The document analyzes and compares two horror movie posters - Annabelle and Oculus. Both posters use dark colors like black and red to set a scary, ominous tone and imply danger. They also leave some aspects of the films' plots mysterious to intrigue viewers. Common horror poster conventions discussed include using scary facial images and low-key lighting to create an unsettling atmosphere that draws in audiences. Analyzing these posters provided lessons on effective horror poster design, such as emphasizing striking imagery over text and hinting at a film's hidden story without revealing too much.

1. HORROR POSTER- Annabelle
The use of blood coming from tear
drop of the doll connotes danger as
it shows how the doll is possibly
very abnormal and not a typical
china doll! And suggests perhaps it
has a depressing life!
The poster only reveals half of
the dolls face as they are keeping
the dolls face a mystery
influencing the audience to
watch the film to look closer at
the doll. It also suggests that
there is more to the doll which
you will need to discover!
The colours that are used for the
poster are very dramatic, bold and
dark such as black and red which
are dominant colours reflecting
the horror genre. The letters are in
capital to reinforce the title of the
film and the title “Annabelle is in
red again connoting threat.
The rosy pink cheeks painted on the
doll reflects the child horror genre as
dolls are portrayed as loving and
sweet but this doll is completely the
opposite and fools the audience!
Moreover the face of the doll is
happy but you it actually displays
evilness and threat!
The poster is at an eye level angle
so that it seems that the eye of
the doll is directly starring at you
making it haunting!
The fans of the film “The Conjuring” will be
fascinated when they see this poster as they
will be intrigued to watch the film if they
enjoyed the conjuring so it a way of
advertising the film Annabelle!
The old fashioned doll
empathises and gives you a
glimpse of how the movie will
be set in a olden time era.

2. HORROR POSTER- OCULUS
The mirror reflection suggests
how the character is a demon
and not a ordinary girl or may
be a ghost haunting her! This
relates to child horror as girls
are seen as innocent, easily led
and captured by the demon!
The use off dark colours
such as black resembles
hell which clears a clear
idea to the audience that
the movie will be very dark
as in emotions and feelings.
The title Is not as eye
catching as the font it
white coloured and quiet
small, which perhaps this
was done so the audience
focus on the main image
(the mirror). The font is in
caps and spaced out to
show how its simple!
The setting of the poster
looks like a very
abandoned, desolated
lonely area creating a
creepy atmosphere
reflecting the purpose of
the girl starring in the
mirror.
The point of view shot
doesn't reveal the girls
identity and shows she is in
danger as we identify the
spirit from her point of
view.
The background colour is
dark but in the mirror
threes contrast of light
yellow colours which
attracts the audience to the
mirror.. This suggests that
threes a spirit who is
trapped in a different world
and wanting life in the
person who comes in
contact with the mirror.
The facial expression of the
spirit girl shows how she is in
need of human life as she
looks drained!

3. Horror posters!
They all display dark gloomy colours such as blacks, greys and red to
indicate danger and most of the film posters all link together with the
theme of dingy colours to portray how the movie is set and creates a
scary invitation to enter the horror. Most horror posters usually have a
scary face close up to scare the audience and to shock them indicating
how if they watch the film they are in for a fright. The scary face is
most important convention in a film poster as it shows you the most
scariest aspect on what the film is going to be based about and you
realise what the scary character is. The feeling and atmosphere given
by horror posters is dramatic as they portray a very unrealistic
but fighting image onto the poster to make it stand out and look
dangerous. Many horror posters inherit the theme of being gothic, if
someone is shown being menaced it is usually a woman - the
persecuted maiden is often the viewpoint character in those stories.
Allot of the horror posters display low key lighting, to indicate how its
the night time and shows the setting in the background suggesting
what time and setting!

4. How was analysing these posters useful for when I
am designing my own poster?
It was very useful as I got a clear idea on type of
imagery to use as film posters use large images that
take up most of the poster instead of the title popping
out. This suggests how the audience are attracted to the
image more than the title. The film posters always have
the hidden story of the plot of the film, so when making
my own film I will consider perhaps basing the poster on
the main, evil character but not revealing too much in
the same time. It also gave me good ideas of what types
of colours indicate child horror as there is a mix of deep
colours and aspects of light colours to portray innocence
such as the rosy cheeks from the Annabelle poster and
the yellow light in the conjuring poster.