HORROR GENRE

POSTERS.
TOM KEENS

The main image of this poster is very symbolic to the horror genre and through
just looking at this image the audience can infer this fits into the horror genre. The
use of the background de stabilises the audience as it resembles that of a asylum
with the small space surrounded by darkened walls. This connote the mind set of
the character, which makes the audience fear that she may be mentally unstable.
The walls seem to be old and beginning to crumble which could be symbolic of
how long the character has been in this state, and how long they have built up
their anger and upset. This is reiterated by the costume of the character the long
white robe which is common for people to wear in asylums. This is unsettling as
well as white is conventionally used to connote purity and innocent so this
suggest once she was innocent and pure but gives the narrative enigma to the
events that made her change. There is another link to this idea with the fact the
walls were once white and have obviously been overpowered by the darkness and
black. This could connote that the character was once good but the darkness has
slowly taken over her body. We as an audience are position within the room giving
a sense of entrapment and danger being confined so close to what we assume is
the antagonist.
The character is also holding a sinister looking doll a very common convention of
horror films homing in on Pediophobia- the fear of dolls. The doll should be linked
to innocent and purity of a child so when they are depicted in a negative and
fearful way this can shock the audience. The doll also has a resemblance to the
character suggesting the character is like the doll meaning lack of emotions and
feelings making the audience worry what this character is capable of. It also works
well in carrying on the fear and being relevant to the audience as most
households have or had similar dolls. Then fact we cant see the face of the
character is very un settling as it gives the narrative enigma to who and what this
character is.
The rocking chair again is a common convention of the horror film and has a direct
link insanity, as rocking back and forth is a common symptom someone loosing
their mind.
The typography of the title is serif which is a more old fashioned style and gives
the lettering sharper edges which could arguably connote danger.

I found this poster really interesting to analysis as it showed a much more

experimental style of poster which gave me a variety of poster styles.
The main image, shows a house which has been twisted and turned when seeing
this image it straight away resembled a rubix cube which connotes that this house
is a puzzle/maze. This means the doors are not where they should be telling us
that once this house is entered there is no escape. This is reiterated by the fact it
is place in the centre of the poster and is above just a white area which is used to
connote death. I feel this tells the audience the only way to leave this house is
through death. The fact there are elements of the house turned upside down
symbolises by entering the house your lives shall be turned upside down and
changed. We can also see numerous smaller house combined together implying
that a variety and number of people will be trapped and effected by this.
The background of a slightly water coloured monochrome forest, is a common
theme and location within the horror genre as it is used to symbolise being lost
and alone again highlighting to the audience the amount of danger the people are
in. Also telling us that they are in the middle of no where and the lack of help will
be a key theme within the film. When we move closer to the bottom of the page
we see the poster seem slightly scratched again could be used to symbolise the
dangers being faced.
The typography of The Cabin in the Woods is in serif font a very common
convention of the horror genre as gives the lettering a sharp edging again a
obvious connotation of danger. It is slightly smudged again which could imply
someone has smudged it as they want to keep it a secret. The binary opposites of
the white background compared to the black text is just a indication of the
narrative that there shall be a battle between good and bad.
You think you know the story is used to put the audience on edge and to
question what they know about horror films, it implies something different will
happen in the film which again just puts audience on edge as they dont know
what that something will be.

I wanted to look at posters from a range of time periods to compare

the similarities and difference between a few. It is clear this one is
more old fashioned due to the representation shown within it. The
main image includes a man and women. The women is shown in a
very seductive position with her shoulders show and her head falling
back. This could give the narrative enigma to why is she handing
herself over with no struggle or strain, giving the audience a
narrative hook to find out. This idea could link with the strap line love
never dies implying that this is not a vile and evil murder instead she
has fallen in love and is given herself over. This contrasting narrative
hooks the audience in as it is something different and unseen before.
She is revealing her neck which can have both sexual connotations
and links to the theme of the narrative vampire. The pale glow on
them again links to the narrative of vampire. The slight glow around
them suggest something unnatural about their characters and roles.
The male character behind is slightly blacked out symbolising his
slight hidden identity and his hiding. The frame around the main
image shows snippets of the film but having them in a sepia palate
which resembles a stone artwork. This could be used to imply the
death of the people shown as typically statues are made in
remembrance of people. It also frames the main image as if it is an
entrance to a grave tomb again symbolic of the situation that is
happening in the middle.
The typography of the title is a direct link about with the theme as
the lettering resembles the dripping of blood and the sharp edges of
the wording shows the danger that is being faced. The obvious aspect
to comment on is the colour the use of red connotes danger and
blood which is a common convention of the horror genre.