Target audience:
- Prom Queen is targeting a young target audience.
- "Prom Night" places the target audience within a specific age bracket- 17-18.
- Cover model is young representing and linking to the target audience.
- Appeals to males more; 'Damsel in distress' stereotype appeals to male desire to help females, she appears to be trapped behind the tiara, caged in, she needs help to get out.
- Also the is attractive with perfect teeth, lips and complexion, appeals to males sexually.
- Also appeals to females through the glitz and glamour of prom- The Tiara- iconic memory for females.
- Appeals to females through association- creates a link between the cover model and the target audience- they might have been in a similar situation- desire to help her.
Genre:
- Can immediately identify the poster with the horror genre.
- Dark background- dark, sinister, eerie, unknown nature of the horror genre.
- Red writing- blood, gore, links to the fear and violence associated with the horror genre.
- Silent Scream- Damsel in distress, common convention within horror films, fear, pain and distress all common emotions associated with horror.
- Tiara has fallen from its usual position, unnatural, not normal, links to the unnatural them of horror.
- She seems to be caged in and trapped by the tiara, she's screaming to get out but she can't, adds to the atmosphere of fear & terror.
- Hair is dishevelled and ruined, juxtaposes the 'perfect' prom look and denotes a more underlying sinister message.
- Extreme close-up, conveys the true terror on her face, adds to the atmosphere of fear, chaos and terror.
- Not representing males at all- do not feature on the poster.
- Females portrayed as weak, cannot look after themselves, scared, 'Damsel in distress' links to the trapped theme- she cannot get out by herself.
- Stereotypically the easiest targets, easily scared, vulnerability of the female sex.
Media language/Mise en Scene:
- Dominant colours; black, grey, red- connoting the dark nature of the horror genre and the blood and violence that goes with it.
- Image is in black and white, sinister connotations, allows the red text of "Prom Night" stand out and brings out the colour.
- Lighting is focused on her face, highlighting the teeth and mouth- emphasising the scream.
- Jewels in the tiara represent the glitz and glamour of the prom gone wrong, teenage dream has been destroyed by the events of the film.
- Tiara usually the crowning moment of the prom night but it has fallen and is now crooked, representing a fall from grace/glory, now it is acting in a sinister way trapping her inside.
- Makeup is perfect juxtaposing the innocence and beauty of the prom with the terrifying nature of horror.
- Creates an enigma, is she screaming in fear because she is scared or is she being aggressive?
Media institution:
- Independent horror movie, not a Hollywood production, we can see this because if it were a Hollywood film there would be a well known star and director on the poster, in this case there is not.
- Producers; Original Films, New Market Films and Alliance Films are independent film production companies. do not feature dramatically on the poster.
- Distributor; Screen Gems.
- Lesser known director and cast- not mentioned on the cover as they are not going to boost sales or attract a fan base.
Values and ideologies:
- Portrays women as weak, vulnerable, easily caged and trapped, open to attack from anywhere, need protection.
- She is trapped and cannot get out, easily scared in this situation hence the screaming.
- Males are not portrayed on the poster as only the female cover model is present.
- The female on the cover is not independent, cannot handle herself and has got into trouble- Damsel in distress.
Narrative:
- Can clearly tell its about a prom night due to the title.
- "A night to die for" gong to be violent and gory, not what we would expect from the usual 'perfect' teenage prom.
- Tiara reinforces the prom Queen glitz and glamour.
- Red writing stands out and lets us know it is going to have a darker more violent storyline.
- Perfect prom Queen image is being juxtaposed with the sinister nature of the poster letting us know this is not going to be the prom we expect.
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