Sci Fi vs. Horror - Blu-ray Forum

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 07:47 PM

Was just debating this in another thread... so what's everyone elses opinion... What exactly make a movie a sci-fi movie and what makes it a Horror movie??

Sponge-worthy · 09-23-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacit170

Was just debating this in another thread... so what's everyone elses opinion... What exactly make a movie a sci-fi movie and what makes it a Horror movie??

If the movie holds up a futuristic/speculative setting as a mirror to reflect facets of our current society, it is sci-fi. If a movie attempts to make you crap your pants in adrenalized terror, it is horror.

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan69969

If the movie holds up a futuristic/speculative setting as a mirror to reflect facets of our current society, it is sci-fi. If a movie attempts to make you crap your pants in adrenalized terror, it is horror.

so... Alien is a Horror movie???

kpkelley · 09-23-2009, 07:53 PM

As my father always said,

"Location, location, location!"

It's probably more accurate to describe movies with genres and sub-genres. For instance, The Host is a horror film. Alien is a Sci-fi Horror film, since it's in space it's first and foremost a sci-fi movie, but the plot is a straightforward creature feature horror.

CMM · 09-23-2009, 07:53 PM

Sci-fis don't try and scare the viewer...

Elandyll · 09-23-2009, 07:53 PM

Why does it have to be "or" ?

Sponge-worthy · 09-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacit170

so... Alien is a Horror movie???

Yes. Just because a movie takes place in the future or has some cool technology in it doesn't necessarily make it sci-fi.

CZAR · 09-23-2009, 07:58 PM

Again its a thinline because alot of films can be considered sci-fi/horror!! I just make a judgment call and leave it at that! Also see what most retailers or places list it also!! There are ofcourse some movies that are strictly sci-fi like I'Robot and then strictly horror like Friday The 13th!! but also u have movies like The Mist which is sci-fi/horror so u figure it out!! My main argument in the other thread is that Godzilla is not a horror film!! Got Em!!

SDon1969 · 09-23-2009, 08:00 PM

Event Horizon is another example of a film that bridges the horror and sci-fi genres.

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Why does it have to be "or" ?

it doesnt... just curious how people view certain movies... like critters... aliens really from space... but i think of it as a horror movie...

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CZAR

Again its a thinline because alot of films can be considered sci-fi/horror!! I just make a judgment call and leave it at that! Also see what most retailers or places list it also!! There are ofcourse some movies that are strictly sci-fi like I'Robot and then strictly horror like Friday The 13th!! but also u have movies like The Mist which is sci-fi/horror so u figure it out!! My main argument in the other thread is that Godzilla is not a horror film!! Got Em!!

yea... but with Godzilla... i totally agree with you that its not a horror movie... but having a hard time really explaining why that is... what makes godzilla different that alien?? i really dont know but i dont consider it horror still

CZAR · 09-23-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacit170

yea... but with Godzilla... i totally agree with you that its not a horror movie... but having a hard time really explaining why that is... what makes godzilla different that alien?? i really dont know but i dont consider it horror still

I consider them both sci-fi but my reason I guess if I would give Alien sc-fi/horror tag would be cause he is intentionally after u while Godzilla is an oversized creature not necessarily chasing u to kill u specifically!! The Alien is more evil! I dont know if that makes sense but I think u get my drift!! Got Em!!

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CZAR

I consider them both sci-fi but my reason I guess if I would give Alien sc-fi/horror tag would be cause he is intentionally after u while Godzilla is an oversized creature not necessarily chasing u to kill u specifically!! The Alien is more evil! I dont know if that makes sense but I think u get my drift!! Got Em!!

ha, that makes me feel better! yea i def get what youre saying... makes sense... godzilla is like an action movie... just wrecking havoc.... there it is.. Godzilla is neither a horror or sci fi... its an Action flick lol

deckardp · 09-23-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacit170

ha, that makes me feel better! yea i def get what youre saying... makes sense... godzilla is like an action movie... just wrecking havoc.... there it is.. Godzilla is neither a horror or sci fi... its an Action flick lol

Sci-fi Action. Or did I just confuse it more?

Sponge-worthy · 09-23-2009, 08:20 PM

There'a a lot of debate about just how to define sci-fi. Everything from, 'Sci-fi is anything that is published as sci-fi' or the porn-like 'I know it when I see it' all the way up to very, I think, overwrought philosophical clashes of just what nuances of scientific/futuristic elements qualify as sci-fi.

I always get back to Brian Aldiss' idea that "sci-fi holds a mirror to this age." Meaning, a filmmaker can fill the frame with as much science and futuristic stuff as he wants, but unless there's a genuine, apt, human idea in the narrative, then it isn't sci-fi.

As for Alien, you could say it is sci-fi, technically, as the themes of: an

[Show spoiler]

are explored. Some of those ideas carry on into the subsequent films also. But since Alien is mostly about the creature slaughtering everyone, I think the movie is definitely a horror first, with some sci-fi elements sprinkled in--mostly to make the characters sympathetic, I think.

SquidPuppet · 09-23-2009, 08:26 PM

Thanks for starting it.

I believe that sci-fi MUST have ours, or others

science or technology as part of the story. The result may or may not be scary. Even if the result is scary, its still, first and foremost a sci-fi film. Examples of scary would be Matrix, Planet of the apes, i Robot, The Day the Earth stood Still, or even War of the Worlds. Just because a sci-fi film is horrifying, doesnt make it a horror film IMHO. Some sci-fi films are not scary at all.

Horror films do not require a basis in science/technology gone wrong. Horror from monsters, ghosts, crazed people, animals etc fit the bill.

SquidPuppet · 09-23-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan69969

Yes. Just because a movie takes place in the future or has some cool technology in it doesn't necessarily make it sci-fi.

I agree because it is NOT the science or technology that has created the drama, its simply a monster.

Lacit170 · 09-23-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Thanks for starting it.

I believe that sci-fi MUST have ours, or others

science or technology as part of the story. The result may or may not be scary. Even if the result is scary, its still, first and foremost a sci-fi film. Examples of scary would be Matrix, Planet of the apes, i Robot, The Day the Earth stood Still, or even War of the Worlds. Just because a sci-fi film is horrifying, doesnt make it a horror film IMHO. Some sci-fi films are not scary at all.

Horror films do not require a basis in science/technology gone wrong. Horror from monsters, ghosts, crazed people, animals etc fit the bill.

Donnie Darko - Sci Fi?
Butterfly Effect - Sci Fi?

and we already decided that Godzilla was an sci fi action flick lol

surfdude12 · 09-23-2009, 08:31 PM

oh and its worth mentioning: sci-fi doesn't require aliens, space-travel or spaceships. case in point: A Clockwork Orange.

surfdude12 · 09-23-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacit170

Donnie Darko - Sci Fi?
Butterfly Effect - Sci Fi?

and we already decided that Godzilla was an sci fi action flick lol

i'd say no on butterfly: Psycho Thriller. there isn't any specific futurisitic science/technology discussed. sure, there is his journal and time travel, so one could argue time travel, but merely reading his journal as the future technology doesn't seem strong enough for me to label it sci-fi.

09-23-2009, 07:47 PM	#1
Lacit170 Blu-ray Count Member since:Jun 2008 Location:CT 4K collection:99 Blu-ray collection:726 DVD collection:261 Trading Score:1	Sci Fi vs. Horror Was just debating this in another thread... so what's everyone elses opinion... What exactly make a movie a sci-fi movie and what makes it a Horror movie??

09-23-2009, 08:26 PM	#16
SquidPuppet Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:277 Blu-ray reviews:27	What a lame thread Thanks for starting it. I believe that sci-fi MUST have ours, or others science or technology as part of the story. The result may or may not be scary. Even if the result is scary, its still, first and foremost a sci-fi film. Examples of scary would be Matrix, Planet of the apes, i Robot, The Day the Earth stood Still, or even War of the Worlds. Just because a sci-fi film is horrifying, doesnt make it a horror film IMHO. Some sci-fi films are not scary at all. Horror films do not require a basis in science/technology gone wrong. Horror from monsters, ghosts, crazed people, animals etc fit the bill.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Help me identify this horror/sci-fi movie	Movies	Ultimate1	7	09-06-2009 08:17 PM
What the heck happened to Sci-Fi Horror flicks?	General Chat	Grumpz	0	05-27-2009 01:57 AM
Sci-Fi/Horror Games	PS3	Easywolf32	5	01-05-2009 09:56 PM
50's & 60's Horror and Sci-Fi Wants on BD?	Blu-ray Movies - North America	Marcusarilius	31	02-07-2008 08:57 PM

09-23-2009, 07:53 PM	#4
kpkelley Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Framingham, MA 4K collection:385 Blu-ray collection:2478 Digital collection:113 Blu-ray reviews: 152	As my father always said, "Location, location, location!" It's probably more accurate to describe movies with genres and sub-genres. For instance, The Host is a horror film. Alien is a Sci-fi Horror film, since it's in space it's first and foremost a sci-fi movie, but the plot is a straightforward creature feature horror.

09-23-2009, 07:53 PM	#5
CMM Banned Member since:Dec 2008 Location:I have to return some videotapes Blu-ray collection:42	Sci-fis don't try and scare the viewer...

09-23-2009, 07:53 PM	#6
Elandyll Blu-ray Knight Member since:Aug 2007 Location:MD Blu-ray collection:188 Trading Score:1	Why does it have to be "or" ?

09-23-2009, 07:58 PM	#8
CZAR Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Camp Crystal lake 4K collection:72 Blu-ray collection:312 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:75	Again its a thinline because alot of films can be considered sci-fi/horror!! I just make a judgment call and leave it at that! Also see what most retailers or places list it also!! There are ofcourse some movies that are strictly sci-fi like I'Robot and then strictly horror like Friday The 13th!! but also u have movies like The Mist which is sci-fi/horror so u figure it out!! My main argument in the other thread is that Godzilla is not a horror film!! Got Em!!

09-23-2009, 08:00 PM	#9
SDon1969 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Massachusetts Home Theater Gallery:32 Blu-ray collection:745 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	Event Horizon is another example of a film that bridges the horror and sci-fi genres.

09-23-2009, 08:20 PM	#15
Sponge-worthy Blu-ray Guru Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Southwest, USA PSN: Sponge-worthy Blu-ray collection:43	There'a a lot of debate about just how to define sci-fi. Everything from, 'Sci-fi is anything that is published as sci-fi' or the porn-like 'I know it when I see it' all the way up to very, I think, overwrought philosophical clashes of just what nuances of scientific/futuristic elements qualify as sci-fi. I always get back to Brian Aldiss' idea that "sci-fi holds a mirror to this age." Meaning, a filmmaker can fill the frame with as much science and futuristic stuff as he wants, but unless there's a genuine, apt, human idea in the narrative, then it isn't sci-fi. As for Alien, you could say it is sci-fi, technically, as the themes of: an [Show spoiler] are explored. Some of those ideas carry on into the subsequent films also. But since Alien is mostly about the creature slaughtering everyone, I think the movie is definitely a horror first, with some sci-fi elements sprinkled in--mostly to make the characters sympathetic, I think.

09-23-2009, 08:31 PM	#19
surfdude12 Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:343 Blu-ray reviews:112 Trading Score:1	oh and its worth mentioning: sci-fi doesn't require aliens, space-travel or spaceships. case in point: A Clockwork Orange.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals