A2 Media Studies

1. A2 Media Studies Analysis of
Three Horror Posters
By Sohail Qureshi

2. Colour – the horror genre colour scheme has been
used well in this as the colours represent the theme
of paranormal disturbance. The colours Black, Grey
and Brown connote the mystery and the fear of the
unknown from the film, which is what the theme is
in this film. also the colours also represent the little
girl in the corner as she could be the main
character in the movie as she is only one in high key
lighting in the poster. This shows the audience that
the little girl is one of the main people from the
movie as everything will be centred on her. The
colour white in the title could represent the ghost
type theme in the movie, linking to paranormal
disturbance and again, the fear of the unknown.
Typography – the use of this font allows the
writing to be more attractive to the audience and
make an impact on them. The font may be more
conventional within the horror genre as this genre
aims to make an impact on the audience by
triggering their emotion, so this font would link to
that genre and make an impact. The title has been
placed in front of the main image, as the main
image is very dull and dark keeping the title
brighter the colour of the main image, making the
title stands out more to the consumer so making it
eye-catching to the consumer. Also allows the
audience to see what the movie is called, so they
are intrigued as to what the movie will be about.
Main Image –As the costume worn by the character in
the centre looks old and worn, which tells the audience
something has happened to them and telling the
audience that this is a horror genre of movie. The child
on the right in the main image shows the audience the
costume worn by the child show their age, and indicates
them to be vulnerable and isolated. The camera shot
type is a mid-shot, and it is easy to see the child’s facial
expressions being used in the poster and this showing
the consumer her vulnerability and fear. At the same
time the image also allows you to see that she is holding
on to the arm of the other character, indicating what the
storyline of the movie would be, and the relationship
between the two characters.
This shot allows you see the costume of the character
and how this is linked with horror genre. As this shot
type does not show the face of the character but linking
with the theme of mystery within the horror genre, as
the audience are not aware of whom the character in the
movie is.
Layout – having the main image in the middle of
the poster indicates the importance within the
movie, and the child on the side indicates her
vulnerability, so linking to the horror genre as she
uses the rule of thirds and appearing to be afraid.
The title is in an conventional place as it is in the
centre of the page, and little bit towards bottom so
making the audience look around the poster before
looking at the title. As this is conventional as within
the horror genre because most things happen
around the character, so intending the audience to
be fearful of it.
Language – The use language on the poster is very
formal, as this will be attracting any class to watch the
film. “A Mothers Love Is Forever” indicating the love is
their even after the mother has past, bringing the horror
genre into the language being used in the poster. Making
the language very easy to read and catchy to the
audience as this means they will remember it and makes
the audience want to watch the movie.

3. Layout – Following the conventions of horror film
posters as the image is being the largest and most
predominate item on the page, and also the title of
the film being the largest text on the page.
Although the image is the largest it is slightly
unconventional as the face of the character
featured on the film poster is hidden from the
audience as that might create a mystery to the
consumer within the poster. Also the tagline is the
smallest piece of text on the poster conventionally
as the tagline would be the second largest and
important of text on the poster, but on this poster
the designers of this film poster have decided to
keep it small so the audience search out the
answer to the disturbing imagery used within the
poster, and is about creating a greater sense of
mystery.
Main Image – the main selling to any film posters are the
main image, which is normally disturbing and terrifying in
horror genre. The image denotes a pair of demonic and
angry eyes creating a fearful atmosphere. Although the
tagline ‘Once you see him, nothing can save you’ – creates a
horrific and disturbing atmosphere in the poster to the
consumer. The angry eyes look into the camera creating a
direct mode of address to the audience, looking straight into
the audience eyes – making it very supernatural and creepy
feeling. Also the image is drawing in blood, using the horror
conventions in the poster top attract the audience to the
poster and this is typical ‘you see him, nothing can save you’
– creates a horrific atmosphere in the poster. Also the blood
is coming from the victims hand denoting that this character
in the film will be in danger and the blood coming of the
victim, making it very horror genre theme.
The tagline - in the poster is the smallest piece of
text on the page, it is placed under the title making
it significant as it creates the context for the
narrative, which links very well with the main
image below.
Background – the background of the poster is
very dull and disturbing as it contrasts heavily with
the blood-red image which in turn makes it stand
out to the consumer. The colours used in the poster
are very horror genre like as they use dark and dull
colours to attract the audience to the poster. Using
white, red, grey and black – breaking the rule of
thirds in the colour scheme. Using white and grey
as the background b=makes the text and main
image colour stand out more as this is what the
audience will like and attract them to the film.
Horror Genre/Social Networking - This is a typical
horror genre as the characters used in the film are unknown
to the audience and emphasise with his or her feelings and
emotion if the character is killed in the film. also the lack of
emphasis on the actors makes the narrative and storyline
the focal aspect of the film. the social networking sites have
been shown in the poster such as Facebook and Twitter
below the credits. The will make the film very accessible to
the consumer, and also links in with the development of the
Web 2.0 where this means the audience can ‘Follow’ the
movie and get a release date on it, and extra information on
the film. this gives the film a bigger audience and more
money at box office as more viewers will go watch this film.
At the bottom of the page the poster gives information when
the film will be released ‘Coming Soon’ this gives no
information when the film is going to come out and this will
create a buzz and excitement for the viewers

4. The title of this film is in blood red, as this is linking with
Carrie’s face. The colour red is used in a lot of horror
genre films as it tells the audience that there will be
danger and have disturbing scenes in the film. this also
follows the conventions in horror movies as it signifies
blood and injury. This is shown by the crucifix on her
necklace adding to the suggestion of it being
supernatural in the film. Evermore the title is placed in
the centre of the page, and slightly down to the bottom,
this will the consumer look around the poster and will
get more information about the film. also the name is
slightly slashed, as someone has scratched it in. The
actors name is above the title as this shows the audience
who is in the film and also it could appeal to the
audience that enjoy her acting or the type of films she
stars in.
The main image is taking all of the space on the poster,
her hair is hiding part of her face which is a direct
comparison to Carrie being hidden by her Mother in the
movie. The skin contrasts against the golden colour of
the hair to make it stand out to the consumers. Also the
colour of the skin is very pale, relating this to that she
might be dead, and this also gives the connotation that
she is physically cold which could reflect onto her
personality as a ‘cold’ character.
As you can see her left eye is brown and it has a tear
from it, whereas her right eye is red with blood coming
down her face like a tear. The left might suggest that
she still has some humanity within her and she didn’t
mean for anything that happened to actually happen.
So this suggests to the audience that she sis human
because it gives the connotation of emotion and
compassion. This links with the iconic scene in the film
when Carrie is covered in pigs blood at prom, the fact
her eye is red gives the connotation of her being
possessed/the devil.
The irony as the crucifix is meant to protect religious
people from bad spirits and this shows the audience that
she is possessed by spirits. And this appeals to the
audience as they find out more about the character in
the film and shows that this is clearly a horror film
poster.
The tagline of the film is just above the masthead and
just under the masthead so included with the main
image. It says “Know her name Beware her power”
this tells the audience that the movie is based around
the character in the main image (Carrie) and that she
has powers. But this doesn’t specify what kind of
powers this character but it is enough to draw the
consumer in to find out about the film. also this gives
the hint of supernatural in the film.
The image also has direct mode of address which
catches the audience eyes and attention. As this would
make the audience relate to the film as she is looking
into the audience eyes. Her expression is very vacant
and helpless which could make the audience make
their own connotation about what she is thinking and
how she feels as it left open to interpretation more.