The document discusses whether the film "SAW" is better classified as a thriller or a horror genre film. It provides definitions for each genre, with thrillers focusing on suspense, mystery and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, while horrors aim to frighten and invoke primal fears through disturbing imagery and shocks. While "SAW" was marketed as a horror, it incorporates elements of both genres by using graphic horror imagery but also relying on suspense and mysterious plots typical of thrillers. The document argues "SAW" created a unique hybrid style that blended conventions from crime fiction, horror and thriller in a new way.

1. TEACHER NOTES
IS ‘SAW’ A THRILLER OR A HORROR?
THRILLER - If the genre is to be defined strictly, a genuine thriller is a film that
relentlessly pursues a single-minded goal - to provide thrills and keep the
audience cliff-hanging at the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a
climax. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a
menacing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which
escape seems impossible. Life itself is threatened, usually because the
principal character is unsuspecting or unknowingly involved in a dangerous or
potentially deadly situation. Plots of thrillers involve characters which come
into conflict with each other or with outside forces - the menace is sometimes
abstract or shadowy.
HORROR - Horror Films are unsettling films designed to frighten and panic,
cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a
terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same
time in a cathartic experience. Horror films effectively centre on the dark side
of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events. They deal with our
most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares, our vulnerability, our
alienation, our revulsions, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and
dismemberment, loss of identity, or fear of sexuality.
So which definition fits ‘SAW’? Or can elements of each be applied to ‘SAW’?
Horror plays on fears, uses gore, frequent images of death/macabre
Thrillers rely on suspense and mystery and the setting up of enigmas, there is
strong focus on time (or rather not having enough time/running out of time)
If you were to use ‘SAW’ as a text to explain how a film adheres to and
extends genre conventions you would have to state how it uses genre
elements to match horror conventions and then how it extends these
conventions by also using the genre elements in a way conventional to thriller.
Remember that this film isn’t an ordinary hybrid. The unique mixture of crime
fiction, horror and thriller allowed James Wan to create something that was
totally new and fresh, like nothing that horror fans had seen before.
‘SAW’ was clearly marketed as a horror film (remember the posters?) to grab
the attention of that particular audience, but once in the film theatre it became
very clear that ‘saw’ was no ordinary horror film.
The main pleasures that the audience get from a horror film are those of fear
which is communicated through the mise-en-scene, choice of settings,
iconography and so on. ‘SAW’ manages to adhere to the horror conventions,
first through the marketing campaign and also through the themes of death
put across to the audience through images of macabre which can be
compared to those seen in the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’