MovieChat Forums > El orfanato (2008) Discussion > To all the naysayers---How is this NOT a...

To all the naysayers---How is this NOT a horror?? SPOILERS!!!

posted 13 years ago by dawgsdoc
7 replies | jump to latest

First,
let's look at the definition of horror...

this is from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
(noun)painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay
(adj) calculated to inspire feelings of dread or horror

this is from the Oxford Dictionary:
(noun)an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust
a literary or film genre concerned with arousing feelings of horror

Now,

I am not a mother (I plan to be someday soon), but I can only imagine that realizing I inadvertently locked my son in a basement which resulted in his falling to his death would be one of the WORST horrors I could ever experience.

When it was revealed to the audience just what exactly had happened to Simon, and as I sat watching the mother as she slowly realized what she had done, I have to admit that feelings of horror were definitely aroused!! There certainly was painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay in my house while viewing.

This is scarier to me than any poltergeist could ever be!!!

[–] dawgsdoc 13 years ago

All that being said, I think under genre it says Drama/Mystery/Thriller anyway. :)

I still stay strong to it being a horror film in my book.

[–] holographica 13 years ago

Drama/mystery/thriller sounds perfect to me.

Horror-- possibly for some people. Then again, I feel like horror and thriller overlap for most of the "scary" movies I watch. Don't know what's considered a genuine horror film.

[–] kdp90125 12 years ago

for me its NOT horror

its got lots of elements of horror (spooky looking house, kid with a sack on his head, ghosts, a medium...)but they simply dont gel or feel right...the pacing is abysmal for one thing, which leads to NO momentum --- nearly every decent horror movie has a feeling that its out of control or that *beep* is going to happen and its unavoidable - this film has NONE of that...no real jump scares or grisliness...tbh the only thing that made me wince was the fingernail part...
its an enjoyable drama/tragedy but it aint horror

[–] holographica 12 years ago

.no real jump scares or grisliness

Are you kidding?

[–] katchoonis 12 years ago

You have a weird definition of horror.

I need about three fiddy.

[–] alliemack30 9 years ago

I thought this was a very scary movie when I first watched it. When I watch it again, I will likely still be scared and anxious throughout.

However, once you see it through to the conclusion you realize its not really a horror movie--it is (as you said) more of a mystery/thriller. It was only scary and potentially "horror" based on what you are seeing on screen without knowing what the real story is about.

[–] AnelaK 9 years ago

It is definitely a horror story. A real horror story, with supernatural elements mixed in.