Analysing Posters- Sinister

Content Code

The title ‘Sinister’ has a drop shadow which is dragged down to give a more scary effect to it. The background is a dirty, cracked wall, which again could give a more sincere feel to the poster. The tagline makes the audience feel fear, and intrigues them into thinking what the film is about, which may cause them to want to see it more. The poster tells the audience the previous films that the makers have produced, and mentions famous horror films which made lots of money. This will encourage the viewers who enjoyed ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Insidious’ to go and see this film, therefore making the company more money. The main image in the poster shows a little girl, dressed in white scraping what looks like blood across the wall. The blood has dripped down the wall in such a way to reveal a scary-looking face. This could be who the person is discussed in the tagline. The fact that the only person in the poster is a little girl wearing white connotes innocence and vulnerability, and gives the audience a possible victim of the film?

Technical Code

Shot Distance- The shot distance is a mid-long shot which gets all of the little girl in as well as the blood stain and a lot of a wall. The producers probably did this to make the girl look smaller and therefore more innocent.

Camera Angle- The camera angle is straight on at roughly eye level with the girl. Again, they may have done this to make her look smaller and more vulnerable.

Typography- The title of the poster is in capital Serif font and is in the middle of the poster to make it stand out more. The fact that the film is called ‘Sinister’ tells the audience that it will be a scary/horror film. The Strap line at the top of the poster is just in a normal, plain font to make it stand out to the audience.