Supernatural or science-fiction

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Hello newgroupI'm sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for the matter, otherwise i'm happy for suggestions to more appropriate ng's.I'm caught up in a discussion about the movie "Dawn of the dead", and whether this movie is in the "Supernatural" category or more the Science Fiction category (or perhaps even a different category than these two).Admitted, at first the category "supernatural" comes to mind, since this is a movie that seems to deal with "zombie" like people. However, as explained in the movie by a military offiicer, the people are infected with some sort of scientifically manufactured virus, manufactured by the army.I've only seen the first 10 minutes of the movie so far, but as in the movie "28 days later", explainations are given for the fact thatDoesn't this rather qualify the movie to fit the cat. of sci-fi rather than supernatural?Thnx for any comments! Much appreciated.RegardsJeroen

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[nq:1]Hello newgroup I'm sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for the matter, otherwise i'm happy for suggestions to more ... this rather qualify the movie to fit the cat. of sci-fi rather than supernatural? Thnx for any comments! Much appreciated.[/nq]
I've looked at the official website to read a brief outline of the story. http://www.dawnofthedeadmovie.net/

"Whatever happened, however it started, overnight, the world has become a living nightmare of surreal proportions, with the planet's population hit by an inxeplicable, unfathomable and lethal plague - and the dead aren't staying dead. Corpses yearning for their next meal are now stalking the few reamining survivors, driven by their insatiable hunger to feed upon the flesh of the living."
The origin of the plague "a scientifically manufactured virus, manufactured by the army" falls into the science fiction category. However that is just a method of creating the background to the story.
However, the real basis of the story is that dead people don't stay dead but can walk around and attack and eat the living. This is supernatural rather than science fiction.
However, I, personally, would not categorise it as either science fiction or supernatural - I would call it a horror movie.

Peter Duncanson
UK
(posting from u.c.l.e)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I would call it a horror movie.[/nq]
At first, I thought you were being too kind but on second thoughts yes, it is a horror movie. For the director, producer and cast, anyway.

Alan LeHun

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for the matter,[/nq]
No problem, but it probably is the wrong place.
[nq:1]otherwise i'm happy for suggestions to more appropriate ng's.[/nq]
Within the uk.* hierarchy, uk.media.films and uk.people.sf-fans are likely groups.

John Hall
"I don't even butter my bread; I consider that cooking." Katherine Cebrian

Usenet · Answer

Thanks all!
Our (me and my discussion partner) conclusion is also that it mainly belongs to the zombie / horror category. This has always been the right category for this kind of movie ever since the audience was introduced to this theme.

However, the discussion was mainly about whether the movie is rather science fiction than supernatural, or visa versa.
Opinions are devided (looking at reactions from more sources), however, there is a tendency towards science fiction, rather than supernatural.

I think what makes a substantial difference in the discussion, is the way the movies are presented to us THESE days, in comparsion to the old days. I think the audience doesn't simply want to swallow the fact that "dead" (because they are not always ***** declared dead before standing up again) people simply come to be alive again. We want an explaination for the cause, the consequences and the behaviours in the movie.
We are not explained in detail of course, what causes everything etc. but one has to admit that there is no "supernatural" or "supreme being" intervention etc. brought forward as a cause for the dead to arise again.

I can't help reminding myself of Stephen King's "The Stand", where actually a combination of two is occurring. The release of a virus wiping out nearly the complete population being science fiction, the devine inverventions of *** and his helper mother Abigail vs. the Devil and his accomplish Randall Flag (naturally being the supernatural aspect of the movie).

Well.. enough I guess

I'd be interested in any thoughts from all of you, but we can also just end this thread here

Regards
Jeroen

Supernatural or science-fiction

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