Using, Challenging Using, Challenging and Forming and Forming

ConventionsConventions of a of a Horror Film Horror Film

TRAILERTRAILER

In the trailer, the characters themselves are significant in representing the stereotypical struggle of good against evil. The murderer is portrayed as the evil killer whereas the victims are innocent people who are good.

However in our trailer in the last shot we create a twist by having an unknown second man come into the shot to meet the murderer. This creates enigmas as to his involvement to the murders.

We included many gory shots which involved the We included many gory shots which involved the use of fake blood. We had shots where blood was use of fake blood. We had shots where blood was splattered up the wall and where blood was splattered up the wall and where blood was smeared round the dog walker’s head. Blood is smeared round the dog walker’s head. Blood is commonly used in horror films to display the commonly used in horror films to display the violent and gory element to the film.violent and gory element to the film.

The murderer was shown throughout parts in the trailer to carry a signature weapon of garden shears. This is similar to horror characters such as Jason Voorhees, who is known for killing his victims with a machete wearing a hockey mask.

Location: Location:

Our location suited well with the horror Our location suited well with the horror genre. We chose to shoot in isolated genre. We chose to shoot in isolated areas which were realistic for a areas which were realistic for a murderer to kill without being seen. murderer to kill without being seen.

The train station went against The train station went against conventions of a horror as it’s unusual conventions of a horror as it’s unusual to have someone killed at a station. to have someone killed at a station. However we chose this location However we chose this location because it showed that the murderer because it showed that the murderer could strike anyone, anywhere. Overall could strike anyone, anywhere. Overall this builds the enigma of why the this builds the enigma of why the murderer is killing these people.murderer is killing these people.

MAGAZINE FRONT COVERMAGAZINE FRONT COVERWe followed conventions by having the biggest sub-title linking to the picture. In this instance our magazine reads ‘Jack is here’. Also there is noticeably text above the Empire title therefore we copied this idea and linked it to the promotion of ‘Who’s Jack?’ by stating ‘World exclusive of Who’s Jack inside’.

We used ideas from an existing poster from Empire Magazine, where we used the design of the title to instantly create recognition as a film magazine.

Also following on from this, most of the iconography on the magazine obscures part of the film title. Similarly on our magazine cover we put part of the head underneath the title.

However

We chose to advertise that we had interviews with well known actors to get the audience to want to read it for that aspect as well as the endorsement for ‘Who’s Jack?’.

We also limited the colour palette to three colours to create a more unique and classic look.

POSTERPOSTERConventionally many horror film posters have a black background to represent the darkness or evil of a character.

Similarly we followed this notion by choosing to have a black background. The red writing is also commonly used in posters as it can symbolise blood, evil and good.

However

Unlike most conventional horror film posters we chose to include a variety of the characters including the murderer and his victims, instead of the focus being solely on the killer.

Also we chose to have our poster landscape instead of horizontal like conventional posters are. We did this so we could represent that are victims are vulnerable therefore small in size, in comparison to the murderer in the centre.

EVALUATIONEVALUATION I feel that our media products suit well to the horror I feel that our media products suit well to the horror

genre. Before starting our media products, it was genre. Before starting our media products, it was vital that we did research into existing media vital that we did research into existing media products within the horror genre. From this we were products within the horror genre. From this we were able to take elements and endorse them into our able to take elements and endorse them into our own ideas. own ideas.

By using audience feedback it was useful in finding By using audience feedback it was useful in finding out how well we suited to the genre and ways we out how well we suited to the genre and ways we could improve to make it more realistic as a new could improve to make it more realistic as a new horror film. Overall I feel confident that our media horror film. Overall I feel confident that our media texts are clear in following horror conventions but texts are clear in following horror conventions but at the same time I feel that we have variety and at the same time I feel that we have variety and diversity by choosing to subvert conventions.diversity by choosing to subvert conventions.