The poster features Esther, the protagonist of the film Orphan, prominently in the center. She has a serious, sinister facial expression and is positioned in a way that makes her appear threatening and powerful, looking directly at the viewer. The tagline is at the top and the title at the bottom in a rough, scratchy font reflecting the horror genre. Contextual information like the director and release date are also included at the bottom.

1. POSTER ANALYSIS- ORPHAN
By Olivia Houlton

2. THE GENERIC CONVENTIONAL
FEATURES OF THE POSTER
The tagline is positioned at
the top of the poster
There is an image in the
centre which is clearly
showing “Esther” the
protagonist of the film
The title is nearer the bottom. The
font used is very scratchy and
rough looking, perhaps reflecting
on the horror genre of the film

3. THE GENERIC CONVENTIONAL
FEATURES OF THE POSTER
The Billboard is at the bottom,
mentioning the director, mangers
and producers
At the bottom is the release date
followed by another tagline
which is coloured red, perhaps
foreshadowing the theme of
death in the film

4. MISE EN SCENE
Lighting and colour- The colour green in
the background almost implies Esther’s
witch-like presence and personality. Also
the deep purple of the choker and black
ribbon in her hair may be symbolic of
death. Also, the lighting creates lot of
shadows on her face which makes her
appear threatening and scary.
Facial expression and body language-
Esther’s facial-expression is very serious
and sinister, also her direct address to the
audience is very intimidating and makes
her appear superior.

5. MISE EN SCENE
Costume, hair and make-up- The hair and
make-up of Esther is over-the-top neat
and tidy, creating an ere vibe. Also, her
costume is quite old-fashioned, again
creating a creepy atmosphere. Also, the
choker around her neck indicates towards
an edgy and more violent side to her
Positioning of character/objects
within frame- Esther is positioned in
the very centre of the poster, creating
the feeling of entrapment and
vulnerability as a viewer.

6. CAMERAWORK
Position/Shot type- The use of a
medium-close-up shot allows the viewer
to see Esther’s threatening facial
expression and the extreme neatness of
her style. This allows the viewer to feel
suspicious and wary of her.
Angle- There is use of a slight low angle
in this poster, again making Esther
appear more superior and powerful,
making the viewer cautious of her.

7. CAMERAWORK
Composition- Esther is in the very
centre of the poster, this composition
again makes the audience feel further
threatened .
Depth of field- The image of Esther
has a deep focus, allowing her to be
shown in great detail, making the viewer
realise her significance as a character.