RESEARCH: Film audiences

During the planning and production of a film a specific target audience is made into account. Target audiences are not only expressed through the general age certificate, but also by the content and themes it explores. 

The majority of thriller films are targeted at teenagers and adults, in particular as the content and themes can often be scary or upsetting for younger viewers. One example of a thriller in which conveys a distinctive target audience is the psychological thriller 'The Roommate':

The film establishes a target audience of teenagers and young adults, firstly through the use of location. For example it is evident on the poster that film is set on a university campus, portraying the characters in the film as young adults, still in education. The film also stars actors, in which are young adults themselves and have portrayed teenage characters in other films or television programmes. For instance the 26 year-old actress, Leighton Meester, who is known for her main role in teen dramas such as 'Gossip girl', is an evident main character in the film, as shown on the poster. The use of the blurred vision behind the young actress and the red text, further suggests the theme of violence and unstable mentality, further suggesting it's aim to approach older audiences rather younger ones, in which might disturb them.