Thriller Poster Analysis

In analysing the strengths and weaknesses of other major thriller posters, it allows us to achieve a greater understanding of what our poster should entail to fit into the theme of our thriller. It should also explain to us how to attain a successful design in order to captivate an audience. A poster will help determine a viewer’s overall perception of the film, and should build an image in the viewer’s mind, of what will happen during the film.

‘The Crazies Sign Poster’ successfully builds an image in the audiences mind in a number of different ways. To begin with, the film title is small and in the corner of the poster. This emphasises the importance of the image shown on the poster, and that the audience should focus on that part rather than the film title itself.

A large sign at the front of the poster has the letters “HELP US” engraved over the real sign lettering. This immediately exclaims to the viewer’s something terrible has happened to the people. The use of blood around the text initially suggests that violence is a major theme throughout the film and blood shed will be seen. Furthermore, this is backed up by the use of bullet holes across the sign, which gives an overall perception that death has a major significance in the film.

The use of the road from the start of the poster to the back will ensure that the viewer’s eyes will follow the road to see where it ends up and sure enough it leads to a town. At which point the audience will know that that town is in danger or already has been.

Dark clouds forming above the town suggest that something bad will happen or has happened, as darkness generally coincides with bad things happening. This is successful as the audience will be asking themselves the question, “what will happen to the town?” and will want to watch the film to find out.

In conclusion the design of the poster has been creatively put together in order to not only aesthetically please the audience but also to mentally prepare them for what they are about to view. When we are designing our poster we must think of an effective way of how to lure our audience in.

'Taken' is a crime thriller starring Liam Neeson and the strength of the poster entices the person who see's it. The way it has been structured makes the audience question what has happened and why. The main picture is of the protagonist in the film, he is holding a gun and is in a large trench coat, dressed in black. From this we can take several connotations. The gun has several connotations of power and danger, as by having a weapon like this, the person with the gun in the scenes, usually hold power. The large trench coat can be associated with other types of thrillers like 'The Matrix' and 'Jumper'. He is wearing all black and once again we can connotate danger and power. The fact that he is a man may also contribute as men are seen to be more aggressive, especially in films.

In the top left corner there is a few sentences affiliated with the film, it says "they have taken his daughter","he will HUNT them", "he will FIND them", "and he will KILL them". Immediately from this we find out the plot and begin to feel emotionally involved with the character as we share a sense of sympathy and support towards him. The use of the imperative verb 'will' tells us about the character and the film, and how he will stop at nothing to find his daughter and act out revenge.

The title 'Taken' creates a question and expectation in our head, as we wonder "What has been taken? Who has been taken? Why?" by doing this it entices the watcher to see how the story develops and how the characters involved come out of the story.

James Kinsella-Brown & Tom Smith