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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/28116
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Putting elements of one genre into a work that is another genre is not going to confuse your readers. The real genre is what constitutes the internal conflict faced by the protagonist.

For instance, if the chief problem faced by the protagonist is that he/she is powerless in the face of evil, you have a horror story. The dressing can consist of elements of science fiction (the _Alien_ franchise), ordinary hum-drum life (_Mommie Dearest_), or have supernatural elements (typical horror).

Likewise, if the whole point is that there are men who prefer honor to life, you have a western, whether it's set in outer space (_Firefly_) or the Old West (just about any classic western).

Fantasy and science fiction both have their own unique internal struggles (personal good and evil for fantasy, and social good and evil for science fiction). Both tales are usually dressed up with characteristic elements, but in the case of _Star Wars_, the tale is about the impact of personal good and evil, so even though it is packed with the trappings of science fiction, at its heart it's a fantasy story.

Naturally, there are a lot of stories whose internal struggles are a blend of the distinct genres; _1984_ is both horror and science fiction.

So identify the key internal conflict in the story—start over if it doesn't have one!—and then add the dressing you want.

Original score: 5