Audience Response for ‘The Children’

Studio (Production & Distribution; BBC Films, Vertigo Films and Ghost House Underground

Director: Tom Shankland

Writers: Tom Shankland (Screenplay) and Paul Andrew Williams (Story)

Stars: Eva Birthistle, Hannah Tointon

Certificate: 15/18

Target Audience details

Age group: 16 – 20 and secondary market of 21- 35

Demographic: E, D & B

Psychographics: Mainstreamers and Explorers

Gender: Female, Secondary market Male

Uses and Gratifications: Entertainment, Social Interaction and Escapism

The Children is able to appeal to it target audience from the context of the film which is based on a two families set a weekend together for some winter fun, while each child falls ill and turns into brutal psycho murders. This plot appeals to the target market by putting a twist onto the representation on children normally in horror films and turning them into the villains featured in the film, this then can be seen as creative to people in the demographic B, also it appeals by featuring some well-known stars such as Eva Birthistle, Hannah Tointon and Stephen Campbell Moore which some people would recognize from their other works. Demographic E would be appealed to this film because they would enjoy the plot of the film featured and also enjoy the gory elements used in the film.

This films is able to appeal to the Psychographics of mainstreamers and Explorers because the film is based on two different families and how they are trying to figure out the weird behaviour coming from their kids, also it would appeal to them because this movie is very different to other films, and as an explorer they would want to try this film first as it not like any other film also the film is appealing to a younger audience which the explorers consist of. The gender is female and would appeal to them but mainly the older woman in which it would appeal to them as after watching this film they would thenwant to protect their kids from anything. The film on some level could appeal to males asthroughout the film there are elements of gore featured.

Finally the film would fit into the uses and gratification categories ofentertainment, social interaction and escapism as even though it’s a horrormovie it still able to keep the audience on edge and watching was it going on.Also people would be able to talk about the film, because from the plotthis type of film has been done but they have put it on a twist, whichpeople would want to discuss about. Furthermore they would be ableto escape from their everyday life and be able to have sympathy forthe different characters featured in the film.