Analysis of a horror film poster

Alana McEwan

Paranormal ActivityI have chosen to analyse this film poster for the horror film Paranormal Activity 3. I was attracted to this poster because it easily shows you that the film is a horror, involves a ghost and is very simple yet effective. The mise-en-scene is dark, and slightly blue as it is easy to see that it is the vision through a camera and this also connote to the target audience that this is a horror film. Although this poster includes children, it is clear to see that this film is not made to be seen by children at least under the age of 15. This poster makes it easy to see that this film is beyond every childs worst nightmare.

“it runs in the family” is suggesting that something connected with the ghost has carried on with in the family from previous films of the paranormal activity set.

It makes it easy to see there is a shadow on the wall in between the bed of two small children, suggesting that it is most likely to be a ghost standing between them.

InsidiousI have chosen to analyse the film poster for the horror film INSIDIOUS. I was attracted to this poster because unlike most horror film posters, it is still in light but yet still manages to be effective. The mise-en-scene is light below the boy but is very dark and stormy above the boys head. It is easy to see that this is a horror film and also mentions that it has been made by the makers of SAW and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY which are extremely famous horror film, so putting this on the poster will attract many fans of previously seen films. Although the poster includes a young child it makes it very clear that this film would not be suitable to be seen by any one under the ages of 15.

“its not the house that’s haunted” instantly draws all the attention to the child and away from the huge house standing behind him.

The boys eyes have been scratched out, almost as though the poster was once a picture and someone has done it with their nails.

The poster also includes quotations from viewer describing how scary and terrifying the film is.

The GrudgeI have chosen to analyse the film poster for the film THE GRUDGE. I was attracted to this poster because it easily shows you that it Is a horror film and is quite simple yet effective. The mise-en-scene is very dark and the girls face is green which shows the girl is not normal. This poster is very effective as the whole poster is black with red writing on for the title which obviously indicates blood, yet again showing that it’s a horror film.

because of the dark mise-en-scene the one eye peaking out of the dark hair stands out majorly. Also her green face makes this girl seem abnormal and grotesque.

‘It never forgives. It never forgets’ this quotation makes you wonder what the film is about and what is has to do with the girl on the poster.

SINISTERI have chosen to analyse the film poster for the horror movie SINISTER. I was attracted to this poster because it is simple yet effective and you can easily tell that it is a horror film. The mise-en-scene is extremely light and I think the mise-en-scene is like this because it helps make the blood on the wall stand out. The cracks in the wall and the dirt are very effective.

‘Once you see him, nothing can save you.’ this sentence is extremely effive and instantly refers to the face of the man you can see on the wall with-in the blood dripping.

Using a little girl in white is also very effective because it makes the audience take pitty on her and also looks extremely scary!

Showing that the film has been made by the producers of already huge horror films makes the poster more convincing to people to go and see it.