judges consider horror and what isn't.

So wait...just because the person saving lives is a ninja who gets his power from a supernatural headband...instead of a guy with a supernatural bone hand...he is not a hero??? I think that is absolutely ridiculous.

About the hero thing.

This is the definition from the dictionary on Hero...
he·ro
n. pl. he·roes

1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

My movie had a hero in it. If people are taking a different view than the established definition, that is their choice, but they have to understand they are being subjective based on what they want the definition to be, not on what it really is. If people did not see a guy who( saves someone from ninjas, fights the attackers (risking his own life), and has supernatural power from headband he puts on) as a hero... it because they are creating their own definition of it.

If the judges cannot see the vision I have, then I will not win. I am basing my definition of horror on the established, written definitions used in the industry.
Come on people! This will be more fun if we open up our minds and create tons of different takes on horror. Why pigeon hole the genre?

 

[Kholi]

Sorry if I struck a nerve. I wasn't saying your Ninja movie didn't qualify last go around, just saying that it probably wasn't fun defending your reasonings because people don't consider Ninjas (for the most part) as Super Heroes.

Enter what you want. As long as you make something, I think that's the most important part.

Hell, yoou're fifty steps ahead of me... but this time I'll try even harder to kick one out.

 

[DarkMatter]

The Gate rocks!

I used to own Trilogy of Terror on VHS when I was a kid. I vaguely remember the killer lawn gnome. Also there's a boob in the movie which is way cool for an eight year old boy.

If anyone here has seen Irreversible and Man Bites Dog and enjoyed them, then I recommend The Untold Story, Baise Moi, Guinea Pig, Salo, and Nekromantik as a few more films to check out. You won't find these titles at your neighborhood Blockbuster though!

EDIT: Holy crap! I can't believe I forgot to suggest Cannibal Holocaust!!! It is THE scariest and disturbing film you're likely to ever witness. Trust me.

I'll have to check those out.

 

[DarkMatter]

spooky123, found all but Salo, does it run under a translated name? Also Kichiku Dai Enkai, is a really disturbing film, and just plain hard to watch.

 

[Matt Sconce]

Sorry if I struck a nerve. I wasn't saying your Ninja movie didn't qualify last go around, just saying that it probably wasn't fun defending your reasonings because people don't consider Ninjas (for the most part) as Super Heroes.

Enter what you want. As long as you make something, I think that's the most important part.

Hell, yoou're fifty steps ahead of me... but this time I'll try even harder to kick one out.

The thing was...it didn't matter whether it was a ninja with a supernatural headband, a grandmother with a supernatural purse, or a child with supernatural baseball bat. The character was saving a life in a supernaturally based way. He was a legitimate hero. It is frustrating when people make a decision to judge someone down based on their own subjective definitions.

But this thread is about Horror fest. I believe it is very important to have a locked down definition this time. I really like Wikipedia's definition in my earlier post because it leaves us tons of room for creative interpretation. Will we have a locked down definition soon?

 

[Kholi]

The thing was...it didn't matter whether it was a ninja with a supernatural headband, a grandmother with a supernatural purse, or a child with supernatural baseball bat. The character was saving a life in a supernaturally based way. He was a legitimate hero. It is frustrating when people make a decision to judge someone down based on their own subjective definitions.

But this thread is about Horror fest. I believe it is very important to have a locked down definition this time. I really like Wikipedia's definition in my earlier post because it leaves us tons of room for crwative interpretation. Will we have a locked down definition soon?

Don't go giving away my ideas! Child with a supernatural baseball bat... grrr. I wrote something like that back in middle school that I really still want to do.

Anyway--

That was my point. I don't want anyone to have to defend their own definition of horror in their threads. It happened more so with Hero Fest this go around...

I'm sure, however, that Land, Hudson, and Green will tell us to do what we feel and let the judges decide; so go for it.

 

[Matt Sconce]

Don't go giving away my ideas! Child with a supernatural baseball bat... grrr. I wrote something like that back in middle school that I really still want to do.

Haha! I would pay to see that!

 

[DarkMatter]

Don't go giving away my ideas! Child with a supernatural baseball bat... grrr. I wrote something like that back in middle school that I really still want to do.

It was called Paranoia Agent. Sorry, someone named Satoshi Kon beat you to it. (At least the story is similar).

 

[Ben Sliker]

I agree, and I believe people are confused and telling people many different things. Everyone seems to have their own definition of horror, and is setting what entries are "Horror" based on mere opinions and likes and dislikes. Horror has a section at the local blockbuster. Go there and see what is classified as horror.

Saw is horror. Horror does not have to have a supernatural element. To say that it does is to create your own definition of it. Again, to prove my point, you need only look to the nearest video store. Not all Horror movies are supernatiural.

msconce, i think that you are looking to inappropriate sources to find a definition of horror. First, I would have failed a paper in college if i turned it in with wikipedia as a source, because anyone can edit it, it has no expertise on any subject. I agree with you that the films must cause the dictionary definition from horror, but the source must be a monster of some sort to qualify as horror. And lastly, i think it a poor choice to trust the morons at blockbuster to define horror for you. I would suggest reading the scholarly articles i noted in my original post on this thread.

And saw is a thriller.

 

[Matthew B. Moore]

I agree with the idea that one shouldn't have to defend the genre once the project is complete. I'm glad this thread exhists.
One shouldn't have to defend their work, but at the same time there is a responcibility to the artist to deliver.
Hairs can be split right down to the atoms. I'm not going to give a damn how the genre is represented as long as it IS represented.

Saw can be a thriller, or a horror flick. You can have one or the other, but you can also have both. Saw is too graphic in the traditional horror sense not to be considered at least half horror.

Fear is thrilling. Fear is horrific. It's how you use it that sets them apart or pulls them together.

People, please, stop digging so deep. Use all of the wonderful elelements, but for the love of all that is holy, use them to make HORROR.

In judging, if the film is just masterbation, if will fall to the side. The films that will be considered realistically are the ones who filled the requirement. The one and only requirement.

If the film didn't scare me, or attempt to scare me, I will look for one that did.

Then, of course, one could say, "maybe it's not your type of horror film". To that I would have to say, "then you should have made it for a wider mass of people." That is, if you want to win.

 

[Noah]

I just want to be completly clear since I am making this film mainly for this contest and don't want to go ahead with something that is not even eligable. Clearly it has to be horrifying to the audience and instill fear in some way, but is it necessary to have a supernatural aspect?

 

[Matthew B. Moore]

Supernatural helps, but it's not the law. I've seen some good old life stuff that was plenty horrific enough. It didn't need any help from the other side.

 

[Noah]

Sounds good, thanks for clearing this up.

 

[Matt Sconce]

And saw is a thriller.

Saw includes horrific scenes and has a Monster in it (he is jigsaw). He is not supernatural, but that is not a requirement for horror. I agree with Matthew that Different people consider it to be a Thriller and others a Horror. What I am trying to say is if someone makes a movie like Saw for this contest, it would be a shame if people score it down because they do not believe it is horror. It "could" be classified as a horror movie.

msconce, i think that you are looking to inappropriate sources to find a definition of horror. First, I would have failed a paper in college if i turned it in with wikipedia as a source, because anyone can edit it, it has no expertise on any subject.

Of course wikipedia is not a scholarly article! I use it as a definition of horror that allows for creative freedom in this contest, not to write a thesis. I think the contest will be better for all if people are free to think outside the box of "gory monster flick".

And lastly, i think it a poor choice to trust the morons at blockbuster to define horror for you. I would suggest reading the scholarly articles i noted in my original post on this thread.

It is sad you broadly insult people who work at blockbuster. I do not, but I would never presume to classify them is morons simply for not sharing my beliefs in the categories movies should fall under.

I agree with you that the films must cause the dictionary definition from horror,

Then use the dictionary to define it.

but the source must be a monster of some sort to qualify as horror.

You say that it must include a monster to be considered horror, but I say that people can be the scariest monsters of them all.