The document provides an analysis of a website for the horror-thriller film Hostel. It summarizes the key elements of the homepage, including an image of a man from the film's posters and quotes promoting it as one of the best horror films in recent years. The analysis notes ratings information and content descriptors that define the target audience. Screenshots show the trailer playing and different promotional quotes appearing each time the site is visited.

1. Research & Planning - Trailer
Analysis: Hostel
BY SABA KEBEDE

2. History of the Horror-Thriller Genre
 There are many aspects of the horror genre that makes it unique. Firstly, a horror is a film
genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's
primal fears. Within a horror film, there are elements of the supernatural, and macabre in
which are frequent themes.
 The link that horror films have in terms of thrillers, is that they may overlap with the fantasy,
supernatural as well as the thriller genres. The basic aims of a horror film is to leave audience
with the lasting impression of nightmares, hidden fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown.
 Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage,
commonly of supernatural origin, into the everyday world. Prevalent elements include ghosts,
aliens, vampires, werewolves, curses, satanism, demons, gore, torture, vicious animals,
monsters, zombies, cannibals and serial killers. Conversely, movies about the supernatural are
not necessarily always horrific. Similarly, the thriller genre also has the same effect for the
audience.
 Thrillers are more broad genres of literature, film and television programming that uses
suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewers
moods giving them a high level of anticipations, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty,
surprise, anxiety and or/terror. Thrillers, dissimilar to horrors, tens to be adrenaline-rushing,
gritty, rousing and fast-paced. Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists and cliff-hangers
are used extensively. A thriller is a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that
the protagonist must overcome.

3. Target Audience
 Bearing in mind the Horror-Thriller genre, I think that the next important aspect is of
selecting a relevant target audience, to focus my trailer towards. Genre is significant in the
realisation of the target audience, because not only does it provide a structure for retail
outlets, but genre pieces have an established audience who are easy to market to.
 Genre and target audiences link in the effect that they both have clear channels for
marketing and distribution. As a result of this, if a film doesn’t have a genre, then the film
won’t sell well to the audience as they can’t decipher whether they will like it or not, therefore
this is significant.
 When deciding what target audience I should choose, I came across the type of genre, as
this is what it depends on. This is because certain personnel can develop their skills when
working within a particular genre e.g. horror – make-up). Thereby, it is essential to bear in
mind the target audience as well as the genre.
 Seeing as my trailer is a Horror-Thriller, it doesn’t contain all the elements and
conventions of a Horror, therefore it will not be that horrifying, but more about the ultra-
heightened expectations, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror.
 Thrillers, dissimilar to horrors, tens to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-
paced. Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists and cliff-hangers are used extensively.
A thriller is a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that the protagonist
must overcome.

4. The Camera Angles, Iconography and Settings in a
Horror-Thriller
Settings of a Horror Film
 Large, empty, old-fashioned houses - (The Woman in Black) – to emphasise the time period perhaps
 Dark and eerie place by the sea - Cold and deserted areas around the suburbs.
 Gloomy weather at the park - During the night, when no one's there, plus the irony of the parks, as they connote
happiness.
 Basements - Deserted, with no furniture just a dark room
 Graveyards - Symbolism of a typical horror film
 Churches - In relation to the religious symbols that always occur one way of the other.
Camera Angles
 Low angle shots - To show the villain in a powerful light
 Close Ups - Of the Protagonist’s face
 Point of View Shots - To show the situation from the protagonist’s eyes
 Extreme Close Ups - Of the protagonists reaction
 Over-the-Shoulder Shot - Similar to the Point of View Shots (Show the situation from the protagonists eyes).
Pans & Tilts - Showing us where the protagonist is going/where the villain is leading us to (Similar
to Hostel)
 Establishing shots - To show the environment that they are in.
Iconography
 Religious symbols - If based in a Church or graveyard
 Dark Make-up - To frighten the protagonist
 Dark Clothing - To symbolise darkness and obscurity (Similar to The Woman in Black)
 Pathetic Fallacy - (Rainy, stormy, windy weather)
 Symbolic colours - Red (blood) and black and sometimes white, for the irony.
 Sadistic weapons - Such as guns, knives, heavy machinery

5. Poster
This is one of the Hostel’s poster for part II. The fact that the audience cannot see
For an article about a film, the original the man’s eyes is effective, as it could
poster is arguably one of the most important portray a sense of mystery and
images that could be included. The image is uncertainty in the way he is looking at
of lower resolution than the original poster the audience, or if he is at all, as you
(copies made from it will be of inferior cannot see from this image. This poster
quality). The poster is to suggest something does not have any slogans or a catch-
of the film’s genre and style. The poster is phrase on it, which could mean that
also being used for informational purposes the director thought that the image
only, and its use is not believed to detract and the title gives away the plot, and
from the original film in any way. This therefore doesn’t reveal anything else
poster of Hostel Part II, is used on various apart from the title and image in the
websites, to promote this movie. The poster background. The mise-en-scene is
is very similar to the website, as it uses the efficient as it already gives away to the
same image, which makes sense as it is audience that this movie might be
easily noticed by their target audience. I about capture and imprisonment with
think that it is relevant to have the same the eerie background which looks like a
image for the poster and the website basement of some sort. The colour
because of the fact that the target audience scheme is competent, with the usual
are aware of the “logo” and therefore will vibrant colours of white, orange and
notice it more easily. Within this poster, it red’s that otherwise suggest different
has the directors and producers name of it, from this poster, as they all have a
above the title, as well as the title darker tone and shade to them . The
underneath it. The title size is vast to use of the weapon in this poster, makes
emphasise the importance of the name, then the audience feel as though this
the credits underneath it. horror-thriller contains violence and
hostility as well as the other
conventions and themes of a Horror-
Thriller film.

6. Trailer
Film TE/TR Questions Category (True Comments Shot list (B/W,
Raised story, novel, (Genre, own SFX etc)
comic fictional, reaction)
film,
documentary)
What persuaded Written, produced Horror-thriller -Panning and
them to leave t and and directed by Eli film, the diegetic tracking shots,
go to the hostel? Why Roth sound makes it emphasising the
has the man chosen sound realistic journey from one
these particular
coming from the room to the other
people? Why did they
follow him? How did torture of the with different
the others get people. The people. This gives
Hostel: Part II TR captured? Who is the screams seem it the shock factor
person behind all of realistic. The non- as the audience
this? Who built this diegetic sounds gets suspicious as
place? Why are they create a sense of to who’s next to be
in a dungeon-like suspense and tortured and in
room? Why is there climax towards the what other
so many people
end the music method.
allowing this to
happen? Is it for sounds predatory. - Close up on the
entertainment or It was quite feet or fingers and
have they signed a conventional at showing the slow
pact? times with the progression of
eerie look and feel certain features on
to it as well as the the body getting
taunting music. tortured.

7. Website Analysis
This is the first image that the audience sees
when they visit the Hostel website. They are At the top of the homepage where it
welcomed by this image of a man, the same states, “MENU”, I hovered over it came
as in the posters. to this: There is a list of headings such
as: The film, cast & crew, downloads etc.
Homepage
Right at the bottom of the
Ratings homepage, there is a sign that
says, “Restricted” and
underneath that it states,
“Sadistic scenes of torture and
bloody violence, terror,
nudity, sexual content,
There is a quote that says, “A major crows language and some drug
Quotes
pleaser…one of the best horror films of the past content”, as well as “Under 17
ten years!” which is a statement that appeals to requires accompanying parent
their target audience. There is also another quote or adult guardian”. This
where it says “Audiences will be going apes**t at defines the target audience, as
this ending – that I can promise you”. By Dennis this content contains scenes
Dermody, Papermag. The use of persuasive that are not for younger
language is appealing to the audience as they will viewers.
be intrigued to see what happens in this film and
therefore gives them more of an incentive to go
and watch it.

8. …Website
There are also other elements of
the website that gives the
audience some information about
the film as well as answers
unanswered questions, such as
“Will the girls find the Oasis they
are looking for?” which they
answer in depth so that the
audience can get more of an
understanding about the plot etc.
Homepage
This is another print screen on the homepage,
where the trailer is playing in the centre, where I
happened to stop when it said, “Easily THE BEST
HORROR MOVIE in years” where it promotes the
film, so that the audience will be willing to see the
film, or recommend it to a friend at least.
Additionally, whenever you visit the website,
there’s a new quote each time, which is effective as
there are probably many quotes from both from
critics and the public anyway. This time the quote
differed from the first one on the previous slide, as
this one states, “Easily the best horror movie in
years! Tops the original and takes it to a whole
new terrifying level!” – iesb.net.