1. The use of high key lighting
on the background of the Iconography:
poster signifies high key
Stock location/Background: The use of low key lighting
lighting; this has been used
foreshadows that the
for audience’s to recognise
The background of the poster denotes a appearance of an evil,
the isolated locations such
stereotypical codes and conventions that are darkness and a villain will be
as; the woods and forest
associated with the film. For example, the portrayed. This conveys a
with a blur of mist. The use
indication of a forest, woods and low key lighting sense of; fear, dread and
of this lighting conforms to
signifies that the setting of the film is in an anxiety for audience’s.
creating a juxtaposed
isolated location. This establishes that
feeling of tension,
audiences convey a sense of; fear, dread and
suspense and fear for Props/Iconography:
anxiety creating an enigma of audiences’
audience’s poster.
questioning what are in those woods? The use of a weapon that the
villain is holding such as a;
Typography: sword or knife demonstrates
that the film is associated with;
The text “Friday the 13th” is written
blood, violence and terror. This
in red, this establishes that red
foreshadows that the film will
connotes to; danger, warning and
involve outrageous gore, blood
death. This foreshadows that;
and murders. This therefore
blood, gore and violence will
conforms to the challenges of
happen throughout the film. The
horror film conventions
title of the film creates an enigma,
because weapons are a phallic
questioning audiences to think what
symbol which cause harm and
is going to happen on Friday the
damage to victims which are
13th, this therefore leads audience’s
stereotypical conventions
wanting to watch the film and find
portrayed in a sub-genre
out what exactly happens.
‘slasher’.
Colours: Theme:
The text and colours connote The poster demonstrates that
stereotypical codes and that themes of this film are;
conventions of iconography that nightmares, good vs. evil, and
are associated with the film. For Rule of Thirds: a serial killer, which slays
example, the colours such as victims. This is recognised and
red, black and grey signifies a The position of the villain in the middle of established by the use of mise-
visual picture of; horror, the poster his body language and ene-scene. For example, a
darkness and terror. This position signifies that he is; a strong and phallic symbol such as the
establishes that the film has a vicious. This connotes that this film is weapon demonstrates that
various use of binary opposition challenging the stereotypes of a slasher victims will be slayed. The
for instance, dark vs. light, and horror film because a villain is portrayed trees and an isolated woods in
good vs. evil; this is linked to as a; strong and intimidating. This the background connotes that
Levi-Strauss binary opposite heightens the sensation of fear, dread nightmares take place
theory. and anxiety for audiences because an isolated location
such as; the woods signifies a
trapped and venerable are for
victims

2. Themes: Iconography: The use of low key
The iconography such as dark dull lighting foreshadows that the
grey colours challenges the The themes off this film are; innocence of the child is influenced by
conventions of the horror genre childhood issues this is evil. This signifies that film challenges
‘psychological’ because the colours signified by the image of the the codes and conventions of binary
connotes that the poster reinforces boy portrayed in the centre of opposites such as evil vs. innocence
the theme of possession of the the poster. This is juxtaposed and, the shadows also reinforce the
young boy and theme of darkness with the feelings of sadness demonic possession of the childhood.
and demons. The colour of darkness and sympathy for audiences
has been used to establish; evil, because the use of dark
warning and horror. shadow lighting foreshadows Props:
that he is controlled by a dark
Iconography: evil forces. The characters clothing such
as; his pyjamas symbolises
The colour connotes childhood. However, the dark
stereotypical codes and shadow demonstrates and
conventions of iconography that reveals an identification of
are associated with the film. For darkness, loss and innocence
example, the colours such as associated with the vulnerable
black and grey signifies a visual boy. This heightens the
picture of; horror, darkness and sensation of; fear, dread
terror. This establishes that the tension for audience’s
film is associated to; evil foreshadowing that an
warning possession. innocent boy will be turned
into the complete opposite.
Technical codes: creating an enigma
Typography:
A camera shot such as a mid-shot
signifies that the boy is portrayed “Insidious” is written in a red
as; evil and possessed. This and white font this creates
challenges the conventions of a enigma of audience’s becoming
horror film because the boy suspicious of thinking what is
appears to be possessed by insidious? The two colours red
darkness and evil forces. This and white are a complete
connotes that the innocence of an different opposite: for example,
innocent boy has been red is associated with blood,
transformed and influenced by warning and danger whereas,
dark forces. white is associated with heaven
and innocence: these ideas of
Stock location/Background: the two colours links with
Roland Barthes theory of;
The house in the background establishes that the location is isolated good vs. evil, innocent vs. villain
this connoted by the dark shadows that appear over the house; the dark and sinister vs. child.
shadows represents that something sinister is bearing over the house
and the boy. This empathises that the film represents; darkness and
The background of the poster
Rule of Thirds: reveals that the film challenge’s the
conventions of horror. For
The young boy conforms to the challenges of a horror film. For instance, the cloudy thunderstorm
instance, the boy is centred in the middle of the frame this implies that something; dangerous
establishes that he is a victim his eyes also conform that he and sinister is going to happen
possessed by evil and dark forces. This reveals that this links throughout the film. As revealed,
to; Levi-Strauss theory of binary opposite of good vs. evil, in the poster the use of low key
innocent vs. villain and child vs. evil. The innocence of the boy lighting and dark shadows conveys
connotes to Barthes’s narrative theory of enigma: for a sense of the boy, controlled and
example, this question’s audiences about what will happen to taken over by a dark evil force.
this boy throughout the film? Will he return to his normal self?

3. Iconography: Props:
The use of low key lighting establishes A sharp weapon such as knife illustrates that this use of weapon
that something sinister is going to symbolises; death, fear and anxiety as this weapon (phallic
happen throughout the film. For symbol) is used to slay and slaughter victims which therefore
example, the lighting signifies that a demonstrates the challenging horror conventions of a
villain is involves because low key psychological and Thriller horror film. This implies that film
lighting is associated to; hell, fear and involves a slaughtered victim who heightens the sensation fear,
darkness. The use of this lighting dread and anxiety for audiences. This links to Roland Barthes
conforms to creating a juxtaposed Enigma code questioning audiences to think who will he killed?
feeling of tension, suspense and fear Will there be a last girl standing?
for audience’s poster.
Iconography:
Technical codes:
The bold written text in
A camera shot such as a orange signifies and
mid-shot signifies that the indication of fire. This
figure shows enough of the connotes to warning, danger
body language to and death as fire is
communicate body dangerous and causes harm
language signifying that the and damage. This denotes
villain is portrayed as; that the poster challenges
vicious, dangerous and the conventions of horror
sinister. As revealed, in the because this use of colour
poster the villain is challenges the conventions
portrayed as holding a knife, of a sub-genre ‘slasher’.
this connotes that film
challenges the conventions
of the sub-genre ‘slasher’ Colours:
because a slasher involves;
murder blood and gore A vignette in the poster is
which is recognised by the portrayed, this takes the
weapon and camera shot. audience out of the context
for example, and around
the poster the colours are
Typography: dark around the outside
and are light in the middle
“Halloween” is the biggest of the centre- creating
text written on the poster in; horror suspense.
bold orange writing this
signifies that the film is linked
to horror such as; pumpkin’s, Colours
fire and actions. This Theme:
emphasises that the film The colours connote stereotypical codes
The poster demonstrates that
challenges the conventions of and conventions of iconography that are
that themes of this film are;
the sub-genre ‘slasher’ associated with the film. For example, the
nightmares, good vs. evil, and a
because pumpkin’s etc are colours such as black, white and orange
serial killer, which slays victims.
conforms to Halloween signifies a visual picture of; horror,
This is recognised and
connoting to the conventions darkness and terror. This establishes that
established by the use of mise-
of a ‘slaher’. A billing black the film challenges the conventions of
ene-scene. For example, a
has been used to illustrate horror because the colours portray a
phallic symbol such as the knife
information of the film such as various use of binary opposites such as;
demonstrates that victims will be
the; director and producer etc. good vs. evil, dark vs. light and innocence
slayed. This illustrates that film
This is a common code that is vs. evil; this denotes that this is linked to
challenges the conventions of a
used in a film poster. Claude-Levi Strauss theory of binary
‘slsher’ film.
opposites.