Ils (Them) Vs Hatchet : Terror Versus Horror
I just finished watching Ils (Them) and it really made me realize what I like in scary movies. I like Terror movies not Horror movies. Ils had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, it was creepy and didn’t rely on noise increases and gore to simulate scares.
A little while ago I watched Hatchet and I couldn’t help but think of Mike Judge’s Idiocracy. There was nothing scary about Hatchet. Is it a terrible movie, nope but it sure is not scary. It relies on gore and big dumb humour to shock the audience.
These two movies really highlight for me the two types of “scary” movies. The first like Ils are “Terror” movies the second like Hatchet are “Horror”. Both have a place and both can be good. My preference is always going to be for the former. There is just something about sitting alone in a dark room being scared. I don’t get that at all from “Horror” movies. “Horror” movies are great for groups of people to get together to have fun to watch.
I doubt the category “Terror Movies” will ever catch on but from now on I shall be breaking scary movies up into the two different categories.
Oh and by the way if you get a chance check out Ils (Them). The dubbing on the DVD might suck and they don’t provide subtitles for the original French audio but its still a wonderfully scary movie.
Kurt said
October 11 2007 @ 9:19 am
Been meaning to watch Ils for some time now. And I agree with your assessment on Hatchet.
John Allison said
October 11 2007 @ 9:45 am
The first time I watched Hatchet I pretty much hated it. It was just too much of big dumb fun and I really wanted a good scare. When I revisited it a little while later with a friend I enjoyed it more but I took it as a comedy action movie and I was able to enjoy it.
I really hate that “horror” movies are so often not scary.
John Allison said
October 11 2007 @ 9:50 am
Oh and if you decide on purchasing it, I’d go with the UK version of the DVD. The North American one sucks. No subtitles for the Original French Audio and I hated the English Dub.
Of course I should say that I never watch Dubbed movies so perhaps it was actually fine for a Dub.