The document analyzes several horror movie posters and identifies common conventions used. It notes that posters typically feature revealing photographs of women to attract the male gaze as horror films appeal more to men. Posters also establish characters and intrigue audiences with enigma codes. Typefaces follow rules of thirds, with the title in the largest font on the lower third. Imagery uses techniques like rule of thirds to startle viewers and conceal details. Color schemes and blood symbolism help set the horror genre. The document concludes that an effective poster should intrigue audiences with an enigma while avoiding spoilers, using conventions identified.

1. OVERALL ANALYSIS POSTERS

2. MEDIA LANGUAGE

3. PHOTOGRAPHY The photography in the posters that I have analysed mostly show a link to the male gaze. Since the horror genre mainly attracts male viewer it is important for the poster to attract them. An example of this was on the Unborn poster where we saw the way in which the girl was dressed was revealing, meaning that the poster would attract more men than women. The photography also establishes characters, from the Unborn poster we can see the girl is the main character as she takes up the most space on the page, however the boy obviously plays a big part also as the enigma that is created in the poster is created by him. This also goes for the Dawn of the Dead poster showing a character that will create enigma codes, as he has a disease that the audience have no idea what it is.

4. LAYOUT The layout of film posters are all very similar the common conventions are: The title is in the largest font in the entire poster and is usually placed on the lower third of the poster. The billing block is placed below the title. An single image takes up the entire background of the poster.

5. RULE OF THIRDS The rule of thirds is used in both photography and the titling. In terms of photography it is used either to capture the audience’s eye or used to conceal and add the horror into the poster. The Unborn poster was an example of this where the woman was on the right vertical third, however the boy in the mirror was in the centre meaning that the audience would not see him straight away, this is something that I could incorporate into my poster, as it adds another section to my target audience which is for those who enjoy the thrill of shock/horror (they go to see the film because they want to be scared). The rule of thirds also applies to titling, this is beacuse in every poster I have analysed the main title has been on the bottom third, showing that this is the conventional place for me to put my title so just tie in to other posters but then also look professional.

6. GENRE

7. How Horror Is Established Thoughout all the posters there are a common convention in horror films, the use of red and blood. Blood seems to be symbolic of the genre, and with it having connotations of death and murder. The themes it suggests also could be associated with the horror genre. The colour schemes that are used in the poster also create a dark mood. Such as in ‘The Unborn’ poster where the colour scheme is made up of blues.

8. NARRATIVE

9. ENIGMA CODES All the posters that I have analysed have created enigma codes. It is important that the poster does this so that it makes sure not too much of the narrative is given away in the poster. However it also hooks the audience to come and see the movie. The enigma is created in the Dawn of The Dead poster as we see a zombie with a blood splattered shirt. This would symbolise that he has recently killed someone, the audience would then be asking who did he kill and were they important in the story. It is important that my poster also uses the tag line to create an enimga, the poster for the Unborn does this well as it offers something that can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways. Which is ‘Evil will do anything to live.” The word ‘anything’ shows to the audience that we are going to see a wide range of attempts to evil trying to live. Meaning that the audience would want to come and see the film, as they would be interested in what happens.

10. WHAT I NEED TO INCLUDE I need to make sure the I am using the rule of thirds to interest the audience, and to make sure the text that I have on the poster is in a place that can be easily seen. I need to incorporate the male gaze into the photography, as well as using the framing to scare the audience. I need to create an enigma about the narrative in the piece so I hook the audience from looking at the poster. From also looking at my questionnaire I need to make sure that my text:image ratio is more image than text as the audience have said that they prefer more image than text and from the posters I have seen there is a lot more image than text.