Deconstruction of posters

I have looked at several different film posters to gather ideas and inspiration and to see how they challenge and or conform to traditional codes and conventions for film posters of the same genre as the poster for my own film, 'Hush'.

'Paranormal Activity'

The first film poster that i have analysed is 'Paranormal Activity'. The poster itself is very simple, which in effect adds to the enigma by giving nothing away. The main image is a still from the film comprising of the main characters in bed together, and seen by the audience as though through a handheld home video camera. The couple are sitting up, close to each other, on the side of the bed farthest from the door, which the girl is pointing to. The door is open and not, in itself, unusual, except for the shadow which has been cast across it. This creates an instant enigma for the audience, as there is nothing to cast the shadow, and as ghosts are supposedly nonexistent, the audience want to know what is creating that shadow and why it's in the character's bedroom. The 'home video camera' effect is reinforced by a time in the bottom right hand corner of the image, which tells the audience that it is 3:08:25 am. This further heightens the enigma for the audience, as there is not enough light a 3am for a shadow to be cast at all, and this coupled with the title of the film, connotes to the audience that the film will revolve around a belief in ghosts. The fact that the image looks as though it is a from a home movie helps the audience to feel connected to the main characters and privileged, as they are not only looking at a home movie of the characters, but it is one filmed in their bedroom. The image is positioned just above the centre of the poster, which is in keeping with the washed out colour scheme of the image throughout the text. The colours used are black, white, blue and red. These connote violence, enigma, death, cold, passion and danger, all of which can be linked back to the main image. Above the image are quotations about the film, which are written in a typewriter white font, contrasting sharply to the black background. The use of the typewriter font carries connotations of such classic horror films as 'The Shining', as well as diaries, and further creates a sense of emotional sympathy for the characters, who are obviously frightened for themselves.

'Final Destination'

This poster uses the same image as the one from the film's website to maintain a level of continuity and easy identification for the audience. The main image is made up of two separate images stretched out from the middle of the page and edited on top of one another, one of a girl screaming and one of a skull screaming. The images are broken up with pieces of jagged broken glass scattered on the top half of the poster. The glass is shattered and broken, with the point of impact appearing to be from a bullet hole to the right of the centre of the image. This carries connotations of violence, death and danger, as well as the phallic connotations which are associated with guns. The shape of the glass shards exploding out of the image also connotes violence and death. The image which is seen by an audience as though through the glass is of the girl screaming. Her face is almost entirely in shadow, and she is unrecognisable as an individual and, as such, acts as a representation for all women, which helps to create an emotive link between her and the audience as all women could potentially relate to her. The image also appeals to men, as the girl's face is pointing towards the audience head on, but her eyes are in shadow so that it is not possible to see where she is looking, or whom at, and so the audience is under the illusion that she is looking directly at them. The bottom half of the image which is not covered in glass is of a skull with it's mouth open as though in a scream. The two images have been edited together so that the skull looks like it is simply an extension of the girl's face, and the audience will assume that it is her skull. This connotes to the audience that this character is going to die violently and painfully. The colour scheme is made up of red, black, blue and white, which together connote danger, passion, death, mystery, innocence, evil, cold and hell. The enigma initially created by the identity of the girl and the shadows which cover her eyes is enhanced by the pale blue and white coloured smoke which curls around the skull, and connotes to the audience that something supernatural is going to be central to the narrative of the film.

'The Forgotten'

This poster follows the conventions whereby the image used is the same as the one used for the website for the film. This image is one where the main character's face is faded out and obscured by ghostly figures. This image carries connotations of death, danger and enigma as the figures are out of focus and so indistinguishable from each other. The colour scheme has been kept simple with white connoting innocence and naivety, and varying shade of blue connoting cold and loyalty and creating shadows and enigma in the image. The woman's face is also washed out with a blue tint, which is commonly associated with corpses, and connotes death. The character in the image is unsmiling, which connotes to the audience that something bad has or will happen to her. As with the poster for 'Final Destination' the character's eyes have been subtly cut from the image, which connotes confusion and a loss of identity. This also makes it more difficult to create an emotive link between the character and the audience, as there is no line of sight. This has the effect of alienating the character, and the audience will feel intrigued, curious and wary of this character simultaneously, and will feel guilty for doubting the character's motives when the film's narrative has been completed. The tagline for the film is placed above the image and adresses the audience directly, which makes it seem more personal and creates an emotive link between the character and the audience and creates enigma, as the audience wonders if the film could have anything to do with them. The single word 'REMEMBER' is writen under the names of the actors, directors and production companies at the base of the page, and is direct contrast to the title of the film. This creates an earie sense of unease and enigma for the audience and hooks them in, as they don't know what it is they are supposed to remember, almost as if they have forgotten it themselves, and this makes the audience feel linked and loyal to the film.