This document discusses research on target audiences for horror films. It finds that the primary audience is males aged 18-24 based on UK research. Additional findings show that most cinema goers are aged 15-24, and that people in this age range appreciate the immersive experience and quality of seeing films at the cinema. The document also discusses how horror films appeal to primal fears and are promoted using trailers on websites like YouTube to generate buzz before release.

1. Target Audience
Research
Sarah Kelly

2. How will I access my audience?

3. From the graphs previously shown it has become
apparent to me that I will find most of my
audience online and on Facebook, in order to
make up my own feedback and analytical data I
will have to share my work/surveys and any other
data on Facebook

4. Cinema audiences
Definition of Audience: Audience describes the age,
social class, ethnic minority of the film audience as a
whole and for particular popular films.

5. Age and gender audience
As you can see the most people who visit the cinema are between the ages of 15-24 and
more males and females , this helps with my primary research when selecting my target
audience for my horror trailer.
Graph from: http://www.cinemauk.org.uk/facts-and-figures/uk-cinema-audience-analysis/uk-
cinema-audience-by-age-and-gender/
I asked people between the ages of 15 – 24 what they made of the cinema experience and
these were the responses that I got:
• Its much more immersive experience than when I watch a film at home
• Better sound and image quality
• The cinema experience is good value for your money

6. Horror Audiences
• Definition of Horror audiences : Horror is a film
genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional
reaction from viewers by playing on the
audience's primal fears. Inspired by literature from
authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Mary
Shelley, horror films have for more than a century
featured scenes that startle the viewer.
• The ukfc conducted some research and found that
the typical viewer of horror was a Male from the
ages of 18-24

7. Why do people choose to
watch horror films?
• There are a number of theories as to why people like
to watch scary movies. Of course, some people don’t
care for them, and the largest audience for frightening
film fare tends to be older teens and people in their
early 20s. There are more mature audience members
who love the thrills and chills, however, and it’s led
many researchers to question why. Some researchers
believe that the films represent the decay of society,
show the value of staying within societal norms, or
allow people to feel fear within a controlled setting.
• (This is shown in a different blog post and I will post
underneath the power-point presentation)

8. Audience response
similar to my initial idea
• Donnie Darko:
synopsis: A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that
manipulates him to commit a series of crimes, after narrowly escaping a bizarre
accident.
Audience: After watching it I assume that the audience that is specific to this film are
couples as it involves a romantic love story.
Reviews from the film:
• Like gathering storm clouds, Donnie Darko creates an atmosphere of eerie calm
and mounting menace -- stands as one of the most exceptional movies of 2001.’
• ‘It is funny, sad and beautiful. And it's right on time.’
• A mixture of horror, drama, psychological thriller, comedy, and brief action make
this a must see movie especially with movie stars that are randomly famous
appearing here and there.

9. How horror films are
promoted and advertised
From my research I found that there was a
website that promoted a horror magazine
I will use this primary
research to help me
promote my horror
trailer to a wider
audience (through the
internet)

10. http://teaser-trailer.com/ is a good website that promotes and
shows film audiences teaser trailers prior to a movie releases

11. FILM TRAILERS ARE A GOOD WAY TO PROMOTE AND ADVERTISE A FILM :Youtube
also shows audiences the trailers before the films release and comments underneath
are shared between enthusiasts and critics

12. • Forums are made too for fans to share the
excitement before the release of a film 
http://www.sawfreaks.com/
http://www.horror.com/forum/ , this forum shows every person involved
waiting for a horror film release to share reviews comments and interactions
with other fans