Horror film poster
- 1. Horror Film Posters Naomisha Phillips
- 2. Film poster conventions: ‘Shelter’ A billing block is included at the bottom of the poster. Also company logos are used within this section. Here presents the viewer of the people and companies that have worked on creating this film. The tagline is positioned in the centre of the poster. This gives the viewer a small insight to what the film may be about. A tagline is a catchy phrase that will be able to stick in the viewers mind. As this is a poster for a horror film, the tagline has a purpose to scare the audience. The text that shows the starring actors of the film, allows the audience to identify to the people that will be in the film. This makes the viewers identify with the starring actors; if they have seen the movies that they have previously starred in. Therefore already connoting to the viewer whether the acting within the movie will be good or not The film title is the placed within the centre of the poster. This effect of the positioning of the title, draws the viewer to it. The name ‘Shelter’ connotes that the film would be associated with the word. Normally, film poster’s include the certificate of the film, and also the release date. This poster is missing these things that are instantly identified by film posters. The image shown within the poster indicates what the film will be about. It sums up what genre the film would fit in, letting the audience know what they’re in for
- 3. Film Poster Analysis This poster is displayed in black and white, emphasising the genre of horror. Typically within horror film posters, this colour scheme is used. This tells the viewer what type of audience that this would appeal to. For example, if a film poster was displaying brightly contrasted colours – with a less serious tone within the subject’s faces – it would seem as if it was aimed at a younger audience, with a light hearted theme. However, the use of colour within a film poster seems to link in with the mood and theme of the film itself. From this poster the viewer can gather that this is a horror film, with its aim to scare and shock the audience. The use of black and white also creates an eerie atmosphere within the poster. This allows the viewer to visually imagine what will take place in the film.
- 4. Shots In Detail This screen shot of the film poster shows a hooded figure moving towards one of the main characters that are in the film. The way in which this frame is constructed makes the viewer want to know what will happen next, and what happened prior to this image. As this is placed in the centre of the poster, it is eye catching to the viewer, attracting the attention to those who see it. The female main character looks as if she is scared, signifying to the viewer that the hooded figure is a threat/bad character within the film. This shows a typical theme convention of horror films, as there is usually a main protagonist hero and a villain. The screen shot suggests that the hooded figure is the villain of the film, and the female is the protagonist. The use of the female main character connotes that within the film, she would be a victim – possibly viewed as weak and vulnerable. The location seen in this screen shot shows an eerie, bare forest. This is displayed as typical iconography within the poster, as horror films use forests to create a scary and frightening atmosphere.
- 5. Shots In Detail These two screen shots show the main characters faces, which seem to be reflections in a repeated form. The contrasts of the character’s facial expressions suggest to the viewer that one of them may be the victim, and the other, a villain. This is a typical convention of horror films in terms of characters (a good and bad character). On the left, the female’s facial expression may be identified to the viewers as fear. This conveys that the female character is seen as the innocent victim throughout the film. On the right, the male character has a stern and serious look on his face. Within horror films, this would be signifying that he is the villain within the film. The use of each of the character’s faces being repeated as a reflection, creates an eerie and spooky effect on the poster. Thus showing the viewer that this is a poster for a horror film. Also the split reflections that are on either side of the poster, emphasises the difference in personalities in both characters.