Attracting & Addressing Audiences through Age

Our killer is only 9 years older than the victim which this conforms typical horror conventions of the killer being older than the victim to connote wisdom and intelligence to make victim seem powerless against the killer. However, usually the killer is significantly older than the victim so our film opening subverts that aspect.

Our film opening represents adults (28 years old) as being as experienced and skilled as older people. The victim conforms to horror conventions by being young. Her young age may also appeal to younger audiences, thus attracting them and persuading them to watch it. For example, many horror-like TV series such The Vampire Diaries is set in school to appeal to younger people so it is more relatable.

Jennifer's Body (2009) and Carrie (2013) was also a horror surrounding teenager's at school.

Having a younger character will attract younger audiences (our age rating is 15) and, if this were a real film, would earn the film more commercial success. Having older characters will do exactly the same but with older audiences so having a mix will make the film more appealing and will attract many people.

In Jennifer's Body, Jennifer is presented as a stereotypical teenage girl primarily through her clothes, she often wears pink or her cheerleading outfit. Our character is dressed as a stereotypical teenage girl as well because she is wearing a red tight top and a tight skirt (red = love & danger) (tight = sexualised because she is a prostitute).

Another way in which teenagers are represented as teenagers is in Carrie, the main destruction scene is set at prom which is at school. Carrie is dressed in a silk pink dress and causes the place to burn down. The prom aspect is relatable to teenagers however the destruction is not and that is what makes it entertaining. In our film opening we have realistic and relatable themes such as a prostitute and a surgeon however the surgeon's foetus obsession is what is different and therefore entertaining.