1. FILM POSTER ANALYSIS
Charlotte Joyce

2. HORROR FILM POSTER
THE POSSESSION

3. From the main image it is clear that the The tagline says “based on a true story” this The film title sums up the content of the film and
protagonist shown is the victim. The film has heightens the fear amongst the target audience. the horror genre that it belongs to. This relates to
followed the stereotypical horror convention and By knowing that the protagonist is not Barthes „Pleasure to the Text‟ theory as the
Propp‟s theory of character types by having a fictitious and really suffers from the trials and audience can guess what the film is about but want
female victim as they are seen as weaker than men tribulations shown in the film poster evokes to view the film to see it play out. This poster uses
and therefore defenceless against the villain. The empathy and sympathy for the target audience, a smaller font for “the” which allows for the main
way that she is leaning back coveys pain, like the which makes them even more scared as they emphasis to be on possession. The title font is
hands are torturing her and also a sense that she is put themselves in the protagonists position. very simple so as not to steal attention away from
possessed which relates to the film poster. These the main image but it still stands out because it is
elements attract the target audience of a horror all in capitals and the white stands out against the
film because some of the most iconic horror darkness of the rest of the poster.
films, such as „The Exorcist‟, include elements of
the paranormal. Also the mise-en-scene, such as
the costume, hair and make up, of the character
suggests that she is an average person. This makes The puff reads „Darkness Lives Inside‟ This is a
the film even more scary because members of the hook for the target audience because it adds a
target audience can imagine themselves in her sense of enigma, this fits into Freytag's Pyramid as
position. the audience ask themselves „Why does darkness
The hands are the element that tell the target live inside?‟.
audience that the villain in this film is something
supernatural because they appear mummified and
inhuman. They are grabbing at the female victim The website is positioned below the release date
and pulling her face down, an element that and is one of the smallest aspects of the poster so as
connotes they are torturing her. This element not to detract attention from the rest of the poster.
combined with the hands reinforces the title as it By using extra marketing techniques such as a
appears they are possessing her. Facebook page designed especially for the film, the
producers are able to raise awareness of the film and
it can reach a wider audience.
The billing block is at the bottom of the film
poster and is the last element of the poster that the
target audience looks at because it is in the smallest
font and blends into the background. The credit
block acknowledges the cast and crew involved in The release date is in a red font – a completely different colour
the production so the target audience can see opposed to the other aspects of the poster and is placed at the
whether a reputable actor or director etc. are bottom of the page so it is easy to see. Although October is the
involved with the film. The production logo makes most popular time for horror films to be released, this film being
any loyal target audience members want to go and released in August could entice audiences to watch it as it is the
see the film purely because they know that it is big summer holidays and it could be that there are no other horror
budget and high quality. released near this date.

4. HORROR HYBRID FILM POSTER
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

5. The film title is in a red font which has connotations The tag line uses a rhetorical question. It creates realism and cleverly incorporates it into the horror
of blood, passion and evil. The colouring makes the title genre, this creates suspense which makes the target audience want to watch the film. It could also
stand out against the dark setting without stealing the evoke fear or even paranoia within the audience which could make them emotionally involved with
focus from the main image because it is neatly sized and the film poster. In addition is effective as it makes the situations to the audience more
in a basic font. The edges of the writing blur into the relatable, furthermore enhancing the ominous effect.
background which gives a sense that the writing is The film poster also uses a secondary tag line which says “Don‟t see it alone.” this suggests that the
glowing. Also the fact that it‟s in capitals suggests it‟s film is terrifying which would appeal to the target audience but is also a marketing technique to
being shouted at creating an ominous and supernatural encourage the target audience to view the film together.
effect. This once again establishes the genre to the
target audience by implying that violence and harm will The colour scheme consist of 4 colours; red, white, blue
be inflicted upon the victims such as the protagonists and black in the poster. This makes the poster more
shown on the poster. effective because bright and colourful elements do not
draw the target audiences attention away from the raw
The main image is a snapshot of actual footage within image. The colour palette is another signal of the horror
the film. This is clever, as it gives the viewer a small genre to the target audience because it is very dark and
insight of what is happening, therefore inclining the therefore the audience has a sense of not seeing the
viewer towards the film. The main image is very whole picture in its true light.
basic, but clever. The basic form of the image wThe
orks well, as it shows how some terrifying things can The review says „The most anticipated horror event of
happen to common people. The blandness and the year. Steady your nerves, your sleepless nights are
simplistic nature of the image is clever again because it about to return‟. This is written in white and
shows to the audience that no special effects have been approximately size 10, the font used is serif making it
used, again highlighting the fact that this can happen to easier to read. Also this font gives a creepy look as serif
normal people. The eye-contact of the people in the font is usually used for formal text giving the poster a
bed looking towards something conveys that something serious look. The tag line stands out as it is on a black
supernatural is there, and again draws the viewer in and background this contrast makes the text stand out. The
makes them terrified as your bed is meant to be a place text is very exaggerated and tells us it is the best horror
where you feel safe. The image on the poster is in a blue movie out and you can‟t get any better than this. This
colour, reflecting a night time look, which makes the exaggerated line makes the audience eager to watch it and
characters more vulnerable because they cant help you feel a sense of excitement of the horror it will give
themselves. Also the mise-en-scene, such as the you. The after effects of watching a horror movie leaves
costume, hair and make up, of the characters suggest The film poster shows the production the viewer on edge and loss of sleep as the picture of
that they are normal, average people. This makes the logos this makes any loyal target horror remains in your mind. The last sentence prepares
film even more scary because members of the target audience members want to go and see the viewer by informing them that it is so scary that they
audience can imagine themselves in their position and the film purely because they know that will suffer from it and the image will remain for days. It is
therefore empathise with them. it is big budget and high quality. The also put into four lines building up tension and also the
banner informs the audience, it gives spacing out of the lines makes it easier for the audience to
them information on what to do if their read as if they see a bulk of text they would find it boring
local cinema is not showing the film. to read.

6. COMEDY FILM POSTER
THE HANGOVER

7. A tagline has been used to give extra information to the Above the tagline there is a banner including information on the director of the film, this is bolder
viewer, it says `Some guys just can't handle Vegas` This than other posters, as usually information on the director is found in the `billing block`. `From the
extra information gives the viewer a further insight into director of `Old School`` written on the top of the poster aims to pull in viewers. 'Old School` is a
the film, we assume the film is based in Vegas through the well known film, therefore if people know that this film is directed by the same director and they
tagline; where the three men come across trouble. This found `Old School` a successful film they will be more than swayed to want to see this film.
adds a comedic element of the film as well as a sense of Mentioning `Old School` will draw the attentions of viewers and make them want to see another
mystery (Freytag‟s Pyramid) as the target audience film by that director.
questions what happens to the protagonists?
The title of the film `The Hangover` suggests to the
When looking at the main image on this poster we can viewer that the three men have woken up after a
see that the genre of the film is most likely to be a drunken night and are stuck in a sticky situation- hence
Comedy. You can tell this because of the make-up and the baby, the scruffy look and the two men's injuries.
costumes as one man has a baby brace on the front of To many having a hangover is not a nice feeling and
him; the baby is wearing big sunglasses resembling him, the audience can put themselves in the protagonists
the man behind has a cut lip and the man on the left has a position thus making them empathise with them. This
missing tooth and looks puzzled, all three characters look brings the humour element to the film as we presume
scruffy. At first sight we do not know why the characters they have woken up clueless to what happened the
are in this unlikely situation, which adds a sense of enigma night before. The title also emphasises the `Hangover`
(Freytag‟s Pyramid) to the target audience as they part mainly, in a San Serif font to make it bold and easy
question how did they get in this state? like the horror to read for viewers, we straight away know the film will
posters I have analysed. The location and lighting reflects be something to do with having a hangover. In
the Vegas theme as they use dazzling lights and the gold addition the style of font symbolises Vegas because the
represents wealth these aspects are clearly associated with glow around the title is similar to the lights in Vegas.
Vegas. Also the colours used are bright and glamorous to The `the` part is not so important so to make it more
fit in with the Vegas theme. When looking at the poster visually appealing and so that the `Hangover` part
we assume there are three main characters in the film as could be as big and noticeable as possible to save room
not one of them stands out more than another. The the `the` is put inside the `O` of `HANGOVER`, this
presentation of the characters are not how you would find is visually more attractive and adds emphasis to the
a person to be presented in Vegas, this contrast makes the „Hangover‟.
characters seem out of place in their surroundings. This is
humorous for the viewer as they are supposed to be in
The billing block is at the bottom of the film poster and is
classy Vegas, yet they are grubby injured and in charge of
the last element of the poster that the target audience looks at
a baby.
because it is in the smallest font and blends into the The release date is placed at the
background. The credit block acknowledges the cast and crew bottom of the page so it is easy to
The film poster shows the production logos this makes
involved in the production so the target audience can see see. And is used to inform the
any loyal target audience members want to go and see the
whether a reputable actor or director etc. are involved with audience when the film will be
film purely because they know that it is big budget and
the film. The production logo makes any loyal target audience released.
high quality. The banner informs the audience, it gives
members want to go and see the film purely because they
them information on what to do if their local cinema is
know that it is big budget and high quality.
not showing the film.