The Basic Instinct poster uses seductive and terrifying imagery to attract audiences. It features Sharon Stone hiding behind Michael Douglas's back with her nails wrapped around him, looking creepy yet seduced. The tagline "Seduction. Obsession. Murder." succinctly sums up the film. The layout, with white representing seduction and black representing danger, conveys the film's dual tones through composition and contrasting colors. Overall, the poster intrigues audiences through its sexy yet frightening aesthetic.

1. Film Poster Analysis

2. The Impossible Poster
Purpose Background
The purpose of this The background consists of
poster is to catch the palm trees, bright sun,
audiences eye with the splashes of water and some
powerful image, inform bits of wood. The
them of the name of the background doesn’t play a
film and who is starring big role in the appeal of this
in it. poster (apart from the sun)
because it is mostly about
Colour the characters in the
middle. The background
The colours are very tells us it’s set in a tropical
bright and in your face, country and that it is some
especially with the sun sort of disaster movie
at the top of the poster judging by the water and
which seems to bits of wood. Although
indicate hope in times there is no clear indication
of extreme in the background that it is
devastation. These a disaster movie, the blood
vibrant colours add to on Ewan McGregor's arm
the power of the gets it across better.
image.
Key Image Realism
This powerful image attracts to the audience because of many different This film is based on a true story, although most people who
factors. The shot is taken from a low angle which gives us the impression see this for the first time won’t realize this because it doesn’t
that the people are fighting through the disaster, and using each others have the ‘based on a true story’ tagline on it. Anyway the
compassion towards each other to help them get through it. The sun that audience would get the impression that this is a realistic film
is glaring over them gives the picture a sense of hope, and makes the because of the real images, and that the film is probably based
image look inspirational to the audience. You can’t see any of the actors on the relationship between the family, judging by the image
faces, this depicts how scared they all are, and that they are trying to block of them clinging onto eachother, rather than being based on
out the devastation and keep their loved ones safe. huge CGI disaster sequences like films such as ‘The day after
tomorrow’ & ‘2012’.

3. The Impossible Poster
Text Colour
The colour of the main
font is black, and put on
a white see through
banner so it can be seen
Reaction
clearly. The colour of I think this poster is great,
the lead actors names the simplicity of it really
are light grey on a white draws you in to the main
background, which image. I’ve seen this film
cannot be seen very before and I enjoyed it, that
clearly, this is probably may alter my judgment
because the film is more slightly but I still think I
about the message than would want to find out
the actors. more after seeing it.
Text Font
The font on the actors
names and the title of
the is fairly basic, it’s
not got any stylistic
qualities, it’s just their Tagline Layout
to give you The layout of this poster is simple but effective. Our eyes are
There is no tagline used on this poster, they
information. The title drawn towards the powerful image because it’s placed in the
probably wanted the image to be the main
of the film is much middle. The information is placed at the bottom with the title
focus.
larger than the actors and the actors names, this poster proves that sometimes less is
names because it needs more!
to stand out more.

4. Zero Dark Thirty Poster
Key Image
Purpose There are two main images
This poster informs you of the merged into one, the calm
name of the film, what it’s about woman at the top and the
and when it’s released. It looks chaotic explosions at the
as if it is an action film, judging bottom. The images
by the fire and helicopters. represent one extreme to the
other which makes it
powerful and instantly
catches the audiences eye.
Like most film posters, the
key image is the main focus.
Colours
There’s a lot going on in terms of
colour, there are two main Background
colours, orange & blue. These
There is no distinctive
represent two different kinds of
background on this poster.
moods, the blue at the top of the
It’s like everything is in the
poster represents calm, and the
foreground, it’s different to
orange at the bottom of the poster
‘The Impossible’ poster
represents chaos. The reason I
because you cant pinpoint
say this is because there is a calm
exactly what is in the
looking woman with shades on at
background. Anyway, there
the top, and explosions going on
is blue sky at the top and
at the bottom. This makes the
orange smoke at the bottom
audience think that the woman at
that merge together in the
the top is powerful and in control
middle, and as I’ve said
of the situation.
before, these represent two
contrasting feels, calm &
chaos.

5. Zero Dark Thirty Poster
Realism Text Colour
This poster is based on a true They have used the colour of the
story, there’s nothing obvious on title in an interesting way. Unlike
the poster that gives that away, the standard block colour
apart from maybe the tagline lettering that most posters use,
‘The greatest manhunt in they have merged it into the main
history’, which may hint some
image. As you can see, the main
form of realism. title includes an image of a
woman that spreads across all the
Text Font words ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, I’ve
Thick ‘Impact’ style fonts are never seen this before and it
used for this poster, suitable for works very well, giving the
the genre of the film. The main woman a sort of mysterious look
title is very big, a lot bigger than because you can’t see all of her
the average title size on a poster, face. The text at the top and the
this is because it merges into the tagline are both in white, these
main image, it can afford to be stand out fairly well to get across
bigger because it’s not as the information to the audience.
noticeable. The typical thin font The small print is not usually
is used for the small print at the meant to be read so it is in a
bottom. The information on the murky orange colour that fits
top of the poster, the tagline, with the background. The red text
and date on the bottom use showing ‘January 11’ stands out
more or less the same font style well with a bright red colour
and size, they’re smaller than against a black background, this
the main title because they are is a crucial bit of information that
of less importance, however the audience want to know.
they are enough to catch the
audiences attention.

6. Zero Dark Thirty Poster
Tagline
The tagline ‘The greatest
Reaction
manhunt in history’ hints at a It seems the more you look at this
true story and explains what the poster the better it gets, you don’t
film is about. We know from notice all the clever aspects at a
this that it’s an action film, and first glance, but when you look
it’s about a manhunt. into it more you realize how
much thought has gone into
making it unique and attractive to
Layout the audience.
Trying not to repeat myself, the
layout of this poster is clever,
using the calm & chaos idea
from top to bottom and using a
large transparent title, it is
unique and eye catching. It
doesn’t entirely stick to
conventions, however it does in
some places e.g. The small print
and release date at the bottom
and the tagline in the middle.

7. Basic Instinct Poster
Purpose Key Image
The purpose of this poster is to I would describe the main image
seduce the audience with the as ‘seductive & evil’. The
main image and give them expressions of the actors really
information regarding the title, make it powerful. Especially
tagline and actors names. Sharon Stone, it shows her hiding
behind Michael Douglas’s
Colour shoulder with her nails wrapped
round his back like she is going to
The colours used on this poster are
hurt him, the way she is looking
harsh, with blacks whites and reds.
straight at us is very creepy also.
Having seen this film I can tell what
Michael Douglas looks terrified
they are trying to do with the
but seduced at the same time.
colours, it’s telling the story of the
The tag line accentuates this
film, the whites represents how
image.
seductive main female character is,
the blacks and reds are saying if you
get seduced by her, you are entering Background
into a dark place where you‘re The background is very
risking your life, the evil look on her simple on this poster, it is
face accentuates this. mostly white with some
black, the white represents
the seduction aspect, and
Realism the black represents the
This is a fictional story, danger aspect.
though not a fantasy story
like a sci-fi. So there is an
element of realism to it, if
that element of realism
wasn’t their the film poster
& the film wouldn’t work.

8. Basic Instinct Poster
Text Font Key Image
The main title uses quite a thin font, I would describe the main image as
especially on the word ‘Instinct’. ‘seductive & evil’. The expressions of
This seems to make a link to the the actors really make it powerful.
message of the poster, the sleek Especially Sharon Stone, it shows her
think look represents the danger, hiding behind Michael Douglas’s
this attracts to the audience. I like shoulder with her nails wrapped round
how small the lettering is on the his back like she is going to hurt him,
tagline, it’s not bold and out there the way she is looking straight at us is
like the zero dark thirty poster, it’s very creepy also. Michael Douglas
quietly there in small writing, and to looks terrified but seduced at the same
me, that gives the poster an time. The tag line accentuates this
element of mystique. Similarly with image.
Michael Douglas’s name in the top
right hand corner, it’s very thin Background
which also adds to the mysterious The background is very simple on this
feel of the poster. poster, it is mostly white with some
black, the white represents the
Text Colour seduction aspect, and the black
represents the danger aspect.
The two colours used on the text
are red and black, they represent Tagline
danger and death. The color red The tagline on this poster is very
stands out the most, notice how effective, I said earlier how I liked the
Michael Douglas’s name is in red, small font because it gives the poster an
this accentuates that he is going to element of mystery. The words rhyme,
be in some sort of danger during are very concise and they sum up the
the film. film brilliantly, there’s always
something creepy about words that
rhyme when they are used in that way.
I’m sure members of the audience
would want to watch the film after
reading that

9. Basic Instinct Poster
Reaction
Layout The people who designed this poster
The layout Is an important feature want you to feel scared and seduced by
of this poster, it shows the two Sharon stone, and I think it does a
different moods in the film, the brilliant job of doing that. Everything
seduction and the danger elements about this poster is sexy and terrifying.
with the white and black colours. The colour, facial expressions, font’s etc,
You can pick out conventional all add up to it’s appeal. The majority of
triangle shapes within the poster, people would be intrigued by this poster,
this gives it a strong composition and as result would want to watch the
that attracts the audience. film.

10. Basic Instinct Poster
Reaction
Layout The people who designed this poster
The layout Is an important feature want you to feel scared and seduced by
of this poster, it shows the two Sharon stone, and I think it does a
different moods in the film, the brilliant job of doing that. Everything
seduction and the danger elements about this poster is sexy and terrifying.
with the white and black colours. The colour, facial expressions, font’s etc,
You can pick out conventional all add up to it’s appeal. The majority of
triangle shapes within the poster, people would be intrigued by this poster,
this gives it a strong composition and as result would want to watch the
that attracts the audience. film.