A reviewer on Cinematical was making the case that Black Swan is really a horror movie. Whatever it is, I really want to see it.
Wait, it's not supposed to be? From the previews I assumed it was a mash-up of Single White Female and Wolf.
No studying? Damn! Next thing they'll tell me is I'll have to eat jelly doughnuts or sleep with a supermodel to get things done around here. I ask you, how much can one man give?
Xander ,'Conversations with Dead People'
Buffista Movies 7: Brides for 7 Samurai
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Matt the Bruins fan - Dec 20, 2010 11:03:12 am PST #12519 of 30000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Cashmere - Dec 20, 2010 12:52:41 pm PST #12520 of 30000
Now tagless for your comfort.
I'm not sure what Aronofsky would have to do to get me to watch another one of his movies. I do think of him as a horror film maker.
I think The Wrestler is fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of his, but that film--the combination of the script and the cast hit a chord.
Amy - Dec 20, 2010 1:05:58 pm PST #12521 of 30000
Because books.
Wait, it's not supposed to be? From the previews I assumed it was a mash-up of Single White Female and Wolf.
I have no idea. It looked like psychological thriller/horror to me, but the guy writing for Cinematical was making a (sort of labored) case for horror not getting critical nods unless they were packaged as not!horror.
The trailers I've seen sure don't make it seem like a feel-good dance movie, I'll say that.
Jessica - Dec 20, 2010 1:11:37 pm PST #12522 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I'd have to know exactly how this guy is defining horror - it's definitely shot and edited like a horror film, but nowhere is it implied that anything supernatural is going on. (There are scenes which are clearly taking place only in Natalie Portman's head, but the question is never is-she-crazy-or-not, just a matter of degree.)
§ ita § - Dec 20, 2010 1:14:47 pm PST #12523 of 30000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Horror doesn't have to be supernatural, does it? I thought it just had to be very scary. Like, say, Misery.
Amy - Dec 20, 2010 1:20:43 pm PST #12524 of 30000
Because books.
Yeah, horror doesn't have to be supernatural at all. I think at least one definition is that the goal of the picture has to be to scare the audience, or to create an atmosphere of fear and uneasiness.
DawnK - Dec 20, 2010 2:26:01 pm PST #12525 of 30000
giraffe mode
Like Jess said, it didn't come across as horror to me, more thriller. Although the entire audience had that relief-laugh at the end and a sort of "all righty then" vibe. First words out of my mouth were "man, that was seriously f'ed up".
Volans - Dec 20, 2010 2:26:10 pm PST #12526 of 30000
move out and draw fire
Would Jacob's Ladder count as horror? Because that seems similar to Black Swan.
Not that I've seen Black Swan; when I found out it wasn't supernatural (how much was I hoping for a were-swan?), I wasn't interested. I haven't liked anything Aronofsky's done, and in my head he's Darren from Slings and Arrows.
the fact that Tighten [I love that it wasn't spelled "Titan"]
I had seen the name before seeing the movie, and hadn't realized "Tighten" was a pun on Titan. But then I LOL'ed when the guy wrote his name and misspelled it, because that was so him.
beekaytee - Dec 20, 2010 2:54:57 pm PST #12527 of 30000
Compassionately intolerant
Would Jacob's Ladder count as horror?
It certainly horrified me. Honestly, Jacob's Ladder disturbed me deeply, and for a very long time. Even now, certain images flash into my mind and cause me to shudder.
Matt the Bruins fan - Dec 20, 2010 3:16:45 pm PST #12528 of 30000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Yeah, I think you can have horror with perfectly natural but scary things going on. I don't know that there's a real difference definition-wise between terror and horror, but I tend to associate the latter with shock and denial/rejection on the part of the protagonist or victims, whereas the former is fright paired with acceptance of the scary circumstances.