The document analyzes the poster for the thriller film "Gone Girl." It discusses several design elements of the poster and how they relate to the thriller genre and create intrigue for the audience. The main image shows the protagonist from behind holding what seems to be a gun, implying violence and action. Dark colors and lighting create a mysterious atmosphere. Multiple images and elements leave questions unanswered, piquing the audience's interest in the film's storyline. The poster effectively uses genre conventions to entice viewers through an enigmatic presentation of the film's themes and characters.

1. Poster analysis
By Georgia Gibbs

2. The typography for the main film title is in Red which connotes danger and is key when linked to the
genre of thriller. It also contrasts with the background as it stands out with the dark colours. The font
type is the same as used in the trailer which shows synergy has been used. However the typography is
hard to see to an extent as the font is a maze type font which makes it appear almost transparent,
this kind of contrast with the water makes it slightly hard to read and not in your face.
The typography at the top is a different font from the other
texts on the poster which immediately makes it stand out, also
the colour contrasts with the background making it evident to
the audience. Further, the text is the name of a famous actor
who is also the protagonist. This instantly is a hook to the
audience a it draws their attention to the fact that this actor is
in the film and this leaves enigma of the image being the
protagonist.The main image is like a silhouette, as it is very
dark and not much is revealed from the
protagonist. Also, the image is taken from behind
which uses enigma as the audience cannot see
the actors face and therefore cannot connect
with the audience. The actor has a prop in his
right hand which appears to be a gun, this shows
the genre coming to light and also connotes that
there may be violence/ action in this film. This is
typical of the thriller genre and will be a hook to
entice thriller lovers to watch the film.
The low-key lighting of the background image
also gives a mysterious feeling and follows typical
conventions of the thriller genre using dark
colours to show the genre. It also shows water in
the image and this is another enigma for the
audience as it is a new idea which could become
important in the film. Also the use of the blue
colours connote fantasy which links into the film
with the dreams. These are ideas which are often
used in the thriller genre to convey the idea.
The tag line ‘Your mind is the scene of the
crime’, this is the main slogan for the film, this
gives an idea of what the film may contain. It
is short and therefore fairly catchy. It is
personal to the audience as it uses the
pronoun ‘you’ and this leaves enigma with
the audience enticing them to watch the film.
The film credits are a convention of
every film poster and this is
traditional and therefore paramount
that this is included. The use of
translucent white writing and simple
font works as it does not stand out.
This is important as it reflects the fact
that it is not as important as the rest
of the writing.
Under the film credits there is a
release date in bolder writing which
can be seen clearly. ‘Summer 2016’
is the release date given and the
noun ‘experience’ used makes the
connection with the audience more
appealing and hooking and therefore
creates a sense of enigma and
excitement for the release of the
film.

3. The mise en scene of the image appears to be
a lake. This links into the establishing shot of
the trailer being by a lake, this connotes that
this may be significant in the storyline with
the disappearance of Amy.
The dark colours used in the image
include greys and blacks. These are
typical of the thriller genre as they
show mystery and sadness which links
to the storyline. The colours are subtle
as they are not intense and this
connotes an enigma in the storyline.
There are two images within this
poster and one is a lot more subtle
than the other. The eyes above the
main title ‘Gone Girl’ link in with the
film really well she is faded therefore
‘gone.’ This links well into the whole
poster as it shows the link of the title
and enigma in the storyline.
The other image is a small size, with
dark colours which make it look sort
of like a silhouette but it is still evident
that it is of the male. This shows
obviously that the two images are the
main characters and this causes
enigma.
The two main characters are written at
the top of the poster to show that these
are the protagonists and that the two
images are of them. Also, the fact that
these two are much larger than the cast
and crew at the bottom shows they are
probably well known actors.
The main typography of the name of
the film is in sans-serif font. The
cloud that surrounds it contrasts well
as it makes it stand out more. This
colour scheme is typical of working
out the genre, the darkness connotes
thriller genre and the typography
shows that it is a psychological
thriller.
The bottom of the poster shows typical conventions of a film poster. It has the release
date in a bolder colour than the rest of the film credits and this makes it stand out. The
rest of the typography is in a faint colour which makes it less significant and also shows
that there is no aim for this to be the attention of the audience. There is some use of
intertexuality as it has ‘#gonegirl’ which shows the audience can follow the film on social
media to keep up with the updates of the film.
The tag-line of the film is in a central
position and this shows it is
important in hooking in the
audience. This goes against generic
conventions as it is typical that a tag
line normally appears above the title
and at the top. Further, the ellipsis
connotes enigma in the film and also
hooks in the audience to find out
about the tag line. Further the pro
noun ‘you’ makes it feel personal to
the audience and this is important in
gaining the attention of the target
demographic as they feel connected
to the film.

4. ‘Halloween’ is the text that stands out the
most from the poster; this is due to the size
of it being larger than other fonts and also
the use of the bold, contrasting colour of
orange. The use of the colour orange for the
main text signifies a number of things such as
fire, pumpkins, rope and also fear. These are
all conventions that link to the horror genre,
similarly the connotations of the word
‘Halloween’ are scary costumes and danger.
This is significant in the film meeting the
conventions of horror genre as well as the
sub-genre ‘slasher.’
The silhouette on the poster appears
to be holding a knife in his right hand
and a head in his left; this immediately
connotes danger, violence and ‘slasher’
sub-genre theme. The sharp weapon
which is a knife symbolises death and
gore, this links to the head which is
being held in his other hand that the
film will involve slaughter/ torture
meeting conventions of the slasher
horror genre.
The use of these props and the houses
in the background make you question
where he is, who he has harmed and
what will happen next, this is links to
the Enigma code that Roland Barthes
created.
The tag line that has been used ‘Evil has a
destiny’ is in white writing which signifies
purity which juxtaposes the content of the
poster but adds to the effect. The information
of the poster such as the director, producer
and credits is all in a darker colour so that the
attention is directed at the main title.
This is a generic horror poster as it
includes typical technical codes. This is
because there is use of fire which
connotes hell and links into the genre.
The lighting has made the villain appear
powerful as you can not identify the
person in the picture. This makes the
audience feel threat towards this
character as there is suspense.
Black, red and orange are the main
colours used and these signify hell,
danger and blood/gore. These link in
very well to the horror genre. The
white typography for the tagline
contrasts the colours and stands out,
this may also connote that there are
opposites in this film. The colours
also link into the event of
“Halloween” as they are orange and
both of the images are masked and
cannot be identified, linking into the
horror of this one night and leaving
enigma with the audience.
It is obvious that the genre of this poster is
horror immediately. This is because it is
objectified to make it easily identifiable,
the colours of darkness, props and obvious
violence all connote the horror genre, and
this will help with aiming at the target
audience. As soon as someone who enjoys
horror sees this poster they will be hooked
so these obvious conventions are good for
the target demographic.
The bottom of the poster shows typical
conventions of a film poster. It has the
release date in a bolder colour than the rest
of the film credits and this makes it stand out
as it is red. The rest of the typography is in a
faint colour which makes it less significant
and also shows that there is no aim for this
to be the attention of the audience.