Empire Magazine analysis

             

This is a March 2001 cover of Empire Magazine. Empire Magazine is a mainstream film magazine and this issue is a 'Bloody Valentine' special edition, from this we can tell that the magazine is gonna be based around the Horror genre and specifically gory horror films.The cover image is of thriller horror film Hannibal and is accompanied by the main cover line "WHAT'S COOKING?"A line famously associated on the film based around literature serial killer Hannibal Lecter, this shows that Hannibal is going to be the feature article of the magazine. The colour scheme is white and red, red is a colour synonymous with the horror genre. Red has connotations of evil, blood and danger, all conventions of horror films. The white is Empire Magazine's signature typography on their magazine covers and can almost always be seen on all cover lines of Empire Magazine covers. The masthead is in a bold red font and takes up a lot of cover space on the top third of the magazine and is the same on every cover as it stands out and catches the readers attention and makes it easier to find in shop shelves as readers know what they are looking out for. The coverline "Gore blimey!" is a gore related pun, followed by "The most shocking scenes ever" and "Catering for cannibals". Gore is closely associated with the horror genre and the most shocking scenes ever suggest that there is going to be gory articles which will appeal to horror fans as horror fans like to be grossed out. "March 2001 £2.90" is above the masthead showing that the magazine is a monthly publication and is sold on shelves for £2.90, the barcode in the bottom left further aids this. In the bottom right corner there is a cover line saying "Plus" with a list of famous actors and actresses such as Ridley Scott, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matt Damon and Will smith. These names will catch the attention of readers because these are all famous film stars with big fan bases and also shows that the film will not be a horror movie issue entirely as there will be articles for everyone. "EVERY NEW FILM REVIEWED" in the very top corner will catch readers attention as Empire Magazine is a magazine for film fans who will be excited to read about the newest films in the cinema as they have an interest in films and going to the cinema. "empireonline.co.uk" underneath the masthead shows that the film is digitally convergent and available as print and online, this allows the magazine to project a lot more interest as it is accessible on multiple platforms of technology such as smartphones, tablets and computers on the internet.

sweeny todd magazine analysis

This is a cover for entertainment weekly advertising dark musical,Sweeney Todd: the demon barber, this is a remake of the classic musical. The storyline to this film is quite sinister and although it isnt necessarily categorised as a horror movie it does contain strong elements, the colours scheme used on the cover is fit for purpose as it delivers a cold, dark and sinister effect. the use of white is supposed to symbolise purity however on this cover i believe it symbolises ghostliness. starring is written across the characters neck in red, sweeney todd notoriously slit his victims throats with his razor blade, this could be symblising the bloodshed within the film. The masthead is in a large, bold pale blue font, this making it stand out to instant catch the readers attention, the use of black clothing on his character could be showing both the darkness off the genre as well as his evil intentions. overall the actors name is written in a bold white font as he is a popular actor it may encourage people to purchase the magazine on the account they are a fan of that particular celebrity.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie poster analysis

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie was first released on 1st October 1974 in the USA, since this it has spawned many sequels and went on to later be remastered and re-released, the most recently released being in 2013 this was in Imax 3D. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is predominantly a Horror, but it also fits into the Crime and Drama genres. As a sub-genre of the Horror genre Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a Slasher film. The main image on the poster is of the film's antagonist 'Leatherface', wielding his trademark weapon, a chainsaw, hence the title The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. As he is the most dominant character in the film, he dominates the poster space. A typical convention in Horror films is for the killer to be deformed or inbred, this is the case with Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Leatherface wears a mask made out of the skin of his victims' skin which he and his family eat. He wears this mask to hide his facial deformity, which is visible on the poster slightly, as he and his whole family are inbred and deformed. Leatherface's mask and chainsaw are the most memorable images of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and so are at the forefront of this poster because of how iconic they are to the film and its franchise. The poster's tagline "THE SAW IS THE LAW" is symbolic to the film as the film is set in a small area which after Leatherface kills the only police officer in the area and his father takes charge as the only police officer in the area has no laws. Thus making the only law in the area "the saw", if Leatherface or his chainsaw believe you should be sentenced to death, he will hunt you down and he will massacre you with his chainsaw. The main colours of the poster are red and black, conventional of the Horror genre. Red connotes blood as in a massacre there is a lot of bloodshed, and also connotes evil and danger, on this poster there is a lot of blood on the chainsaw, Leatherface's clothes and down the walls so the connotations of the colour red are very much so blood. Black connotes darkness, both in the events of the film and as the majority of the film is set at night. Horror movies typically have night time settings however this isn't always the case as the majority of Tucker and Dale vs Evil is set in the daytime. 

"Scream" magazine cover analysis

On this issue of “entertainment weekly, the film image for Scream four stars on the front cover, this magazine cover is kept quite simple, featuring the scream mask worn by the slasher in the movie as the main image, as the movies are very popular, people will know what the film the magazine is promoting as a person wearing the trademark mask this would largely appeal to the target audience of horror fanatics.

Being a slasher horror blood is prominent throughout the film The dark red background has conations to perhaps the amount of blood that is shed, this thus is hinting to the gory nature of the scream films as well as this red is known for symbolising danger. The masthead is in bold white font across the top of the page and is the main focus on the page as the colour scheme is a combination of red, black, white with elements of pale yellow and blue.  The ghostly mask worn by the character is white, white usually connotes innocence and purity however in this instance it connotes the idea of emotionless and coldness. The black symbolises darkness and evilness within the film and person behind the ghost face.

The poster focuses mainly on the film as on the right side 'Scream returns' is written in a large bold font in white and pale blue and underneath is a list of the cast members that are being interviewed about the movie, this both promotes the magazine as well as the movie itself.

Analysing existing media products is important as it aids me in expanding my understanding and provides inspiration as the typical conventions found greatly help in creating a successful product that is suited to the genre. I have found that horror magazine covers all have many similarities, one being the use of colour scheme as the horror film magazine covers have the tendency to use dark and gloomy colours along with blood as the connotation of danger and blood.