Audience Response for The Children

Studio (Production & Distribution; BBC Films, Vertigo Films and Ghost
House Underground
Director: Tom Shankland
Writers: Tom Shankland (Screenplay) and Paul Andrew Williams (Story)
Stars: Eva Birthistle, Hannah Tointon
Certificate: 15/18
Target Audience details
Age group: 16 20 and secondary market of 21- 35
Demographic: E, D & B
Psychographics: Mainstreamers and Explorers
Gender: Female, Secondary market Male
Uses and Gratifications: Entertainment, Social Interaction and Escapism
The Children is able to appeal to it target audience from the context of the film which is
based on a two families set a weekend together for some winter fun, while each child
falls ill and turns into brutal psycho murders. This plot appeals to the target market by
putting a twist onto the representation on children normally in horror films and turning
them into the villains featured in the film, this then can be seen as creative to people in
the demographic B, also it appeals by featuring some well-known stars such as Eva
Birthistle, Hannah Tointon and Stephen Campbell Moore which some people would
recognize from their other works. Demographic E would be appealed to this film because
they would enjoy the plot of the film featured and also enjoy the gory elements used in
the film.
This films is able to appeal to the Psychographics of mainstreamers and Explorers
because the film is based on two different families and how they are trying to figure out
the weird behaviour coming from their kids, also it would appeal to them because this
movie is very different to other films, and as an explorer they would want to try this film
first as it not like any other film also the film is appealing to a younger audience which
the explorers consist of. The gender is female and would appeal to them but mainly the
older woman in which it would appeal to them as after watching this film they would then
want to protect their kids from anything. The film on some level could appeal to males as
throughout the film there are elements of gore featured.
Finally the film would fit into the uses and gratification categories of
entertainment, social interaction and escapism as even though its a horror
movie it still able to keep the audience on edge and watching was it going on.
Also people would be able to talk about the film, because from the plot
this type of film has been done but they have put it on a twist, which
people would want to discuss about. Furthermore they would be able
to escape from their everyday life and be able to have sympathy for
the different characters featured in the film.