While searching for horror movie magazines I came across 'Showreel', at first I was not familiar with a variety of movie or horror movie magazines so could not decide if a student had made this cover or if it was a real movie magazine. Upon further inspection and after being exposed to various horror movie magazine covers, I decided that a student must have made this cover as some of the conventions are challenged dramatically.
The masthead appears to be professional, however there is a special effect which makes it seem as if there is a light shinning onto the masthead. This could suggest that the magazine is full of exciting information and readers will be enlightened after reading this magazine. The date line is conventionally placed alongside the masthead which advises that the magazine can be sold easily. The use of the colour red is predominant throughout the magazine cover, this is a reminder that horror movies will feature heavily if not souly in the magazine. Even the characters costume is red which allows her bloody and bruised face to be highlighted. Once the eye is drawn to the characters face, the audience will notice that her eyes appear to be blacked out or have been removed. The lack of the characters eyes showing brings forward the idea that she is not human as peoples eyes theoretically show their emotions and thoughts. As the audience cannot see her eyes and therefore empathise with her, they tend to see her as more of a spirit or an evil being than a human being.
This magazine cover challenges the conventions of most magazine covers as it has sell-lines on the right hand side and left hand side. Characteristically the sell-lines are placed on the left hand third of the magazine- where the eye is drawn to first. However this may be an intelligent ploy to get the magazine to stand out. If magazine place there most important sell-lines on the left side, having a magazine with the majority of sell-lines on the right side will indeed make it stand out. Two puffs are employed on the cover of this magazine, one reading 'sneak peek' and the other '100 of the goriest films 2011'. The first one will tempt audiences to have a look and feel that they are part of an exclusive group who will get to find out about the movie 'Host' before anyone else, a great selling technique. The second is also advertising the fact that the magazine or its editors enjoy gore, so this issue of the magazine is a true horror movie special, and audiences will not be let down. The magazine has an informal tone as the sell-line on the right spells brains 'brainnss... brainnss...' this will appeal to a younger or less serious target audience- or an audience that appreciates horror movies and gore. Above that sell-line are two sell-lines which focus on older horror movies, these articles may provide an insight into the behind the scenes or making of the movie- which people who are passionate about film will be drawn to. The background appears to be a bedroom as presumably a duvet covers pattern can be seen just below the curtains- this is what allowed me to decide that this is not a professional magazine, that a student has created this. The curtains seem to be textured with velvet- or this may be a special effect used on photo shop, this is very effective as it allows different tones of the colour red to be present. Therefore suggesting that there may be different layers to the character e.g. that she is a good person on the inside but her tough exterior and life have led people to believe that she is a bad person or not even a person but an evil being.
The usage of a teddy bear to most would seem unusual and senseless, however this is a clever technique used in horror movies, which turns childish objects into evil objects that need to be feared. A good example of this can be found in the 'Woman in black' movie, where dolls come to life and haunt the main character. The teddy used in this magazine cover is relatively normal suggesting any teddy bear could become evil. After having a closer look I saw that one eye is missing and a paw and an ear have a bite marks on them. This is simple yet effective as it allows an innocent childhood object to become more sinister and scary.
Having a magazine which focuses only on horror movies is a challenge as there is a limited target audience available and willing to buy a magazine weekly or monthly. I recognised immediately that the magazine was focusing on horror because of the sell-lines and main image, I therefore pressumed that this would be a regular horror movie magazine, and wondered if competition in the horror movie magazine was weakening. The stamp like effect on the text 'horror special' is coloured light grey so does not stand out immediately which is not ideal. However the use of a yellow/golden star either side allows the eye to be drawn to the magazine and for audiences who are not obessed with horror movies to know that there is a new movie magazine.
If my sub-genre was slasher then I would definately like to incorporate some of the elements found on this cover, namely the characters make-up, the use of colour and the teddy bears injurys being highlighted/ exaggerated.
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