Target Audiance for Horror Films.

A Horror films target audience is generally those in the age group 15-25. It is mostly aimed at Men as they are more likely to be able to interact with the characters on screen. Women can interact with those on screen as well but they tend to react differently because as Women are ususally seen as victimsin Horror films, and are often killed. The secondary audience is dating couples, as Horrors bring excitement for first date couples.

 

Horrors.

Horror Sub-Genres,

- The Monster Scare.

- Psychological Thriller.

- Slasher.

Split into Sub Genres - Hybrids.

Primary Audience - Male (16 to 24)

15 to 18 Certificates.

Extensive use of Narrative Enigmas - Unanswered Questions.

Slow pace of editing, builds tension, long takes.

Codes and Conventions.

Three act narrative structure.

Predictable Narrative content.

Good vs. Evil.

Use of hand held Cameras.

Extensive use of close ups, Point of view shots, low angle shots.

Normally victims are relatable characters living similar lives to the adverage person.

                               Analysis of Film Openings.

                                      Menace II Society.

Within the first two and a half minutes of the film, conventions of a Crime/Drama are clearly shown, Violence, Theft and Swearing are prominent; as two of the main characters, Caine and Kevin, are involved in a fatal robbery of a Grocery store. From the early stages the audience can easily see the themes of the film beginning to come through, its evident that violence and hatred are going to be the backbone of this movie. Stereotypical views of poverty ridden Black Gangsters are also shown clearly, as the clothes they wear, their hairstyles and the words they use in everyday conversation allow the viewer to come to conclusion as to what types of lifestyles these individuals live.

 The denotations shown in the beginning of Menace II Society are Black Americas carrying Weapons, which instantly brings up the thoughts of Gangs. Another denotation of the first scene would be the costumes that Caine and Kevin are wearing, as these allow connotations that also relate to Gangs, and poor Americans.

In my opinion a good movie opening should get the viewer intrigued, forcing the viewer into wondering what the outcome will be, it should also introduce some of the Main Characters, which this opening does. The first scene also uses a range of appropriate shot types which allow the reader to imagine that they were there in the store, as the murders took place.

The opening scene has many connotations such as Gangs members in the poor, Ghettos of America, also known as the Projects, which are mentioned in the movie by numerous characters. Set in South Central Los Angeles, from my own knowledge i know that LA had some of the most Poverty ridden neighbourhoods in America during the 1990's.