Magazine and Poster analysis

This poster from Scream 4 is a conventional Horror movie poster. The use of the mask as the main image turning into a knife at the bottom gives a clear insight to the main character of this specific film. The mask is the disguise and the knife is the obvious weapon. There is a slight glowing effect around the image which adds to the spooky and sinister effects caused by Horror films. The knife effect is used again in the title underneath where it blends into the end of the ‘M’.

There are only three different colours used on this poster but its simplicity makes it more effective. The background being black reflects the dark atmosphere expected from Horror films. This blackness makes the image stand out more so it attracts the audience’s attention, being centred on the image as well also means it’s the first thing the audience will see. The title at the bottom reflects the image and is the same colour as it and the text above. The number ‘4’ is in red which is repeated in the release date below. This is the only use of red on the poster. This makes the 4 memorable for the audience as it stands out. The audience can recognise immediately that this is the fourth take on the film so it will encourage them to go and watch the ones from before.

There is no more text other than ‘New Decade. New Rules’. This leaves a vast amount of empty space on the poster so the only thing the audience are left to look at is the mask blade. This makes the poster appear creepier to the audience.

In this cover for Entertainment Weekly magazine the colours are very conventional for a Horror magazine with uses of red, white and black. These colours are very typical within this genre to portray the dark atmosphere and reflect danger such as blood and death through red and black.

The masthead is situated near the top of the magazine so it attracts the attention of the audience straight away and they can immediately recognise the magazine they are reading. The font is often used and iconic to this certain magazine. The title is in white with the word ‘weekly’ inside the last four letters in black. This makes the entire title stand out and easy to read.  

The image used on this magazine cover is from the movie ‘Scream’, an iconic Horror film. This mask is the thing the audience will recognise most in relation to the film.

The sub titles for this magazine all present other famous names that the audience may recognise. There are also references to music and technology to suggest that it is aimed at a younger audience. Situating the main title at the bottom right corner means more of the picture is displayed, but the audience will see the text as they look at it. The sub titles carry on underneath the main title. The first is relevant to this main title and uses alliteration in the form of ‘the bloody battle’ and puts ‘Scream 4’ in bold to attract attention to it. All the titles are in the same white colour to create a sense of union with the masthead of the magazine.

 This movie poster for the film The Cabin In The Woods is conventional to the genre of Horror because it is very mysterious and uses very little colouring. It is less conventional in the sense it doesn’t exaggerate with the most used colours of red or black. Actually, it has a rather light background which will intrigue the audience even more. Only white and a dark brown are used in this poster.

The picture is of the supposed cabin that is in the woods, as the movie title would imply. It has been edited so it causes the illusion that the cabin is spinning and in three separate parts. Straight away, the audience can tell that this cabin isn’t anything near the normal, sparking more interest.

This poster has used a very simple yet effective font. The letters are very thin to make it creepier. The text is all in the same font and colouring. The date for the film is bigger at the bottom near the credits. There is no text at the top of the poster but, between the main picture and title, there reads the text ‘you think you know the story’. Putting this in second person makes it more direct at the audience, involving them into the plot and motivating them to go see the film for themselves to understand what this means.

On this cover for Empire Magazine they have used the image of an iconic villain-The Joker. In this picture, he is making direct eye contact which will intimidate the reader and suggests what his character is like. Behind him is the logo of Batman, the hero in this story. It is an image anyone can immediately recognise. This will interest the audience, who are film fans. Being situated above The Joker’s head and at the top, in the middle of this magazine cover, it attracts the most attention to itself. It is also the only part of the magazine to be in a light background.

This cover has used a range of colours, mainly purple and green to connect with the image of The Joker who connotes these colours most. The cover has used spray paint effects to background the white text they have used on sub headings. As well as this, the text stands out against the dark background of the image. The masthead is the same as the majority of Empire magazines so it can be recognised in an instant. It is the only text in red which makes it more attractive. A link to the website is below the masthead in the same colour so it can be noticed. This also implies that the target audience of this magazine would be of a younger age, who have access and know how to use social media.

The sub headers all relate to other popular and famous films as well as big names that the audience may recognise or even be a fan of. This magazine have used a more playful font across the main image in the middle. This playful font reflects the personality and nature of The Joker’s character and gives the reader this insight through the use of mixing it with a quote which describes him.

Under the bed (2012)

This movie poster is very conventional to the genre of Horror.

The movie title stands out the most as it is clear and brighter in the colour of red. Red is typically used in Horror posters to convey danger and blood. The rest of the poster is very dark with only use of a few colours such as black, white and grey.

The effect of the arms reaching out under the bed and causing scratch marks is relevant to create fear to the target audience, therefore conventional to the Horror genre. The rest of the image under the bed is unclear, giving the sense of mystery to the audience and causing distress as to what it could be.

The font is very bold and being the colour red, and the only text of that colour, the title is the first thing that attracts the audience’s attention against the darkness of the picture. There is a very little range of colours. The quotes at the bottom of the poster are of the same font, giving the poster more sense of collectiveness. The quotes are easy to read and give a good impression of the film which will interest the audience.  There are three quotes at the bottom and one larger at the top, by a more important person. The fact that someone higher-up is saying positive quotes about this film will intrigue the audience into thinking it’s worth a watch.

This cover for ‘Scream’ magazine is very conventional for a Horror magazine. The excessive use of red is typical for the Horror genre as it reflects blood and danger. The colour is usually used and easily recognisable to the target audience who would relate it to this genre. There is also blood splatter effects used in relation to this. The main image on the front is quite dark, with a grey, silver-like, colour which also reflects the dark and gloomy theme of Horror. The use of white and yellow on the titles helps it to stand out against the dark background. On the title there is also the effect of dripping which reflects the blood effects present on the magazine and sticks to the conventions of the Horror genre.

There is a web address at the top right hand of the magazine, implying that the target audience will be of a younger age. The images used of this magazine cover are all conventional images you would expect from a Horror movie. As well as using popular actors to grasp the audience’s attention, this magazine shows the typical characters looking sinister, zombies, torture and Frankenstein. These images make the genre obvious. As well as showing updated images from new films, this magazine also explores some of the history of Horror by putting the image of Frankenstein in sepeia colouring to show it’s age as well as putting the text ‘Hammer’s Classic Revisited!’ . ‘Revisited’ implies that the film has been out for a long time and they want the audience to look back at it.