Poster Analysis By Dominic Edwards

Title- The title ‘Sinister’ creates a creepy

atmosphere for the audience as it is typically bold for a horror movie poster and has a slight shadow, also indicating that there are supernatural presences in the film.

- The letter style does not match, as the ‘S’ are not identical and neither are the ‘I’. This presents the crookedness of the film and possibly a medieval tone, as supernatural presences are typically based on ghosts (or monsters) that died in medieval times.

- The dark titles with the strange font also contrast with the grey background, standing out for viewers to notice much easier. For the titles to be a dark colour also relates to the supernatural state and gives a dark vibe with the lack of bright colours.

‘Once you see him, nothing can save you’ This tagline below the title also relates heavily to the narrative of the story, this also relates to the image below the title.

Main Image - The main image is the selling point of the film, the blood red picture of a face with demonic eyes relates to the tagline, creating that horrific and frightening atmosphere.

- This does not show a clear picture of his face. This makes the viewers want to see it clearly but creates a sense of fear as they don’t know what to expect from the film.

- This also cements the supernatural vibe, the use of demonic eyes (direct address with the audience) also draws the viewer into the picture and creates a creepy and supernatural feeling.

- The picture being drawn in blood associates the supernatural presence with violence, also touching on the feelings of the viewers creating a more devil-like atmosphere.

The cracked and deteriorated background suggests the presence of a strong supernatural being, possibly trying to break through the wall or slowly decaying it to represent his power in the film. This is also shown by the faded spots in the corners of the poster.

The girl in the picture walking into the darkness represents the power of the evil presence in this film. Her face is also not shown, allowing the audience to become more excited about an unknown character.

Other related elements

- The previous films that this director or producer has done are down above the title, out of the way of the main image.

- It is also there as the themes of the films relate, and to promote other films that this director has done.

- It also depicts that the film may have the same elements as these films did (e.g. Supernatural and horrific aspects).

- Putting the website at the bottom of the poster ‘haveyouseenhim.com’ promotes the film more and allows more versatility to find out more information about it. It also relates back to the tagline and the main focus point of the picture.

- ‘COMING SOON’ This gives no information to when it is coming out and makes the viewers want to search for it and become more excited about it.

- It also promotes the company and the leading distributor (e.g. Warner bros.) and informing the viewers of the director and actors in the film, allowing the audience to see anyone they recognise and make the film appeal to them more; but still out of the way of the main focus of the picture.

Social media groups are involved in order to promote the film further, it is more accessible, and allow others to see follow updates about the film (when it will be released, watch trailers etc.) this creates a much larger audience.