This document analyzes the key elements and techniques used in several horror movie posters to effectively promote the films. It discusses how the posters employ ominous taglines, ghostly visual effects, references to true stories and previous scary films, disturbing images, and dark color schemes to hint at the terrifying contents of the movies in a way that intrigues and unsettles viewers. Elements like skeletal teeth, bloody backgrounds, shadowy trees, and a girl in peril are described as conveying a sense of death, violence, and psychological fear that makes audiences want to learn more by watching the films.

1. ELLEN COYLE A2 MEDIA
FILM POSTERS

2. Tagline: “the most
terrifying images are
the ones that are
real.” Plays on the
audience mind
because they know
the film will including
scary pictures.
The Grudge and The
Ring are both scary
films so it is clear this
may be equally as
scary.
Background looks like dry
blood, obvious that there
will be blood in the film.
Images looks ghostly,
evidence for what some
of the photos in the film
will contain.
Skeleton teeth,
connotations of
death.

3. “From the directors of
the Texas Chainsaw
Massacre.” Must be a
scary film.
“She was possessed.”
Newspaper article,
linked to the happenings
afterwards, true story.
“Based on a true
story.” Makes it
more scary
because it really
happened.
Red blood
lettering, must
be blood in the
film.
Glowing effects,
makes it look
ghostly. Hinting
at the film.
“Katch em and kill
em” Creepy, looks
like it has been
scratched in.

4. Blood red sign, could
symbolize death in
the film, possibly
giving away events in
the film.
Negative effect looks
strange, again could be
linked to strange
occurrences in the film.
Image of the tall trees is
very eerie, has an impact
on the audience as what
is behind them is
unclear.
Tagline makes the audience
wonder what happened to
them. Makes the audience
want to watch the film to find
out.
Smokey effect gives a
ghostly look to the poster.

5. The white on black links
to the movie as
“Poltergeist” means
noisy ghost. Ghosts are
traditionally white.
“It knows what scares
you.” Scary tagline, the
ghost is able to get inside
the mind, almost being
psychologically scary.
Little girl image is very
creepy, also as her back
is to the audience, they
are unaware of what is
happening to her, and
that makes them want to
watch it.
“They’re here.” Quote
makes the audience
want to find out who
“they” are.
Black background colour
scheme plays on the
mind, unaware of what is
in the dark. The white is
linked with ghosts.

6. Red and black colour
scheme links with the
deaths within dreams.
Image of Freddie behind the
girl and his shadow projected
onto her shows how he will
always no where the victim
is.
Blood red lettering
links with the deaths in
the movie.
Tagline “he knows
where you sleep.” The
victim can never get
away from him.
White on black makes
thing obvious like the
date the film is
released.
Mise en scene, claws of
Freddie’s costume
shining, projecting how he
kills.