The document discusses conventions of horror film posters. It notes that posters typically feature a large title at the bottom, frightening central images, taglines at the top, and billing blocks at the bottom with release dates. Images usually show scared protagonists or threatening antagonists to intrigue viewers. Colors like red are used to imply violence, and font sizes emphasize the title over other text. Overall, the layout and visual elements are designed to attract attention and convey a sense of danger or suspense regarding the film's plot.

1. Research Of Horror Film
Posters

3. Generic Conventions Of Horror
Film Posters • Bold, large name of the film, usually situated at the bottom half
of the poster. Fonts are largest with the name of the film, the
font is sometimes disturbed with fade, cuts or smudges this
shows how the film involves a change from normality and an
interruption to average life.
• Close-up shot of faces to show emotion, sometimes long shot
to get a character, location and costume in.
• Posters show protagonists that are scared or antagonists
looking at the camera to frighten audience/make them look
at the poster.
• Actors name above title to promote the film.
• The image is often frightening or intriguing, suggested violence
and situated I the centre of the poster.
•

4. Conventions
• Violence and evil are implied by props, colour and the characters. Colours are
dark, often hints of red most of these posters have the colour red in them
this helps to imply violence, danger, blood this is seen in more classic horror
films, colours like white and blue are used in more supernatural films.
• Tag line always found at the top of the poster and are shocking, intriguing or
dramatic.
• Billing block is always found in the bottom third of the poster, always in white
to contrast with the usually dark colours in the background on the poster.
• Low lighting, however lighter around the character to make them stand out.
This could make them vulnerable or more intimidating.
• Release dates or ‘Coming Soon’ is found beneath the billing block, directors are
first on the list.
•

5. Layout/Structure
1. Bold, large name of the
film, usually situated at the
bottom half of the poster.
Actors name above
title to promote the
film.
Picture is situated in
the centre of the
poster.
Tag line always found
at the top of the
poster and are
shocking, intriguing or
dramatic.
Billing block is always
found in the bottom
third of the poster,
always in white to
contrast with the usually
dark colours in the
background on the
poster.
Release dates or
‘Coming Soon’ is found
beneath the billing
block, directors are first
on the list.

6. Text sizes & Font
Fonts are largest
with the name
of the film
The font is sometimes
disturbed with fade, cuts or
smudges this shows how the
film involves a change from
normality and an interruption
to average life.
Smallest font is the billing
block, the information isn't
key to the audience.

7. Language/Shot types
Close-up shot of faces to
show emotion, sometimes
long shot to get a
character, location and
costume in.
Posters show protagonists that
are scared or antagonists looking
at the camera or doing acts that
are supernatural to frighten
audience/make them look at the
poster.
Tag lines are shocking,
intriguing or dramatic.

8. Information
Release dates or ‘Coming Soon’ is
found beneath the billing block
Actors name
above title to
promote the
film. Image always
hints at what the
film is about, as
well as the tag line
Billing block involves
directors, production
team members, actors,
actresses
-+

9. Media Language
Violence and evil are implied by props,
colour and the characters. Colours are
dark, often hints of red most of these
posters have the colour red in them this
helps to imply violence, danger, blood
this is seen in more classic horror films,
colours like white and blue are used in
more supernatural films.
Low lighting, however lighter around the character
to make them stand out. This could make them
vulnerable or more intimidating.
Close-up shot of faces to show
emotion, sometimes long shot to
get a character, location and
costume in.

10. Annotations Of A Horror Film
Poster
Girl looks like little red
riding hood, the film is a
metaphoric modern
adaption of the tale, this
implies she is lured into a
trap and is attacked by
someone portraying the
wolf in the tale.
The Trap is symbolizing the
wolf‘s mouth and teeth,
about to bite her. Although
this is a metaphor of the
film because the girls ends
up being the trap instead
of the bait that she is
portrayed as here.
The character is faced away,
not giving any clue whether
she is the antagonist or
protagonist but the poster
implies she is the
protagonist by being in a
trap leading the audience
into a false sense of security.
The subtle plain background
contrasts with the vibrant red
that the girl is wearing, this
makes her stand out and look
isolated and lost. Her large
bag suggests she has packed
up and is away from home,
making her appear vulnerable
to the trap.
The title suggests children or
young characters are
involved because candy is
something that is associated
with children

11. Annotations Of A Horror Film
Poster
The colour is very
metallic and portrays
a coldness, possibly
to represent the cold
heartedness of the
antagonist
Protagonist is pale to
show her stillness and
how she is trying to stay
hidden from the man
that we assume to be the
antagonist.
The title reads an oxymoron
the idea of a perfect
stranger is impossible but
helps to suggest that the
film is about having strong
feeling for someone but not
actually knowing them. The
redness of the word
‘Perfect’ suggests its more
sinister and quite the
opposite of perfect.
The figure is shown
almost transparently
within the metal, as a
reflection but this is
also a metaphor for
who cold and robot
like he is, how he may
not feel pity or similar
human emotions.
The man’s clothes are
black and fade in with
the background almost
like it is all of him. The
black appears to be
engulfing the
protagonist and implies
that he takes over, and
that evil prevails.