Fonts in thriller films and television shows are used purposefully to convey meaning and set expectations. In the openings of Zombieland and The Walking Dead, font style, color, animation, and positioning are designed to subtly communicate themes to the audience. Red font in Zombieland's credits foreshadows violence and danger, while the decaying, stabbed text in The Walking Dead opening suggests the slow deterioration of society. Fonts are a tool that can reinforce genre and foreshadow plot developments, intriguing audiences and preparing them for the story to come.

1. Fonts in thrillers:
In thrillers fonts are often used for multiple purposes. The colour of a font can
connote to hidden messages that the creator is trying to include, for example
red font could represent danger. Fonts can also reinforce the sub-genre of the
film. For example, a horror/sci-fi thriller could have a disorientated type font,
reinforcing to the audience that the film is going to have that theme.
In ‘Zombieland’ fonts during the opening credits font is used to create different
effects and to inform the audience. Firstly, the colour of the font during the
credits is red. During the sequence
zombies are flying everywhere and
there is blood everywhere. The red
font connotes to the idea that there
is going to be blood, however; it
also connotes to the idea of danger
and violence. The film is a zombie
apocalypse, and by inferring the
idea of violence and danger, the themes of death and action are reinforced to
the audience. This will excite them and make them want to watch on. Also,
during the opening credits of
Zombieland, the animation of the font is
key and foreshadows the future. The
font falls apart as the man falls off the
stairs, which foreshadows the idea that
society and order is going to fall apart,
because of the zombies. Finally, the font during the sequence is very formal and
because of the typography the audience can infer that this film is going to be a
zombie survival guide like film, which informs and excites the audience.
Although ‘The Walking Dead’ and
‘Zombieland’ are both zombie films
and sci-fi thrillers, the two
differentiate in the way they use
fonts in the opening credits. In The
Walking Dead, the font of the
opening credits is very worn and
torn, the text looks like it has literally

2. been stabbed. The effect of this on the audience is an informative one, similarly
to Zombieland, the text represents society and earth itself. That being the slow
decay of everything caused by the zombies. Another key part of this is the point
size of the words “walking dead”. The use of this is a visual representation of
the idea that not only are the zombie the “walking dead” but that every
character is the “walking dead”. This suggests to the audience that over time
everyone will slowly die, and reinforces the common theme of loss and
depression that occur throughout the
show. The positioning of the typography
is key in the opening sequence. When
the actors name is being shown, the
audience can infer how much power
their character has over other characters
(if the audience know the actors name).
For example, Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character is the most powerful and has
complete control over all characters and
other actors such as Norman Reedus’
character has no power in the season. This
is a hidden message that intrigues and
informs the audience of what is going on
within the show.
In conclusion, fonts are used to inform the audience of what is in store for them.
But also, use colour and the connotations to that colour to reinforce genres and
ideas within the film. The best example for this being the red font during
Zombieland’s opening credit sequence. Also, the Point size of font is used to
make certain words stand out, and from this the audience infer different ideas.
Overall fonts/typography inform and intrigue the audience.