Textual Analysis of three film posters.

2. The date the film is released I find is significant as the 31st is the
date of Halloween, although the film isn't actually released in
October I feel this date has been purposely chosen to directly
link with the holiday Halloween, hence the name and nature of
the film.
The choice of the orange text against the black background allows
the foreground to stand out and will be the first text the audience
read.
The lettering of the title “Halloween” is very big, bold and orange.
The colour orange is used as this particular colour has a direct link
to Halloween due to this colour being the colour of pumpkins, a
typical item we associate with the holiday. The letterings
largeness relates to the antagonist himself who is of a very large
physique, it therefore corresponds with the content within the
film.
However, the use of the white lettering for the text “Evil has a
destiny” may be a juxtaposition of the villain within. The colour
white meaning purity, this potentially suggests that the villains
motives are pure, as he returns for his baby sister , not to harm
her but to retrieve her.
The choice of white text for the tagline at the top of the poster
again makes the text stand out against the dark background.
The colouring of the text is white which is the connotation of
innocence. This brings the binary opposition of good vs. evil to
play as with a villain there must always be a victim, the white
may potentially represent the helpless victims.
Above the title “A Rob Zombie Film” is apparent, this will draw in
a further audience as Rob Zombie is a well established, successful
director, particularly within the horror genre.
The text displayed on the poster stands out but in order of
hierarchy:
Firstly, the titles of the film are the boldest and therefore the first
seen.
The second text seen would be the directors name due to the very
close positioning to the titles.
Thirdly the tagline would next be read as it is the second largest
text apparent.

3. The Michael Myers in the background of the poster also appears to
be on fire. The colour of the fire again showing the connotation of
Halloween as it again links to the iconic fruit of a pumpkin. The fire
also hinting at the idea of danger which is again a key element of
horror films.
The only featured figure on the cover holds two very insinuating
objects, the figure is clearly Michael Myers. The figure appears
to be staring at fire version of the iconic mask, this relates to the
tagline “Evil has a destiny” as if he appears to be staring at his
destiny, the mask; the evil life that comes with the mask.
In the left hand of the male on the poster he appears to be
holding a mask, this strongly displays who his character as he
holds the iconic Michael Myers mask. Also the mask could also
be interpreted as a skull, this suggests the theme of death, the
key theme to a slasher.
The masculine figure also appears to be holding a knife in his
right hand, displaying that the figure is again the villain of the
film. The weapon also follows the typical elements of a slasher;
the villains of a slasher tend to use more intimate weapons,
making the murder become more violent and gruesome to
watch.
There is also a very dingy looking house in the background of
the image. On the right hand side of the house when you look
closely it appears to have something protruding, my
interpretation is that is looks like an arm holding a knife. This
hints towards the idea of the house being the killers home,
again potentially linking to the reason why Michael returns.
Within the background of the poster shadows of trees are
featured. The trees give a hint as to what settings will be
featured within the film; a wood of some sort. The woods is
classic setting of a slasher as this location is a very isolated area;
making the victims much more vulnerable. Featuring the trees
as a silhouette instead of a coloured image also creates a very
sinister atmosphere as it brings in the idea of shadows and
someone potentially lurking within them.

4. The use of the white lettering upon the black and faded background draws
the main focus to the title of the film, therefore making the title the most
memorable aspect which is key with any kind of marketing project as the
title of the film is the only way in which audience members can book and
research the film. Also the colour white shows the connotation of innocence
and purity, representing the young teens who will be brutally murdered one
by one throughout the film. The contrast of the black and white
representing the binary opposition of good vs. evil, again a key feature of a
slasher film.
The prominent colour of black running throughout the whole poster is again
a typical element of a slasher. The colour black shows the connotation of
evil, the main theme that runs throughout this genre. The black therefore
being the representation of our villain Leatherface and his disturbed family
who seem to accomplice his deadly ways.
The main colour running throughout the poster is black, the only other
apparent image being Leatherface. The use of the colour black surrounding
the poster creates a lot of mystery and secrets about this film as the
darkness is used to cover/hide things hinting towards a lot of fake characters
within the film I.e. the police officer who turns out to be an accomplice of
our antagonist. Also the black covering the majority of the image suggests
our protagonist/s may be potentially trapped. The idea of being trapped
again being a key element to a slasher as an isolated location is a must, the
more isolated the teens are the more vulnerable they therefore become.
The poster also features the tagline “Inspired by a true story”. When this
particular phrase is used within a horror it automatically increases the fear
we as the audience feel. The reason for this being that the events are
already shocking enough that it almost amplifies them further when they
are based upon real life scenarios.

5. The image of the antagonists face also displays his eye looking directly out of
the poster. Giving the idea of him always watching, as within this genre of
films the idea of the killer being almost like a predator stalking his prey his
highly apparent, making them appear even more inhuman.
The close up image of the mask itself possess’ key iconography of the
slasher genre the first being a scar above his right eyebrow. As
stereotypically the antagonist is ugly as audience members associate
ugliness with negativity, unlike the group of victims who will all be a very
good looking group of people in order to display the obvious juxtaposition.
The font used is for the title of the film is a serif, a font typically used to
make lettering look older and dated, this relates well to the chainsaw
massacre as the film is set in the 70s. Also the title is very sharp, this
potentially relates to the idea of a weapon. Weapons within slashers usually
being a knife or axe etc. of some kind, again going back to idea of intimacy
with their victims. The lettering therefore being a potential representation
of the chainsaw itself.
The poster features a faded male face, this face belonging to the antagonist
Leatherface. The gender of the antagonist is very stereotypical of a slasher
film, more than often the villain will be male. The reason for this being that
typically males are much more masculine and stronger making our killer
much more unstoppable and uncontrollable.

6. Black surrounds the tagline and the edge of the whole poster, suggesting
that the characters may be potentially trapped. This may represent the
subplot of Clays sister being abducted by Jason and being held captive due
to the fact she resembles his mother.
Behind Jason there is a slight opening in the trees, the light coming through
the trees suggests a small glimmer of hope that the characters may
potentially escape his wrath. However the breakage in the light is only very
slim which may reflect their chances of escaping.
The woods in the background set the location for the film. The woods is an
ideal location for a slasher film as the more isolated the area the more
vulnerable the victims become.
The release date is February 13th which is obviously in clear relation to the
film title. The choice of the month February is also very clever as at first
glance the February could be mistaken for “Friday”. Making the title become
repetitive and therefore more memorable.
Also by including that the producers are the same as the people behind the
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a highly successful film, people will immediately
be interested especially as the film has a very big fan base. It will also
potentially attract a larger audience as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was
also a remake, a successful remake therefore making Friday 13th a potential
successful remake.
“Welcome To Crystal Lake” this seemingly harmless tagline almost becomes
mocking when put into a horror context, you begin to ask the question
welcome to what? Within a horror a welcoming will more than likely be a
welcoming to the end, most probably the end of a life.
Jason being centrally composed upon the film poster draws the eye to him
first. The shot is also low angled making Jason look more empowered and in
control, which perfectly grasps the plot of the film as Jason is very much in
control.
Jason also wears his iconic mask. The villain wearing a mask is key in a
Slasher film, concealing his identity increases the fear towards him as he
becomes the unknown. Jason's mask is a hockey mask, hockey being a very
intense and powerful sport, representing the power and strength Jason
himself also posses’

7. Jason also posses’ a very large physique, making his power and control again
increase. He also stands with extrovert body language, again representing
the great power he posses’ over the teens. With open body language he also
communicates the confidence in which he has, clearly comfortable and
confident in the gruesome crimes he is committing.
He also holds a machete in his left hand. This particular weapon is again
ideal for a slasher film as the villains like to get up close and personal with
their victims, making the murders become more gory – gore again being a
key element of a slasher. The more intimate the weapon the better.
The choice of a machete is also very clever, this weapon not only allows the
intimacy the villain needs with his victims but also looks very scary and
threatening.
The large size of his weapon coincides with his large size, making the whole
package become much more scary.
Surrounding the villain is also a large amount of thick fog. This particular
weather is ideal for a slasher, fog conceals and hides things. Much like the
Villain who conceals and hides his past, that has obviously come back to
haunt him as he kidnaps a young girl who resembles his mother.
Majority of slasher films feature a Villain who has had a bad/traumatic
upbringing causing them to be the way they are today.
The title “Friday the 13th” is coloured red. Red showing the connotation of
blood, danger, evil and lust. The blood representing the murders, the danger
and evil representing Jason and the lust represent the sexual acts that will
take place between the drunken teens.
The tagline “Welcome To Crystal Lake” is coloured white. The white
juxtaposes the red which is clearly a representation of Jason. White shows
the connotation of purity and innocence, therefore representing the young
teenagers who get brutally murdered.
The poster also features Jason standing upon Crystal Lake, walking on water
is in clear relation to Jesus Christ, an all powerful descendant from God. By
featuring this particular image it almost makes Jason become Omnipotent
and god like, making his defeat become more and more impossible. –
unbeatable supernatural
The poster also displays very dark lighting, the only light shining through
being through the breakage of trees (the glimmer of hope). The use of dark
lighting represents the dark plot and the sinister nature Jason posses’.