A Horror Movie Poster Analysis

1. Horror Movie
Poster Analysis

2. Poltergeist
• I have chosen the poster for
the movie “Poltergeist”, this is
because I found it quite eerie
and creepy. This is because of
its simple and dark mise-en-
scene. The main colours are
black and blue as they’re the
only colours present, this again
makes it odd and sinister. The
photo used is also a snippet of
the movie which teases you
into what is upcoming in the
movie.

3. • I like the use pf the phrase,
“they know what scares
you,” because it is a very
simple yet uncanny
sentence which can again
link to the movie. These
sentences can make a
quick link into future
moments in the film which
is why they are used so
frequently.

4. • The use of a young child
gives a mysterious effect,
this is also because of the
fact that there are visible
connections between the
child and the television
screen. This is a hint towards
to paranormal feel of the
movie itself, making further
connections to further on in
the film.

5. • The hands in the tv are
again, saw in the film. The
poster entirely is teasing the
film to you, but also by not
giving away too much. The tv
is of high significance in the
movie therefore it is a key
piece to show in the poster.

6. • The boldest text in the poster is
the title itself, the reason this is
to stand out and catch the
audiences eyes and links
closer to the whole paranormal
experience of the film as the
title “Poltergeist” links to.

7. Paranormal Activity: The
Marked Ones
• I have chosen the movie
‘Paranormal Activity: The
Marked Ones’ this is
because I like the dark
mise-en-scene and how it
links to the eeriness of the
movie.

8. • In the photo of the boy, there
are visible lines across the
photo which symbolises the
fact that the whole movie is
meant to seem real life and
as if people were videoing
their life when things start
getting weird. This links to the
entirety of the film being
caught on tape.

9. • In the text of the title itself, it
again has the lines of the
camera which symbolises
the camera being used
again, this is a very
significant part of the poster
as its also red, and red
symbolises danger, death
and blood which gives a
deadly vibe.

10. • The short phrase “You’re
one of us now,” is
straight to the point and
has links to parts further
on in the film which is
almost a spoiler, but
people probably won’t
realise otherwise.

11. • The title itself, “The Marked Ones,” carries
associations to the character Jesse in the
movie, as he is “marked,” by a supernatural
force which is continued throughout the entire
movie.

12. • The dark mise-en-scene in the
poster suggests connotations to
impending doom, also the use of
the thaumaturgic triangle in
Jesses hand suggests that he
will die because the triangle
represents that the first born in
the family will die, which again
links to impending doom.

13. The Visit
• I have chosen the movie
poster of “The Visit,” I
have chosen it because at
first glance it appears to
be rather nice and
sentimental, however
what actually happens in
the movie suggests
otherwise.

14. • The close up of
“Grandma’s Rules,” again,
makes the actual visit the
children are going to
have, be fun and
enjoyable. The rule “Don’t
ever leave your room after
9:30pm” makes the views
question what would
happen if the children
disobeyed and did leave
after 9:30pm.

15. • The blood surrounding the
house and the title
suggests that blood will be
spilled during the film,
which again contradicts
the sense of niceness
which is given on the
whole poster, because of
the blood it takes away
the sentimental
appearance of the poster.

16. • The full appearance of the
poster looks as if it has
been stitched by their
“Grandma.” This makes it
seem unlike the normal
horror movie poster and
more like a children’s
movie, but yet the blood
again contradicts the
niceness of the poster and
has connotations to death,
or just blood being spilled
in general.

17. • Red is a prominent colour towards the
bottom of the poster, even the house has
red detailing because blood spill is inside
the house. Even the title and the month in
which the movie will be coming out is still
red, so the connotations to death or danger
is constantly there, even in the details of the
pleasant and peaceful looking house.