The following magazine cover are to promote horror films. Empire and Total Film are mainstream film magazines which featured a horror special on the front covers; However Fangoria are niche horror magazine which oversees all subgenres of horror. Through carrying out research, I will identify the similarities between all of them and evaluate repeated patterns in each of them.
All six magazine covers feature the common convention of using the following colors that are associated with the horror; red, black and white. Also a medium/close ups of the main image on the front cover. The master head is dominate text on the cover to show the importance of the magazine’s identity.
All the following covers feature the Protagonist as the main image, this shows the audience who will be featured in the film and also the importance of the character in the film featured. Thus the audience will be curious as to what the narrative of the film is. On the Total Film cover, the main image is in black and white with what seems like various snapshots of the character; this illustrates that the protagonists has many different sides to him, his character is quite Bipolar. The images used look arguably normal for villain as a result giving the idea that the subgenre that the film belongs to is psychological because conventionally the antagonists are ‘normal’ people who suffer from some kind of mental issues. Due to the colours used for the main image the master head stands out so the audience and the fans of the magazine will be able to identify what magazine it is. Also the different images that are used are all connected together consequently giving the idea that the character has many victims in the film but also the his victims are all somehow connected to each other or perhaps they have things in common in which attracted the antagonists to victimise them. Furthermore the fact that the images are in black and white connotation gives the feeling that the antagonist is use to his malice; if the following images were in colour it come off as fresh and new but due to no color it comes off as old and repeated as if his actions have been done before.
Total Film cover has similar features to the Empire cover, which also introduces the antagonist in a medium close up which exposes his costume of him wearing a mask and a straight jacket which links into someone with a mental health issues. This already tells the audience what sub genre it is therefore fans of the particular sub genre would be attracted to it. But with the mask it gives a slasher feel due to the conventions of slasher villains wearing masks when going on killing sprees so it may also attract the attention of slasher sub genre fans too. The use of direct addresses with the main image allows the image to connect with the image but it also creates a sense of fear in them because they might feel as if they are the next victim due to mask on his face is makes him seem a lot more intimidating. Unlike Total Film cover, Empire features a sell line and the name of the film. The sell line that is used is a pull quote from the film itself the quote reads “Tell me, ma’am, when your little girl is on the slab, where will it tickle you?” this contrast the main image completely because unlike the look of the cover the quote sounds friendly and approachable . However this is common of the psychological horror or just the overall genre in general to turn something that may seem innocent into something evil and sinister. In term of psychological, perhaps at the beginning of the film the antagonists comes across as a normal man but as more of the narrative is revealed to the audience they will find out that he is not as habitable as he makes out to be. This make him even more terrifying for the audience because it will build a fear in that they come across anyone like in reality; it also gives the narrative a more realistic feel.
The direct address used on the Fangoria cover is put in a violent term so links with the main image; ‘Megan Fox will eat you alive!’ They addressed the name of the actress to draw a wider audience. But it quite unusual as it is not common to have a famous actor/actress featured in the films. Through the use of mise-en-scene of the blood her face is evident of the sell line because it looks like she has just eaten someone alive thus the audience will feel more frightened. It also adds to the realism of the horror.
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