Film Poster Analysis 1

“Friday the 13^th”

The first impression of this film poster of the slasher movie “Friday the 13th” is the dark, evil nature about the setting. The main colours featured are black, red and white which are all significant in certain ways in enticing the target audience. Firstly the red font for the main title adds significance and gives off the distinctive traits of the colour, being danger and blood. This is an effective colour to use in horror movies because it has clear links to graphic violence and blood which are distinctive features when trying to entice the target audience. The use of the colour black in this poster is used to a large extent which gives off a clear impression to the audience. The colour black suggests mystery, darkness and uncertainty along with evil which are distinctive traits which are going to entice the target audience. The colour takes up the majority of the poster with it appearing around the outside of the figure along with the profile lighting used on what appears to be along killer. It makes the character appear dangerous and also very mysterious to some degree along with the mask on and the black colour of his costume. In contrast to the dark and mysterious illusion of the poster there is also a somewhat way out of the darkness with the use of the colour white. It appears distinctively above the figures head and through the trees and gives the target audience the illusion that there is a way out although you can clearly see the gap is small which again gives the audience the impression that there is little hope of freedom from this hell. Therefore you can conclude that the colour white is a very contradicting colour which gives off different impressions to the target audience effectively. There is also evidence of back lighting, which almost creates a silhouette, which makes the killer seem more sinister or suspicious.

The main figure is represented graphically in the centre of the page which adds significance to the character. From looking at the character you can’t get too much of an insight into the figure because of the dark, mysterious portrayal with the dark colours. The dark colours are conventional for killers as it gives off the representation that the killer has an element of mystery or something is hidden. The use of camera is used very effectively with a low angle shot looking up at the character which makes the figures representation appear more powerful, dangerous and important to the target audience. Whilst the camera is also used to add power to the figure, there is also the distinctive long shot used with the camera so that the audience can’t unravel too much about the killer. The way in which the killer is portrayed with it’s body language is classic in promoting the movie as it portrays a straight, serious pose which gives small details away such as ferociousness because of the pose with the weapon but conceals elements of personality about the character which is effective in enticing the target audience. The killer seems to be holding a weapon of some sort but yet again you cant be too sure what it is which adds more mystery to this killer and further entices the target audience. It appears still, sharp and deadly-looking which are all conventions of slasher weapons in which intrigue the target audience. His body language looks intimidating and suggests his strength as his chest if puffed out and his arms appear outstretched. In the background behind the figure, it appears misty and dark in what appears a forest which is strategic as this is the setting of the film as well. This use of a mysterious, dark background makes the representation of the figure appear more evil and devastating in the way it may lurk around in the darkness which is a common trait in slasher movies.

Although the main image in the poster is visual being the killer powerfully reflected to the audience in the centre of the page, there is a very effective use of verbal text that contrasts the representation of the killer. At the top of the poster there is the text displayed; “Welcome to Crystal Lake” in upper case white text. It is clearly presented and provides an important message to the target audience. It seems a welcoming message but it raises many questions and predominantly gives the target audience an insight to what might lurk around “crystal lake” being what is visually presented as the killer. Therefore you can say that the main messages in this poster are a combination of both visual image and verbal text. The text is also in white which contradicts the dark nature of the poster and provides a light which can be interpreted as a way out or maybe even indicate that the text is a lure into the unknown. It is however, very effective in raising questions for the target audience which further entices them.

I believe from the structure of the film poster and the way in which the film is represented the poster in intended for thrill seekers and individuals who have a genuine passion for classic slasher movies. The poster gives off clear traits that represent slasher movies with a mysterious killer with a weapon in the darkness that seemingly lurks around an apparent area which in this case appears to be Crystal Lake. I think the poster is most effective in attracting people in the late teens and early twenties because of the very distinctive traits of the slasher movies which genuinely predominantly interest people in this age bracket and its likely to be predominantly males.

Attention in this poster is clearly gained from the overpowering visual image of the killer in the centre of the page which is immediately going to appeal to viewers and successfully attract fans of the slasher genre However the tag line as mentioned before at the top of the page in the white font provides mystery and uncertainty but it provides a setting and answers quite a few questions as well as raising some. The poster accurately reflects the mood and tone of the film being dark and evil as the representation of the killer clearly is reflected as a dark and evil character. The fact that the film is to be released ironically on “Friday 13^th” adds elements of realism to the film where it can add horror for some viewers and appeal to them successfully.

Personally I think the poster is very persuasive in trying to attract the target audience as it provides a clear representation about the movie to the target audience and very clearly sticks to the traits of the slasher genre. The structure of the poster is very effective in that it provides mystery to the film and also a small insight through visual text and the combination are very effective in making the target audience want to find out more and watch the film. Some critics could say that it’s too straight forward with just a killer on the poster but the way in which the killer is portrayed graphically through colour, camera and composition is very effective in raising questions to the target audience and thereby creating a very effective film poster and creating a mood of fear and terror.