Here is my research on horror posters

2. The common visual codes used in Horror film posters are black backgrounds which creates a mood of
darkness. The common written codes are shown through the title which is written in bold and enhances
the horror theme. Often on horror film posters shows an image of a human face or mostly just the eyes
which creates mystery. Most images show close ups of the characters eyes which is commonly used on
horror posters. In addition, as well as the images, the tagline also hint the story and is often written at the
top of the poster to catch the audience attention and make them feel scared but also excited to watch the
film as they want to know hat the film is about.

3. In the ‘Scream’ poster shows the fear in
the characters eyes which is also shown
when she has her hand hovering her
mouth and her facial expression which
indicates that something terrifying will
happen to the character.
The tagline starts with the word ‘Someone’ which may be
referring to the writer of the film. This addresses that he
has written scary films before however this one is going to
be much scarier. The first line tells us that the film will be
scary and persuades the audience to see how scary the
film which is a way of attracting the audience.
The second line already foreshadows the plot of the film.
As the audience we want to know what the ‘mystery’ is
and how it will be solved. The last word of the second line
tells us one of the events that will happen in the film. In
horror films murder is one of the conventions that happen.
Although a murder scene will frighten the audience they
are still keen on seeing murder scenes as they are curious
to know who the murderer is, who has been murdered and
how.
The font used for the title is white and bold. This draws
attention to the audience but the audience may question
why the title is white rather than black which is a colour
that brings in darkness. However the use of the colour
white may be used to tease the audience. The use of the
colour and font also allows the audience to recognise the
film.
The ‘M’ has a pointy middle to highlight the genre which
is horror and it reveals death and violence; this also
implies that a sharp weapon is going to be used.
The colours used on the poster is black and white
which hints that the film may have been produced
and distributed in the 1960s-70s. The colour white
dominates the character’s face and titles with a
black background which indicates that this
character will be the one facing danger in the film.
Here shows the name of actors to give them credit
and make the audience excited to see the actors.
Often actors’ names are shown on the poster as a
unique selling point and persuasion.
This is additional information of
who made the film and what
companies were involved.

4. Film producers enhance the genre though the
creativity in the poster. For example on ‘The
Return’ poster it shows a close of a human
looking statue’s eye with a human hand
spreaded behind the eye like a window which
implies that an entrapment will be one of the
events that audience will see in the film.
The tagline accentuates the theme of Karma
because it highlights the message of your actions
in the past have consequences. However to
enhance the genre the word ‘Kill’ is used which
means that characters of this film will face death
because of their actions in the past. This implies
that revenge could be the subject of this matter
or the theory of ‘what goes around, comes
around.’
Over here is the name of the actor of the film. The poster
only shows one name to inform the audience that she is
the main character and the film is about her and her
experience.
The font used for the title is blue and bold. The
colour blue symbolizes sadness which hints that
the death of a character could be tragic for the
audience to see.
The main colours used on the poster as a whole is white
and blue. The colours look washed out and dirty to draw
attention to the audience. This also indicates that the
killer is cold hearted and the characters are living in a
cold world.
Below here shows the information
about the production and the
companies involved.
The ‘R’ in the word ‘Return’ is not written the right
way which holds a mirror effect. This may symbolise
‘what goes around comes around’ and how the
characters actions in the film lead to death. The ‘N’ is
also fuzzy which symbolizes how the characters lives
end.

5. On the ‘Mirrors’ Poster shows a close up of a human’s
face however the face is faded out in black shadow
covering the chin and the mouth which may indicate a
death or the disappearance of a character. The eyes look
beady which may indicate that this character is the
antagonist or the character that everyone should be
afraid of. The eyes can also mean that this character has
been possessed. Although the eyes look scary the
audience will still want to know who the character is.
The font of the title is red and bold. Bold writing is
a common use un horror film posters to gain
attention form the audience. The colour red
symbolizes blood, death and danger which the
film may cover. The 2 R’s on the title face each
other as a reflection which hints that the
protagonist may see something unusual or scary.
through the mirror at some point in the film.
On top of the poster informs us that the director for this
film has directed another film. This attracts old audience
to see this film and maybe engage new audiences to
watch both.
Here tells us the name of the director so that we
recognized the person.
Here shows the name of the actor of the film telling us
that this is the main character and the film is about this
particular person. The actor’s name is also recognizable.
This informs us who was involved in the making of the
film which commonly used on posters.
Below the poster tells us when the film will
release in cinemas which creates
excitement within the audience.