Genre Specific – Last House on the left
This is ‘The Last House on the Left’ film poster. This poster is a typical horror film poster. There is the title which is very large and is situated at the top of the page. This is a convention of all film posters as they try and get their title shown, and well known to the audience. The key word on the poster ‘House’ is in red in order for it to stand out, and show people that this is the key word. The colour scheme is dark colours to represent the eeriness of the film it is representing. The dark scheme along with the back lighting on the house make it memorable, and gives it a horror like effect. The fact that the word house is in red could symbolise many things, but here I think it is to represent blood, and anger. The way it is smeared across the page would suggest it I representing blood, and is supposed to threaten the audience. The tag line at the bottom is minimal and is some this way so the focus is towards the title. There are the names of the people who directed the film, and were included in the making of the film which is conventional of all posters. Something that I would suggest is missing is the actor’s names which are usually at the top of the page. The release date is also missing which I think is a good part of a conventional poster as it lets the audience know when to expect the film, and what is going on.
Non-Genre Specific – Avatar
The non-genre specific film poster that I will deconstruct is avatar. Avatar has the film title in lit up blue letters across the lower centre of the film poster. This is done to again make it memorable to the audience, and make it stand out for the audience to see. The main image across the poster is a man’s face, split up with the face of the creature in avatar. This is to show the differences that will be in the film. The colour scheme used is light blue and blacks, to represent the sci-fi genre that it is. The figure on the tree towards the bottom of the poster represents the action adventure genre that is also in the film. The directors’ name is at the top of the credits so he will get recognition for the film. The rest of the credits are very conventional and are done to again show recognition the film producers also. The fire and orange that is at the very bottom of the poster is likely to represent the conflict that occurs in the film. The fact that the character on the film poster is looking directly at us shows the direct mode of address that is used, in order to directly focus on the person looking at the poster, and is done to make it ‘personal’ to whoever is looking at the poster at that time.
Non-Genre Specific – Incredibles 2
The Incredible 2 poster uses many bright and vivid colours so that it appeals to a younger, more of a family audience. There are many red and orange colours, which symbolizes danger and love. The big logo of the Incredibles 2 makes it recognisable to viewers of the prequel. The main image is of the family running towards us, and away from some sort of danger in the background. This is symbolic for the rest of the film where we can assume that is the conflict in the film. The title of the film is in big white letters which stand out from the background colours, as is the release date and production companies. This is done so that the audience know when the film is due to come out, and so that the production company gets recognised for the film. We can tell this is a family adventure film, as on the cover we obviously see a family, of which people will relate to their own. The fact they are all running shows the adventure side of the film and that there will be action.
Harry Sanger 