Horror Film Poster Analysis

Lewis Brown

Main Image

Title

Awards

Actor Names

Credits

The main image consists of a woman on a throne with a Victorian-style dress covered in blood at the bottom. This image doesn’t give much information away about the nature of the film, but hints that it will contain a lot of gore. The dress is white which connotes purity and contrasts with the blood and makes it stand out; the dress is also ripped to suggest the character is not pure at all. Her make up is also reminiscent of a geisha girl, this connotes that the woman is innocent and contrasts with the gore on her hands and dress. The throne that she sits on suggests that the woman is powerful and majestic. The background is black as this is a conventional colour of the horror genre along with red which is another colour in the poster.

The actors names are clearly visible at the top of the poster so that fans of particular actors will be attracted to the film. The main actress is the largest name and is spread across the width of the poster so that it is clear that she is the protagonist of the film.

The awards that the film have gained are shown clearly on either side of the main image to let the audience know that the film is critically acclaimed and will entice them to watch it.

The title is the same off-white colour of the protagonist’s dress to create synergy throughout the poster and also to connote that the character is slowly becoming impure because the white is beginning to turn yellow. The word ‘excision’ is a surgical term that means removing a foreign substance or tissue which connotes that the film is a gore horror.

The credits are a legal requirement for film posters and state who was involved in the production of the film including actors, crew members and companies involved.

Main Image

Title

Selling Line

Credits/Release date

Background

The main image looks eerie and connotes that the characters involved in the story of the film will be taken over by a paranormal force as the hands are grey coloured and it is as if they are dragging the female somewhere. The colours of the main image are grey and black which are common colours of the horror genre and symbolize misery and fear which are common themes in horror. The woman’s expression is fearful to suggest that she is not pleased that the unknown force is taking her, her direct mode of address makes it seem as if she is pleading for help to the audience.

The selling line is aggressive and eerie, it uses the word ‘you’ to include the audience into the film’s narrative. It mentions death which is a common theme in horror films because the victims are usually killed in horror films.

The background is black as this colour reflects the instinctive fear of the dark and is associated with the horror genre.

The title’s typography is bold and creepy-looking to create a sinister vibe for the poster. The word apparition means a ghostly form of a person and this reflects the supernatural element which is common in horror films.

The credits and release date are small to make the title of the film stand out as this is one of the most important aspects of a poster along with the main image.

Main Image

Title

Credits/Release Date

Background

Selling LineThe selling line brings up the theme of dying similar to the previous poster and this shows that death is a common theme of horror films. This poster also uses the word ‘you’ to include the audience in the narrative of the film.

The background is black, the same as the two previous posters. This suggests that black is a common colour in the horror film genre.

The title has a typography which is simple so that it doesn’t draw attention from the main image. The title also gradually fades to black vertically which suggests that the villain will drag you into the dark.

The main image is a creature coming out of the darkness on a mobile phone and looks sinister. The eyes of the creature is cleverly made from the images of screaming mouths on Photoshop; this suggests that the creature’s aim is to cause people to scream. The creature’s face is a dirty white colour to reflect the dark and gritty nature of the horror genre. The mobile it is holding reflects the title of the film. The character has a smirk which connotes that the creature enjoys killing people.

The Conventions…• There are several features that I have found are common in horror posters that I can use as

guidelines when I am producing my film poster. These conventions include:

• Black backgrounds

• Colour schemes involving colours such as red, grey and black.

• A main image that is shocking and eerie for the audience and will make them want to see the film.

• Props such as blood and weapons.

• The theme of death and killing in the selling line and involving the audience using the word ‘you’.

• The off-white colour to give the poster a dirty and gritty vibe.

• Awards

• Facial expressions of fear and evil.

• Bold and creepy typography.

Inspirational Covers

• I am inspired by movie posters that are abstract and eerie as opposed to posters that reveal gore and the main villain in its entirety. I believe posters should reveal small details to attract audiences to see the film.

• The following slide shows a variety of inspirational movie posters.