FILM POSTER ANALYSES

 

 

The poster to the right promotes the film ‘The Conjuring’ that is within the supernatural. When watching our horror film, audiences will see characters of a similar age to the ones that feature in ‘The Conjuring’. As media practitioners this effective supernatural horror has subtly influenced us, through the clean cuts and sophisticating editing. With this in mind I felt it appropriate to analyse this poster.

This poster includes the main conventions of its form: the image itself dominates the frame and displays to the audience a visual clue as to what the film’s narrative may be about. The protagonist and antagonist are portrayed to the audience, as well as the text based conventions such as the film’s title, institutional information and a small tagline (‘FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SAW AND INSIDIOUS... BASED ON THE TRUE CASE FILES OF THE WARRENS’). These particular taglines are small in order for them to be the last thing for the audience to notice, in order to give them one final fright into persuading them to go and watch the film. The actors within this horror are not named, to convey a sense of realism.   

The conjuring has clear iconography throughout its poster, from the textual evidence to the main image. Firstly the main image dominates the whole page however the actors within are centred directly in the second third of the poster. The actors do not fill out the whole page, although the audience’s eyes are instantly drawn to them and then led to scan the mise-en-scene after. The audience are unable to see the actors face which can add to the fear factor element, as all that is visible is that the actor is a female and that she looks like a child due to the prop of a rocking chair in addition to the doll in her lap, this is iconography of horror due to the doll looking demonic thanks to the appeal of direct address.  

The posters mise-en-scene is one that is significant. Both characters dominate the frame even through the use of a long shot, which for this particular poster is to create a an impression of evil as the stock location shown has main colours of black and grey, there are small sections of white to display how evil has taken over purity. Tiny specs of red are dotted around the image to represent blood, or these red dots could be scattered to portray a marking of territory especially as these dots form a circle around the main actor and devious doll. Chosen colours: grey, black and red are iconic for horror. The location displayed gives the impression to the audience that is  somewhere abandoned, due to the concrete floors and the theory that this demonic doll may have lured the little girl here, is now the perceived plot. There is obviously some irony, as one of the main props used is a rocking chair which is associated with warmth, whilst having the connotations of rocking a baby to sleep or relaxing. This is played upon as the little child takes centre frame with a doll on her lap perhaps mocking the convention, robbing the comfort from this idea. The colours dominating the frame indicate that there is no hope as all lighting is kept minimal to give the impression of no escape.  As the lighting is dark and dismal it reflects how sombre the situation of the characters may be enhancing the fear of terror. There is a tiny display of under lighting which is directed to the doll, to show that she is the dominant within the frame, whilst confirming its evil and darkness. This particular lighting is used widely throughout the horror genre keeping to a convention. Another effective factor of why this technique has been used is because it now affirms all of the audience’s thoughts of the child being overpowered by terror and wickedness. Maybe, suggesting that the light of her life if in fact within the demonic dolls hands.

Compositionally speaking, the characters dominate the frame although literally they do not, which makes the attention towards them much more effective. The idea that we cannot see the victims face can suggest that they mean nothing to the demonic force. In addition as the character is faceless it leaves it to the audience’s imagination as to what her face may look like, leaving unanswered questions: is she possessed? Further persuading the audience to go and watch the movie in order for these to be answered.

Although the face of the victim is hidden, the body language is used to give the audience some indication of their predicament. The body of the victim is sat straight with her back slightly slouched on the chair, suggesting that she is imprisoned and unlikely to escape from the hold of the demonic doll. Within the protagonist’s hand is a hair brush which is assumed to brush the doll’s hair, bringing back the childlike behaviour and innocence of this victim that has been stolen from her, by this demonic doll creating more sympathy from the audience.

The costume which the character is wearing looks like pyjamas, which is playing on the audience's fears as it is assumed that something had happened to the character at night time when going to sleep making the intrusion much more personal and vulnerable. Just by choosing this particular garment automatically will play within the audience's mind as this image may replay to them when going to sleep or thinking about bed by unconsciously connecting the image and sleep through the costume alone. The actors body language is extremely stern, and set displaying her as in some sort of trance, intriguing the audience into finding out why this has happened which is further reinforced as the doll in her lap is making direct address with the audience creating wonder within the audience's mind as they try to figure out a story line for the particular poster. From what the audience can see the girl is wearing a nightgown, which suggests that this demonic doll had disturbed late at night or even in the middle of the night. The nightgown itself has ruffles at the bottom of the dress signifying that this character is feminine, carrying out another convention of horrors as the female being a victim. The colour of this dress is pale pink, but has no flesh exposed indicating that the female character is a closed person who doesn’t like to give much away, this being ironic as she is being controlled by the demonic doll.  Conjuring means to perform tricks that appear to defy natural laws, which links directly with the image, as the female character looks to be possessed by the doll. Obviously defying laws is the possession which occurs within the film, creating a standard by the audience as they as devoted horror watchers.

 The title is presented in Upper case, to reflect how significant this demonic force is on the female’s everyday life. The sans serif font is appropriate as conveying a mature tone which can directly be linked to other aspects of the movie such as the house. This typography emphasizes that this demonic force is serious and not something to joke about. This is all reinstated through the additional information formed to lure in the audience across the top of the poster and towards the bottom, adding suspense as the audience had found saw and insidious effective and therefore automatically assume that The Conjuring will be on the same level on both of those horrors. Also as the audience are now aware that this movie was based on a true story is therefore instantly reinforcing the serious tone due to the basis being truthful. The font used is sans serif to again create a more mature appeal, the typography is also upper case to portray how serious the film is, and confirm that it is not a joking matter.

 

The poster above promotes ‘The Devil Inside’, a horror film that is placed within the supernatural/possession sub genre. When watching out horror film the audience will see elements of possession, of a demonic force lurking ‘inside’ of a character, so ‘The Devil Inside’ has been something of an inspiration to us as media practitioners. With this in mind, I felt it appropriate to analyse this poster.

Content wise this poster includes all the main conventions of its form, in addition to the clear iconography throughout from the colours, to text and image chosen.  Firstly the image is again within the second third of the poster directing the audience's attention almost instantly. It also dominates the frame, and presents to the audience a visual clue of what the narrative may be about. The character displayed is not yet conveyed whether or not she is the antagonist of protagonist. However the image itself is of a nun, therefore playing on religious beliefs that the audience may have, as well as contradicting the regular connotations of a nun being pure hearted and kind so for a nun to be victimised and targeted within a movie just proves to the audience that the worst can happen to anyone. Text based conventions are also featured, such as the tagline (‘NO SOUL IS SAFE’). But there is no institutional information which breaks the conventions. The actors are also not mentioned but this is typical as horror films tend to let their narrative take centre stage.

The poster’s mise en scene presents to the audience no stock location, allowing the character to dominate the frame. The background is a sole colour black, which connotes thoughts of darkness, mystery and the end. This colour being ironic because nuns are a sign of peace and purity, completely contrasting with what the background implies. By the image of the nun being placed over the background can suggest to the audience that the nun may be trying to overcome the evil, but in fact does not work as we can see through her eyes she has been possessed. Towards the right third of the poster is highlighted with red, to emphasize the possession that is or is going to occur. The overshadowing of red indicates that it this evil force will always be present. There is also some scratching on the poster, to inform the audience that this force is in fact scratching away at her soul, as implied by the tagline. Further intriguing us, to make s wonder exactly what has happened.

The lighting used within the frame is dark and dismal to reflect how deep and somber the movie will be, whilst intensifying the strong feeling of terror. Under lighting is made us of as it highlights the white on the nun’s costume therefore making it gleam, reinforcing the sense of purity. As a result of this the audience’s attention again drawn to the nun not only because she dominates the frame but because the use of under lighting leads the audience’s eyes towards her. The under lighting makes the character’s face look much more frightening, disturbed and full of terror.

Compositionally speaking the character of the nun dominates the whole frame. The audience is presented with a medium shot, of the nun directly. We  are drawn directly to the nun's eyes that are clearly possessed by a UN natural force, because of it being a nun proves that no one is safe from this force not even the purest of people. This is later reinforced through the strap line ‘no soul is safe’ further confirming the ideas the audience had thought from the outset.  Although direct address is used, the nun is not in control of the force taking over here, showing the audience who is directly in control within this situation. By using this medium shot the audience are able to analyse every visible of the nun, for example on her neck there is some sort of intruder pushing out of her skin allowing the audience to realise that there is an abnormality with the character’s neck, there seems to be some sort of force trying to escape which in face correlates with the title. Once again allowing the reader’s imagination to fulfil its potential and wonder what may happen in the film then leading them to go and see it, which correlates with the title (‘THE DEVIL INSIDE’) leaving the audience to assume that there is a force inside of her physically trying to break out, intriguing the audience further.

Through the face of the antagonist/protagonist the audience are given some indication to their predicament, thoughts and feelings. The character’s face has turned directly to the audience, whereas her body stays in the same position. This can make the audience feel on edge, as it can be taken that the nun has seen the audience looking at her and turned her head to look back but in essence this is the possessive force that forced her to do this. Further reinforcing that she is not in control of her own body.

The costume of the character is also important. From what is visible it is clear that the main character is a nun, suggesting that the purest hearted are not safe. Leading to the possession being much more unforgettable and frightful. The state of the nun's clothing is crisp and clean, creating the impression of a professional and well organised character. The audience with this in mind, will find this even more unusual that she has become the antagonist/protagonist. It can be said that the costume reminds the audience of peace, safety and innocent referencing once again, just how horrifying the thought of possession is.

The title of the film has a backwards 'D', connoting that the film will involve something that is either not supposed to be there or however somewhere something has gone wrong, promising the audience that there will be an irregular occurrence within the narrative. The very mention of the word 'devil' will not sit well with the audience, as horrific thoughts of possession is something that is not lightly taken. The title itself is presented in upper case sans serif. Through the use of upper case, indicates that the film's narrative is of a serious and terrifying nature.  The sans serif font is appropriate as it masks seriousness of the situation. As the colour of the title is white, it once again reinforces the idea of purity.

 The additional information across the top of the poster announces to the audience that the film is based/ inspired by true events, once again pushing the element of fear as they are now not untouchable, because they will feel if it has happened once before there is nothing to stop it happening again. The colour of this font is red to give it an extreme effect. Red also connotes blood in addition to fear, relaying to the audience what may be likely to occur, as well as displaying that the evil will overcome the pure.

 

The insidious poster once again follows the convention of having the main character within the second third of the page, allowing the attention to be drawn to the actor. This particular poster may not be the scariest of the six but the most intriguing due to the stock location being a suburban household automatically unveiling to the audience that even when you believe you are in a safe environment you are not. The mise en scene also reinforces the suburban setting through the front garden and pathway setting a calm vibe. This is also further reinstated as the young boy actor is in his pyjamas which are associated with comfort and bed time once again a time when the audience are vulnerable. As the audience indulge further into the main image they come across the young boys eyes, which display some sort of paranormal image indicating what sub genre the film belongs to. The purpose of using a medium shot is to allow the audience to view the stock location, giving them the idea of what may occur and where the main part of the film will be set. Much like other horror posters by using this particular shot has enabled the audience to try and piece together what could happen. It is clear that the lights are on in the household, and the curtains are drawn which is a sign of safety and even a routine. However because of the little boy who looks possessed contradicts such thoughts, displaying that you are never safe no matter what sort of routine you have, evil can occur at any point so such actions such as closing the curtains may symbolise shutting out even but that won’t help if it’s the boy that is haunted which is what is presumed through the strap. Pathetic fallacy is portrayed throughout this film poster, due to the storm brewing on top of the suburban household, giving the idea that something misfortunate, and disturbing is going to occur. The main colours used are a mixture of white, black, grey and red. These colours are iconic for horrors, as they all symbolise different aspects of the narrative. There are slight glimpses of white coming from the household, this connotes that the family are pure without the boy, but there are slight pigments of grey stating that other members of the family are not as pure as seems. The red and blue pyjamas that the boy is wearing are overshadowed with a dark gradient around the title. The letters ‘SI’ are shown in red, allowing the audience to see the title in two ways, one of which is breaking down the word and at a quick glimpse to show ‘inside’ this is where the haunted force is according to the poster, so the audience then feel that they have found out what the disruption is caused by. The other taking of the title is just the whole word insidious, which means to cause harm in a way that is gradual or not physically easy to notice, subtly giving the hint of what the film may entail.   Within the young boys eyes the words ‘ insidious ‘ and ‘is’ are displayed within his eyeballs, indicating that evil force is in fact within him and that here is no question about it, it just ‘is’. The rule of thirds is extremely relevant on this poster; the first third shows a shadow in the window, of some sort of creature making the audience assume this must be one of the evil forces within the film. The second third then shows a possessed child which is clear through his eyes that he will most likely feature in a large section of the film as he takes up most of the page. But then the third third, displays the dark clouds going away, and the house as back to normal, indicating the there is a solution and everything is resolved however the top right hand corner has the darkest black cloud out of the whole page which then just contradicts the last third as there is a sign that the worst is still to come.