Horror magazine cover analysis- The A-Z Of Horror

The masthead of the magazine is in block red capitals and has splatters and dribbles running across the cover. These denotations all connote blood and the gory conventions shown in horror films. This means the blood red capitals represent horror, and more specifically slashers which can be linked to the appearance of iconic slasher villain’s, on the front cover. Blood is used on the cover to help amplify this genre convention making it a motif of the magazine.

The top of the magazine features a “free gifts” area which can act as a USP for the target audience to be attracted to, and thus attract more target audience members. The font is in block and bold capitals so that it attracts the audience’s attention and is also placed on a red background which fits into the magazine motif of blood representing horror.

The magazine cover follows a predominately brown, red, white, yellow and black colour scheme with the brown being used for the main image of iconic horror characters, and the red, white, black and yellow being used for coverlines, boxes and text in general.

The brown image has a sepia tone denotation which gives it connotations of old age, nostalgia and dirt making the iconic horror characters have representations of timeless iconography; as if they’ve been around since the beginning of the genre.

The main coverline continues the blood red splatter motif shown on the masthead as splatters of blood cover the title and help to reinforce the slasher genre conventions.

The title is in big, white and bold font which draws the eye of the audience. It also dominates the bottom third of the magazine cover enabling it to be easily seen by the target audience.

This magazine actually has a BBFC, British Board of Film Classification, age rating representing the fact that it’s aimed at an older target audience and is not intended for children.