What is the Difference Between Thriller and Horror?

The main difference between thriller and horror films lies in their objectives and the way they elicit emotions from the audience. Here are the key differences between the two genres:

1. Purpose: Horror films aim to frighten and horrify the audience, tapping into their unconscious fears and often featuring supernatural or paranormal elements. Thrillers, on the other hand, focus on building anticipation and suspense, usually with a more realistic and grounded setting.
2. Tone: Thrillers are generally fast-paced and involve intricate plots, twists, and turns, while horror films are more focused on creating an atmosphere of fear and dread.
3. Violence and Gore: Thrillers tend to rely less on blood and gore than horror movies, instead concentrating on the story and/or characters. Horror films often include more graphic violence and gore as part of their frightening atmosphere.
4. Point of View: Horror films typically focus on the point-of-view of the victim, generating feelings of dread and fear, while thrillers often emphasize the pursuit of the villain or the investigation of a crime, making them more suspenseful.
5. Supernatural Elements: Horror films often feature supernatural or paranormal elements, such as ghosts, monsters, or supernatural occurrences that are far out of the realm of realism. Thrillers usually have a more realistic and grounded setting, without relying on supernatural elements.

It's worth noting that some films blur the lines between horror and thriller, combining elements of both genres to create a unique cinematic experience.

Comparative Table: Thriller vs Horror

The difference between thriller and horror can be summarized as follows:

It's worth noting that there can be some overlap between the two genres, as some thrillers can be quite scary and some horror films can have thrilling elements. However, the main focus of each genre is what sets them apart. Thrillers are suspense-oriented films, while horror films aim to scare the audience.