2. Definitions
Thriller: Horror:
Thriller films: “Thriller Film is a genre that revolves
around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers
is 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.”
http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/thriller
Horror films: “Horror film is a genre that aims to create a
sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience.
These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the
audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and
nightmares. Horror films usually center on the arrival of
an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include
mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and
zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large
amount of violence and gore into the plot.”
http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/horror
3. Character Types
Thriller:
There is often a brave male as a
protagonist who seeks to make
everything right again. In every sub-
genre of thriller the film will always
emphasis the danger the protagonist
is in. Whereas, the antagonist seeks
revenge for a past event and the
audience will uncover their secret
identity throughout the film.
Other characters include criminals,
stalkers, assassins, innocent victims
(often on the run), menaced women,
psychotic individuals, spree killers,
sociopaths, agents, terrorists, cops and
escaped cons, private eyes, people
involved in twisted relationships, world-
weary men and women, psycho-fiends,
and more.
Horror:
The main protagonist is often the
victim/hero of the film. However, the
villain is often a monster, vampire,
mutated freak, alien, serial killer or
ghosts (and many more).
Other characters might be creepy
children, the stupid/immoral teenagers
who always get killed, cops that could be
good or bad, zombies, demons,
psychopath, stalker, weirdo, werewolf,
cheerleader etc.
One difference
which is obvious
is that in thrillers
there’s a lot less
of supernatural
beings, thriller
films are a lot
more realistic in
that sense.
4. Themes
Thriller:
The themes in thriller films can include terrorism, political conspiracy, pursuit, or romantic
triangles leading to murder. Plots of thrillers involve characters which come into conflict
with each other or with outside forces. Common methods and themes in crime and action
thrillers are mainly ransoms, captivities, heists, revenge, kidnappings. In mystery thrillers
there are usually investigations and the whodunit technique. Common elements in
dramatic and psychological thrillers include plot twists, psychology, obsession and mind
games. Common in horror thrillers are serial killers, stalking, deathtraps and horror-of-
personality.
Horror:
Themes in horror films are used to thrill, scare and entertain the audience. Horror films
centre around the “dark side of life”; the strange, forbidden and alarming events. Some
common themes in horror films are; revenge, haunting, gore, serial killers, demons and
exorcisms, religious beliefs, ghosts, insanity, suicide, science gone bad, childhood issues,
beyond death, nightmares, good verses evil etc.
A difference
in themes
would have to
be the
supernatural
side again
because the
majority of
horror films
are centred
around
hauntings of
ghosts and
demons.
Another
difference is
that in horror
there’s a lot of
gore whereas
in thrillers
there’s hardly
any.
5. Iconography
Thriller:
Iconography means symbolic representations, which often has a conventional meaning attached to an image or
object. Iconography adds to the mise en scene of a film and is important as it helps the audience construct
certain messages. To start off, shadows help create the mystery for the audience that is common in thrillers. It
builds up fear for the audience also because it shows the audience that the protagonist is being watched by
someone. They often induce thoughts of fear and darkness for the audience as well as giving them clues and
they ask questions out of suspense. The shadow is usually the antagonist. Another iconography in thrillers are
confined spaces, this makes the audience feel as though they are trapped too. When we see a scene like this we
usually hear heavy breathing and panting from the protagonist which emphasizes that they are trapped and
cannot escape. Woods often appear in thrillers, it creates a sense of being lost and then the protagonist has to
escape. Woods also bring in the theme of isolation, which creates a sense of vulnerability. Street lamps are used
to emphasise that the protagonist is alone because they’re in darkness apart from the street lamp. This creates
fear for the audience because they don’t know what’s underlying in the darkness and then a tense atmosphere is
created. All of these things that are iconography are meant to hold your interest and keep you on the edge of
your seat whereas horror films are there to scare you and it’s more about violence than the actual plot.
6. Iconography
Horror:
Iconography in horror films is huge element, in my opinion it’s what makes horror films. The use of the colours
red and black in horror films link to danger and blood, the colours are usually seen on film posters. Props such as
knives, chainsaws, firearms, machetes, costumes etc are seen in the majority of horror films, its what usually
defines a certain character (mainly the villain) and by using these type of props it helps the audience to further
identify that it’s a horror film. Additionally, there are other props used like masks, icons of the supernatural,
religious icons etc. There are also typical locations that are featured in horror films like abandoned places, dark
alleys, forests etc these all are there to help connate extreme fear for the audience. Which is one main difference
between horror and thriller, the majority of horror films are there to scare the audience but thriller films want the
audience to constantly be on the edge of their seat. Lighting is essential to many horror films because low key
lighting creates dark shadows and a sense of fear.
