horror film analysis: posters

1. HORROR FILM POSTER
ANALYSIS
By Erin Hunter

2. The Colours used are mainly whites
and greys. White has connotations
of purity and innocence, white is
also the colour of cleanliness and
this could suggest that the film is
set in a hospital. As we see a young
girl presented on the poster we can
infer that the use of white is to
suggest the child’s innocence and
purity. However this juxtaposes the
use of the colour red as red has
connotations of death and evil. The
fact that the young girl is dragging
her hand across the wall leaving the
blood behind her could suggest that
the girl is leaving a trail of death
behind her. The blood left by the
girl shows a face. The face looks
sinister and the fact that the face is
on the white walls could imply that
the little girl has been possessed.
From this poster we can infer
that the sub-genre of this horror
film is gore & possession. The
use of blood suggests that there
will be graphic killings within the
film whilst the face in the blood
suggests some form of
paranormal activity. However as
the young girl is also in the
poster we can infer that it is the
girl that gets possessed and
commits the killings.
Right at the top of the page it says “ from
the producer of” This is used to convince
the potential audience to go and watch the
film. The reference to the films and
producer suggests to the audience that the
film will be worth watching as the previous
films produced by the same people were
professional and horrific.Serif and Sans Serif font is used on this
poster. The used of serif font in the title
“SINISTER” is used as it creates a more
sinister look. This is also true for the
use of the drop shadow. The drop
shadow shows the letters to be dripping
this could suggest that blood will be
dripping from almost everything in the
film or it could suggest that whatever is
sinister about the film is dripping onto
the girl below- reinforcing the notion of
possession. The font is also black which
could imply that the characters in the
film are dark and soulless or that the
film itself is dark and disturbing. The
use of sans serif font makes the
strapline stand out from the rest of the
poster. As it is also positioned in the
centre of the poster and close to the
hotspots it catches the readers attention
and makes them focus on it so that
when they stop looking at the poster
the strapline is still in their minds
making them want to go and watch the
This is common in horror film posters and contains the
names of people who were involved in the creation of
the film. Here you can also see the logos of the
companies who have rights to the film and the date that

3. The colours used in this poster are
mainly grey, black and white. The
colour grey connotes coldness and
lifelessness which could imply that
some of the characters in this film
have died. The use of the colour
black connotes soullessness and
the fact that two of the characters’
are presented as black shadows
could imply that this film is about
paranormal activity. The use of
white around the window suggests
innocence and purity and the fact
that the little girl is looking out of
it suggests that she is pure.
However the fact that the shadow
of the tree is reaching over the
window could imply that the
paranormal beings are going to
have some sort of contact with the
girl.
The font used on this poster is
serif. This typography is
commonly used in horror film
posters as it is much more
edged. This makes the font seem
more angular and sharp which
connotes to danger.
The fact that the girl is looking out
of the window and onto the
grandparents suggests that the girl
is in a position of power. The house
may be safe and stops the
paranormal beings from reaching
the child. It could also suggest that
the girl survives the visit from the
paranormal beings and that the
poster is foreshadowing the ending
of the film. The fact that the girl is
looking out onto the danger could
suggest that a lot of the film is
outside and around the house.
The use of the tree on this poster
could suggest that what happens in
the film is unnatural. Trees
symbolise nature and are usually
presented as good. However the se
of the tree on this poster in dark
colours portrays the tree as
consuming and evil. This could
suggest that what once was good is
now evil and could refer to the
grandparents’ role in the film.
The fact that the text, and
shadow is mainly towards the
bottom of the page could again
imply that the grandparents
have died as the ground is
where people are buried. The
fact then that all the darkness is
towards the bottom of the page
suggests this.

4. The title of the film ‘THE
FOREST’ uses serif font to
create a sinister presentation
of the film. The colour black
connotes danger and
soullessness which relates to
the storyline of the film- All
the characters that enter the
forest go there to die. The
title of the film is simple so
it leaves the audience
wanting to know more
encouraging them to go and
watch the film.Here in the background we
can see rope tied into
loops hanging off trees.
This suggests that the film
is about suicide. However
the title ‘Suicide’ in this
case would surely be a
better title for the film
making me believe that the
film isn’t about someone
entering the Forest trying
to kill themselves, it is
more about the woods and
what lurks in them.
The setting of the poster
conforms to the conventions of
horror posters. The use of low
key lighting in the forest
suggests that it is an isolated
location. This conforms to
stereotypical conventions of the
horror genre.
The use of reflection in the
water creates a binary
opposite. The low key lighting
suggests that the
protagonist- as seen in the
centre of the poster- is
isolated and alone in the
forest. However the reflection
shows several other people in
the forest with her. This
confuses the audience leaving
them bewildered and wanting
to watch the film to
desperately understand what’s
going on.
The lighting towards the centre
of the poster is high key. This
could be to create a binary
opposite between the dead and
the living. It could also be to
represent that the protagonist
shill has hope and is able to
leave the forest alive.
The test at the bottom of the poster is red. The colour red has
connotations of blood, death and danger. The use of red here
could then be to foreshadow that the film will be filled with death
and blood encouraging the audience to watch the film.