Is Oldboy horror?

[TerrorScribe]

Just because you get scared at certain scenes doesn't necessarily mean that the film should be horror. I believe a horror movie is where the film bases it's actions on the notion of scaring you, where as thrillers are a cross between horror and drama. Seven, Silence of the Lambs, Oldboy and American Psycho are all non-horror movies but they are classified as horror.

Since you are far more the movie scholar than I am, let me put this question to you: How far apart are Se7en and the original Saw from each other?

[Dr. Briggs]

I haven't watched Oldboy yet, but I pretty much go with Freddy's Fingers' definition (though I think American Psycho is more horror-comedy than thriller-comedy for the tone it maintains throughout the film). I honestly don't find Saw to be horror either (it just fits into horror better than other genres due to certain elements, such as the focus on sets, a few jump moments, and the somewhat slasher-villain-esque Jigsaw).

[FreddysFingers]

Since you are far more the movie scholar than I am, let me put this question to you: How far apart are Se7en and the original Saw from each other?

Se7en doesn't rely on shock value whereas Saw does. Se7en relies on story and characters and saw relies on those elements as well as frights. If I remember correctly, there were some disturbing images in Se7en but nothing truly frightened me (Save for the skinny freak in the bed) but Saw had some truly frightening moments.

[TerrorScribe]

So, neither Oldboy OR Saw is horror? what makes them NOT horror?

This is getting interesting.

[mytee]

They are BOTH horror-designed to make you feel horrified
I hate the term "thriller" or "crime drama" or the worst one from the 90's
"supernatural thriller"
Those are politically correct terms for horror--and there is nothing PC about me--I consider them horror movies if you want to use those pc terms go for it -a rose by any other name smells as sweet

[NicoleMayCanaday]

What about hybrids? Films can be horror-comedy or horror-psycho thriller.
Why does it have to be black & white? How about in the middle?

[mytee]

Im not sure why it really it has be "classified" as anything just call it horror and be done for heaven's sakes

[NicoleMayCanaday]

Because art is subjective. What might be plain horror to you, may be more of a comedy-horror to another.

[mytee]

Well choke me in the shallow water before I get too deep!! LOL!! That is kind of what I said earlier-horror is definable by the person experiencing it

[NicoleMayCanaday]

If the movie makes your kittah do this....
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpjBmMRGc9o&feature=youtube_gdata_player"]YouTube - gatto divertente[/ame]
It's horror.

[mytee]

Girl the the scariest cat Ive ever scene

[NicoleMayCanaday]

I can not stop laughing.

[mytee]

:angelpray:

[FreddysFingers]

So, neither Oldboy OR Saw is horror? what makes them NOT horror?

This is getting interesting.

No, no. Saw IS a horror because it relies on shock value and jump scares. Oldboy isn't because it's more of a revenge/drama than horror. If I remember, there wasn't one point in Oldboy where I jumped out of my seat or covered my eyes because it was scary.

They are BOTH horror-designed to make you feel horrified
I hate the term "thriller" or "crime drama" or the worst one from the 90's
"supernatural thriller"
Those are politically correct terms for horror--and there is nothing PC about me--I consider them horror movies if you want to use those pc terms go for it -a rose by any other name smells as sweet

Nik is right. Art is very subjective and I don't agree with people who just think black and white. (Mostly those who think Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland are horror). Thriller may have been used to be PC but since then, it has turned into a genre of itself. Thriller is pretty much a stark cross between horror (mainly slasher) with crime or drama but with a heavy emphasis on the crime aspect.

As I did my research on Oldboy, most websites and reviews have labeled the film a 'mystery' and 'drama.'

[FreddysFingers]

Thinking black and white means that Serenity is a sci-fi movie. Thinking 'hybrid' means that Serenity is a space-western. I think it's a space-western more than anything else.

[mytee]

No, no. Saw IS a horror because it relies on shock value and jump scares. Oldboy isn't because it's more of a revenge/drama than horror. If I remember, there wasn't one point in Oldboy where I jumped out of my seat or covered my eyes because it was scary.



Nik is right. Art is very subjective and I don't agree with people who just think black and white. (Mostly those who think Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland are horror). Thriller may have been used to be PC but since then, it has turned into a genre of itself. Thriller is pretty much a stark cross between horror (mainly slasher) with crime or drama but with a heavy emphasis on the crime aspect.

As I did my research on Oldboy, most websites and reviews have labeled the film a 'mystery' and 'drama.'

I dont consider Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland horror but I felt horrified during both Saw and Oldboy--so to me I consider it horror. Im not into Sci-fi so I wouldnt have anything to say about Serenity

[FreddysFingers]

Curious, what scared you in Oldboy?

[mytee]

Scared isnt the right word-the same thing as in Marathon Man-now I know that one would not be classified as horror but for me the Nazi dentist drilling Dustin Hoffman's teeth as well as the scene in Oldboy with the teeth pulling -
is horrific to me due to a tooth crumbling as it was being worked on and the drill penetrating the pulp of my tooth. Nothing can ever compare to that kind of pain. So for me, that's horror.

[FreddysFingers]

Fair enough. That's sadistic horror but that's really only one scene. Even if there are a few more, does Oldboy build the movie around making your feel horrified because of these scenes or does it build itself around Oh Dae-Su's character?

It's like Scareface. That bathroom chainsaw scene was terrifying, but that one scene doesn't qualify Scareface as a horror movie.

[mytee]

Okay you really do have a good point but the idea of keeping someone locked in a room for 15 years torturing him then setting him up to sleep with his own daughter is pretty horrific I think-I mean if you heard about something like that actually happening -say someone escaped from something like that-would you not be horrified?