Boz Uriel said:What is the difference between a horror film and a terror film?
Boz,
I believe that the generally accepted academic distinctions would be as follows:
Terror = When an individual or small group feel a direct threat to their safety, well being, or life. (e.g.: Cujo terrorized Dee Wallace and her son in the car.)
Horror = A broader sense of doom or dispair. (e.g.: finding a dead body on a dark road would not pose a direct threat to you, but you may feel a sense of dread.)
Schopenhauer School of Horror = When the cause of the horror is something that defies our current understanding of truth/logic (e.g: demonic possession, alien invasion).
Hope that helps!
John