The magazine masthead uses a bright yellow color and dripping paint font to stand out from competitors and represent the horror genre in a unique way. The main image features Jason Voorhees to attract fans of Friday the 13th, and the left third highlights exclusive interviews and film content through promotional images and captions. Additional text and colors are used throughout to consistently brand the magazine and tease the extensive horror coverage found inside.

1. Scream Magazine
An Analysis.

2. Masthead;
The masthead is eye catching and bold. This straight away gives an
impact on the audience as it makes them read the magazine and
be lured into the content. This is important as there would be other
magazines which could be seen as competition for Scream
magazine. The colour yellow is bright, vibrant and exciting; making
the magazine content seem valuable and interesting. The colour
yellow connotes happiness; which is what will be felt by the horror
target audience if they purchase this magazine. This is an unusual
colour for horror as we usually associate the genre with dark
colours such as blacks and greys. Another common colour is red;
which symbolises the common blood and gore associated with
slasher. Therefore, the yellow creates individuality and a sense of
newness.
The font has a pain effect to it. Making it seem as if it has been
hand drawn. This creates a personal and friendly tone to the
magazine's brand identity, making it seem inviting. However, it also
represents the genre of horror as the dripping of the pain reminds
us of blood and gore; making the magazine also seem raw and
filled with brand new content official for the audience of the
magazine. The splattered effect could also mirror fright and
uncertainty; commonly associated with horror.

3. Masthead;
The name of the magazine is also associated with horror. Screams
are a convention of the genre. They are loud and indicate
connotations such as helplessness and chase. This could highlight
the loudness of the magazine and how the content is filled with non
stop action the audience cannot get enough of.
The masthead sits in front of a battered plank of wood. This makes it
stand out even more, again linking to the idea that the magazine
wants to grab the reader's attention quickly and effectively. It also
makes the colour yellow seem less happy and vibrant, it gives it a
sinister and dim tone. Highlighting the fear behind the excitement of
horror. It also links back to the fact the content of the magazine is
raw and exclusive. The wood reminds us of forests and greenery; a
common setting featured in horror films especially slasher,
highlighting how the magazine sticks to its main focus.
The wood is covered with blood; emphasising the slasher sub-genre
as blood and gore is a convention of horror. The blood connotates
fear and death. It also adds excitement and colour to the magazine,
highlighting how the editors take time and effort into the creation of
their magazine to appeal to its audience. Portraying the
professionalism and passion put into the creation of Scream

4. The website to the magazine is featured across the top to
increase its audience to use its digital media connects. This
shows how the magazine does not stop pleasing its target
audience and put a lot of work and passion into filling their
horror fans desires. The audience will be encouraged to use
this website as it will be non stop horror content, adding to
the success of the magazine as it is able to produce both
print and digital media.
The white font makes it appear eye catching as it sits on a
dark background, adding to the encouragement for the
audience to look at it’s website. It is also a professional
colour to use, making the magazine appear slick and
polished. The font used is basic yet still effective as the use
of too many different fonts will make the front cover appear
overwhelming and messy.

5. Information which would usually be placed at the bottom
right is placed besides the masthead. This breaks layout
conventions of a typical magazine front cover, yet it still
appears professional and adds interest to the front cover.
The fact it states ‘The Horror Magazine’ straight away
reaches out to its target audience. This could be why it is
featured at the top in the right corner, as it is an easy place
to quickly intrigue its audience. The word ‘The’ is bold and
striking as it highlights it is the only horror magazine its
target audience should be buying. Comparing to its rival
magazines such as ‘Fangoria’. It makes ‘Scream’ magazine
sound confident and proud to be one of very few horror
magazines. It is all capitalised to again, reinforce its love for
horror and to attract fellow horror lovers.

6. The issue number and the price, would usually be featured in the pug
at the bottom right. Yet, this magazine breaks conventions and places
it at the top of the frame. The colour yellow is the same as the
masthead, creating a symbiosis, adding to the professionalism and
how the makers of the magazine care about the magazines
appearance. It includes the price in pounds and dollars, showing it is a
well known magazine both in the UK and America, emphasising the
magazines success and how it is able to reach out to its target
audience across the world.
‘Blood, Guts, Gore & More!’ summarises the horror genre perfectly in
just a few works. This tagline is short and sharp, just what a horror
crazed audience would be attracted to when purchasing a horror
magazine. It includes alliteration and rhyme to make the tagline
appear even more snappy and memorable. The exclamation mark
emphasises how the magazine can include all of its audience favourite
things and how it will be non stop and full of horror content.

7. Left Hand Third;
The left hand third should include the sell lines and the most
information and text. This is because it is the place where the
audience is drawn to first due to us reading from left to right.
Therefore, the magazine must include it’s most exciting content in
this section of the front cover. Scream follows this convention,
highlighting how it is aware of this important convention.
It includes three images alongside three sell lines, they are each
highlighted in the same font and colour. They are slightly bolder
than the underneath captions to grab attention and excitement. It
also adds to the neatness of the magazines layout making it appear
fluent, creating a symbiosis.
The colour green is often associated with horror, it could connotate
the greenery of outside settings which are common in horror, it is
also a colour for the word ‘go’ this could highlight the trigger for
common slasher killers to go and kill their victims.

8. Left Hand Third:
Each of the sell lines are different, to emphasise the different content
inside, making the audience want to read more. They are each about
a new upcoming horror at the time of the magazine release date. Each
of the sell lines are central to the image, making the layout appear
neat and tidy adding to professionalism.
Underneath each of the sell lines is a caption contrasted in the colour
white, highlighting more to what it is about. This allows the audience to
have a small taste to the content without giving too much away. This
would make them want to purchase the magazine to read more.
Many famous names are indicated in the left hand third. For example,
the audience would be interested in an interview with successful
director Jason Eisener due to his latest horror thriller. Famous horror
films are also featured such as ‘Saw’ and ‘Insidious’. The fact the
producers of the magazine are able to interview such famous
scriptwriters and directors such as James Wan and Leigh Whannell
highlight its success and how it will do anything to please its target
audience.

9. Left Hand Third;
Featured in the captions contain buzz words such as ‘Exclusive’ this
makes the magazine appear exciting and intriguing for its audience
as they would feel special for getting a set report of the film ‘The
Reverend’.
The images of the characters are professionally taken, apart from the
final one. This is shown through the direct address, this is effective
as it shows the characters looking directly to its audience; attracting
their attention. They each appear in character, this would excite a
horror audience as they can get an insight to the films featured in the
magazine’s content.
The images have been edited to look like posters pinned to one of
the trees in the main image. This makes the magazine front cover
look even more effective and interesting and highlights the time and
effort made when producing the magazine. The posters have been
made to look old and battered to create a raw and exciting effect,
adding to the thrill of horror.

10. Main Image;
The main image is of Jason Voorhees from the classic slasher; Friday
The 13th. This is a horror everyone has heard of before therefore,
would intrigue lots of audience members to read the magazine. The
image is striking and eye catching as the medium close up of Jason is
professional with him in his signature costume. The direct address
allows us to see his eyes vaguely through his mask, making them
look scary and piercing towards the audience. As we can only see his
eyes, it strips away his humanity and intrigues the audience into
seeing the evil which lay beneath the mask.
The mask is dirty and battered, making us believe he has been
lurking in the forest waiting for his victims for a long time.
Furthermore, it makes him appear sinister as it hides away his
emotions. It is effective including the mask on the front cover of the
magazine as it straight away indicates to the audience who the main
sell line will be based on, making them want to buy the magazine.

11. Main Image;
His costume is all black, mirroring his mysterious and dark
personality. It also allows him to blend into the darkness of the
night, adding to the fear. Finally, by including the weapon on
the magazine front cover, the audience will be filled with
excitement as they now have an insight to what Jason will be
using to slice through his victims. Previous faces of the
character have been edited onto the machete highlighting the
creative side to the magazine and knowledge of horror which
its target audience can understand.
The setting is the same as the film’s narrative. Jason is
surrounded by trees and greenery making him stand out and
appear threatening. By including the setting of the film on the
front cover it also makes it appear intoxicating and thrilling, as
the audience not only have an insight to the character but also
the main setting of the film.

12. The audience are presented with extra content included in the
magazine at the bottom of the page. A buzz word is used in bright
red font to create intrigue and anticipation to what’s inside. Further
directors and famous horror film titles are featured to highlight just
some of the content which will be revealed. This is effective as the
magazine is highlighting as much of the content as they can on the
front page, so that the audience will not even have to read or look
at the inside to want to purchase it.
The colours and fonts used are similar to those which are featured
throughout the magazine, creating a symbiosis and again adding to
the neatness of the layout. The text lays on a strip of dark green,
this makes the content stand out. The colour of the fonts are
slightly rusted to add to the raw and horrific effect.