By Phoebe McCarthy

CODES AND CONVENTIONSOF A HORROR FILM POSTER

A Film poster is a form of advertisement and promotion for the film. The poster allows people get an insight to the film and from the way the poster is designed the genre and tone. A main benefit of a poster is that it is not a film piece therefore can be displayed in multiple different places, including at bus stops, large billboards, on buses, underground stations, cinema foyer etc. This allows the film to be noticed by a much larger amount of people rather than if the film trailer was just shown in the cinema, meaning a lot more people will be aware of the future or present film release and be enticed to spend their money to see it.

The Purpose Of A Film Poster

BILLIBOARDSUNDERGROUND

STATIONS BUS STOPS BUSES

CINEMA FOYER’S

Any poster whether it’s for a film, product, restaurant etc. Is designed to be able to engage with the audience and want them to go out and buy the product, go to that particular restaurant and is this case go to see the film.

CONTINUED:

ROAD SAFETY POSTER

FOOD POSTER VIDEO GAMEPOSTER

IMAGEFilm posters always contain a main image that makes the film recognizable as this is audiences, passer-byes

and people see which catches their eye. The image can be a still from the film, a character shot etc. however

all film posters contain some kind of iconography which enables the audience to asses what kind of genre the film is and enables the poster to reveal

something about the film. Horror film posters usually are of a person usually either the protagonist or the villain. The image normally takes up the whole page and is eye catching so it stands out from the crowd.

IMAGE CONTINUED…AN IMAGE OF A PERSON: Horror films especially use an image of a person as direct eye-sight from the person on the poster creates a personal relationship towards the audience (Uses and Grats) therefore enticing the reader to see the film. Furthermore direct eye sight is especially beneficial on horror film posters as it creates an eerie feel for the audience as it can make them feel uncomfortable as if the person on the poster is looking directly at them. Along with the dark background and horror tone the person will not only feel intrigued to see the film they will also instantly know the genre just from the poster itself.

SCRE

AM

SILE

NCE

OF

THE

LAM

BS

BLAI

R W

ITCH

PRO

JECT

IMAGE CONTINUED:ICONOGRAPHY:However like any other genre Horror films also use iconography in their film posters to again show individuality and to make the poster unique and stand out. After researching multiple horror posters I have came to the conclusion that this convention is not as commonly used as a person on the poster, however from the posters I have found to use iconography they have all be for highly successful films and thoroughly stand out from the rest.

THE

PRO

TAGO

NIS

T

BLAC

K SW

AN

The images to the left are examples of horror film posters that use icons instead of characters. Both these films icons contain images that are relates to the film, for instance the black swan poster has feathering on the sides and then when you look clearly a black swan is noticeable these features both enable the audience to identify what the film may include.