AGE: Horror audience research
A horror films target audience is generally those in age group 15-25. This is because during the developing stages of their lives they want to experiment with emotion and try new experiences. Horror movies are able to give a thrill that a younger audience usually craves, this is because they seek for adrenaline rushes. Also young audience are less susceptible to being put off the film by scenes such as violent and death. Unlike the older audience who may feel negative towards the film. GENDER: Horror films are mostly aimed at the male audience, as they are more likely to be able to interact with the characters on screen. Horror films are initially attractive to boys as they seek a thrill, and they enjoy the conventions of violence within a horror film. The stereotypical opinion that males may be more inclined to watch horror movies than males may be due to human biology as males have hormones such as testosterone that is known to increase anger levels. Therefore, males may wish to view thrilling horrors to fulfil this innate anger. Women can interact with those on screen to, but they would tend to react differently. Females tend to prefer lighter forms of entertainment, such as a comedy or romance. An extract from the UKFC website suggests that this has changed, since figures show that there is an increase in female viewers of horrors and they have now exceeded the attendance figures of men. This could be due to fact society is changing and now women are seen as much stronger and independent, due to more equal rights being available to us women. However, having a stereotypical view we can say that women tend to be more vulnerable to horror films and are more likely to be scared easily, as they don't desire the thrill as much as men do. Women can usually relate to horror film more efficiently if the leading role is a women as they can connect more to their emotions and fears.
CLASS: The social class that tend to watch horror movies are the working class community. This is as they can gain/experience a level of thrill and excitement at a cheap price. The higher class usually don't connect with horror movies due to the higher level of satisfaction middle class individuals seek when watching a film. If they do watch horror movies they usually resort to a sub genre such as romance or comedy.
GROUPS OF AUDIENCES: The secondary audience is dating couples. this is more likely to be either very close but not married couples or first date couples. This is because both people in the couple can gain comfort of each other when watching the movie. The women especially, Its usually the men who can use the horror film to give off a brave first impression to win over the female. To add to this a popular horror movie can be seen as a great conversation starter. Overall the general audience can be quite broad, however the majority of the audience will be young, due to the fact thats its cheap thrill. Otherwise its commonly couples on first date. They often can from a relationship due to similarities and therefore have a stronger emotion pull to the film. The audience can connect to character on screen and think of them in their shoes of the character gaining a stronger horror effect.
HISTORICS:
From the 1930s to the 1970s, most horror films were considered very much the poor
brethren of the film world. Horror were more considered of being trashy paperbacks.
Frequently horror films were made cheaply and packaged together in double bills
for a supposedly teenage/young-adult audience to go and see (often in late-night
showings), to scream and laugh their way through. Horror more exclusively watched by young people and looked down upon by adults. Of course they were a few expectations such as , Psycho(1960) and The Birds (1963) by Alfred Hitchcock, both of which helped change critical perspectives on the horrors. Unlike the goals and cheesy horrors that the 1930's had to offer, alfred hitchock offered more contempry setting in his work, which a wider range of audiences seem to respect more. Psycho was important in changing the general critical and audience attitude towards the horror altogether.
PHYSCO GRAPHICS;
phsco graphicsis the study of ppersonalityvalues, interests and lifestyles Physcho-graphics gives you a deeper insight into the target market and it allows you to target a specific group of people, knowing what they like and dont like is important when creating our own product. Whats important about physc ographics it take into account the the personality and behavior of an audience rather than just categorizing them by age and genre which can be very broad
psycho graphic segmentation:
main streamers - this typically the largest group who tend to domestic, conventional sentimental and defiantly seek security, they favor values for money family brands conforms
aspireres - these people tend to seek status, they are materialistic, acquisitive and worry about their image, apprentice, persona and fashion. they think that an attracting package is more important than the contents, this group is typically younger people with clerical or sales jobs
succeeders - this group tend to be professionals with high management who have strong goals, confidence, good work which and organisation. they support stability and brand choice based on self reward
resigned - typically older people who seek survival, they are rigid and are interested in the past and tradition, brand choice stresses safety
explorers - This group is younger demographics like students who seek discovery, they have energy , individualism and experience. they value difference and adventure, brand choice highlights satisfaction and instant effect, they are the first to try new brands
struggles - this group is d and e demographics that seeks escape, they are alienated and organised they have a few resources beyond physical skills. Brand choices involves impact and sensation, they buy alcohol, junk food and lottery tickets.
reformers - this group seeks enlightenment they want freedom of restrictions and personal growth, they have social awareness and independent judgment, they are anti materialistic but are aware of good taste, they have attended higher education and select products for quality
We belive that struggles would be a good target audience for our horror movie as they seek escape and are alienated. This makes them a good candidate for ou horror as they can enjoy a film that can be creepy or jumpy, they spend their free time eating junk food and naturally relaxing they fall perfectly within the teenage age group we would like to aim our movie at.
