The IMDb classifies The Sixth Sense as thriller/drama/horror. I'm interested in the thriller and horror aspects of the film and want to explain the difference between the two in simplified terms to my students here in Japan. I'm having a little trouble so would appreciate any insights from listmembers. For those who have the time or inclination, below is the first draft of something I've written for the students. Any thoughts and corrections would also be much appreciated. Thanks a lot JD Kyoto The difference between horrors and thrillers is not always clear. Both intend to make the viewer anxious and scared. Horror films emphasise things beyond understanding, such as ghosts, vampires, madness, wild animals or aliens. Thrillers create a world where no one can be trusted, as when an isolated individual is pursued for some reason. The viewer takes the part of the individual and feels worried about whether he or she will survive. The Sixth Sense has elements of both the horror film and the thriller film. On the one hand, it is a tale of ghosts, with dead people covered in blood and vomiting, as in a nightmare. On the other hand, the film also shows a situation in which a young boy can no longer trust the world around him. As the danger to him grows, the viewer becomes anxious about his survival. Thrillers and horror films employ two main techniques: shock and suspense. Music and sound effects are important to both. Shocks are quick and temporary: they make the heart beat faster but the effect does not last long. Suspense on the other hand can last for the whole film. It depends on the viewer knowing something that the heroes are not aware of - we worry on their behalf. Hitchcock explained this by saying that if a bomb goes off, that's a surprise. But if the viewer knows there is a ticking bomb under the table and the hero does not, that's suspense. Why do people enjoy watching films that make them scared? An obvious answer is because this excites people and makes them feel more alive. Think of jet-coasters where people can enjoy the thrill of being scared while knowing that they will survive and be safe. This appeals to young people in particular, who want to test how much fear and repulsion they can tolerate. People are also curious about the dark side of the mind - 'the beast' inside the human being. What are the most terrible things that we can imagine happening? This kind of question allows for the exploration of fears in the safety of the cinema - fear of going mad; fear of death; fear of illness; fear of unknown creatures; fear of supernatural; fear of powerlessness; fear of scientific experiments going wrong. Films allow us to face these fears and be comforted by the fact that we can survive them. ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html