The age range of our target audience is between twenty-five and fifty years, and will be focused on white middle-class males. This wide age gap adheres to the genre of our film and its influences. Directors such as Stanley Kubrick had their most critical success in the 1970's and the audience of such films would now have reached their middle ages and would be suitable viewers for new thrillers that have been influenced by the one's from their past. Young adults would be attracted to our film because it presents a new and different take on a classic film genre; this is our primary audience because they are more likely to actively view the film. Similarities across the age range are that the audience will have to have a substantial interest in film itself and be attracted to other thriller films, importantly ones that have influenced this film.
What both age ranges have in common is their psycho-graphic. The film is targeted at males because that is the gender of the protagonist, and the film will deal with issues relative to his life. The film is set in modern day Britain and has cast only white characters, meaning that it is better suited to a white audience because again the issues explored will establish a connection with the white character and white viewer; this statement also applies to the middle class quality of the audience.
The status of our demographic can be better defined by the ACORN system whereby they would occupy the B and C1 social grades (middle and lower middle class). The demographic needs to have a sufficient amount of disposable income to view a film that isn't necessarily a box office hit, but more a film that requires problem solving and isn't attractive to the mainstream audience.
The mentality of our demographic can be described as that of a 'reformer' (those who are social aware, intellectual and seek out authenticity) and 'explorer' (people who are driven by a need for challenge and discovery).
According to Maslow's 'Hierarchy of Needs' this film will challenge the viewers need for belonging and love as well as self-actualisation. The protagonist will go on a journey of self-realisation in the film, realising he is neglecting those around him, and realise that he needs to change; which could provoke a similar feeling in the audience.
Using Blumler and Katz's 'Uses and Gratifications' theory, it can be suggested that the audience will use this film for entertainment and relationships; the latter referring to its arthouse sub-genre which cites it as a niche film, therefore creating an inclusive audience that is likely to critique and discuss the film amongst each other. Entertainment can be derived from our film because it's narrative keep's the audience largely unaware throughout, resulting in the ending being largely anticipated.
