This document summarizes a focus group discussion about psychological horror films. The focus group asked participants about their preferences for trailers, posters, and magazine covers to promote a psychological horror film. They discussed elements like jump scares, revealing or not revealing the antagonist, use of color and imagery. The information gathered will help the students create an effective promotional campaign for their psychological horror film project.

1. Psychological Horror
Focus Group
by Kirsty and Stephanie

2. This is our focus group for A2 media studies. Through this focus group we
will find out more about what our target audience are interested in,
allowing us to ensure this is included in our promotional package.
A psychological horror is one which relies on the character’s fears and
emotional instability to build tension; the main character is usually a
regular person who creates the horror through their mental stability.
Introduction

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G7Ju
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What did you enjoy/find interesting
about this film trailer?
What did you dislike about it?
Did anything specific stand out to you?
Trailer 1

4. What did you enjoy/find interesting
about this film trailer?
What did you dislike about it?
Did anything specific stand out to
you?
Did the black background with the
white writing appeal to you?
Trailer 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5FFh8PH0
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5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2
ywOPNNii9w
What did you enjoy/find
interesting about this film
trailer?
What did you dislike about it?
Did anything specific stand out to
you?
Did you think the sting (the jump
scare when you think the trailer
is over) was effective?
Trailer 3

6. Out of the three trailers you have seen today, which did you like the most?
Why?
In the film trailer we will be making, what would you like to see included?
Which of these trailers would convince you most to watch the film?
Trailers

7. What do you like/dislike about this film
poster? Why? e.g. The setting, colours,
camera angle, costume, etc.
What about the poster would make you
want to watch the film?
Poster 1

8. What do you like/dislike about this film
poster? Why? e.g. Colours, camera
angle, costume, tagline (slogan), etc.
What about this poster would make you
want to watch the film?
Poster 2

9. What do you like/dislike about this film
poster? Why? e.g. Colour, design, etc.
What about the poster would make you
want to watch the film?
Does not revealing the antagonist (the
villain) make it scarier?
Poster 3

10. Out of these three film posters, which did you like the most, and why?
Which of these posters would convince you to watch the film?
In the poster we will be making, what would you like to be included?
Posters

11. What do you like about this magazine front
cover? Why?
What do you dislike about this magazine front
cover? Why?
When showing our horror movie on a
magazine, would you prefer to see it on a
horror magazine, or a general movie
magazine?
Magazine Cover 1

12. What do you like about this magazine front
cover? Why?
What do you dislike about this magazine front
cover? Why?
Do you think having the Antagonist (the
villain) on the front cover is more effective
than having the protagonist (the good
character) on the front cover?
What is your opinion on the images at the
bottom, giving a preview of other films
featured in the magazine?
Magazine Cover 2

13. What do you like about this magazine front
cover? Why?
What do you dislike about this magazine front
cover? Why?
Do you prefer that the character on this
magazine front cover is not making eye
contact, or do you feel that it is more
effective when direct address is made?
Magazine Cover 3

14. Out of the three magazine covers, which general layout do you prefer? Why?
In the magazine we will be making, what would you like to see included?
Which magazine would convince you to watch the film?
Magazine Covers

15. We will use the information gathered in this focus group to
help develop our promotional campaign. Thank you for
participating!