CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILER FILM

POSTERS

Use of Film poster

• Film posters are a way of promoting the film/movie. It can be advertised in many forms from billboard to train station posters to bus posters. The versatility of film posters helps to target a lot of people within the target market.

Psychological Thriller film poster

• As the genre of psychological thriller is the sub genre of horror the themes portrayed through out the film are generally scary / negative and intellectual, for example many psychological thrillers share the same theme of madness.

• The themes of the film should be portrayed through the poster as this helps the audience understand the film.

Close up ShotsMany psychological thriller posters show the main character within a close up shot staring directly into the camera. This shows a form of eerieness and ambiguity sometimes also the theme of madness which runs throughout the film. This also helps to create enigma which draws the audience even more to the film as they would want to know why the person is like the way they have been portrayed.

Colour

The colours within the film posters are generally very dark however some have light colours but clash with dark colours therefore a psychological thriller will always consist of dark colours as it brings a sense of ambiguity yet presents the themes accordingly to the genre.

The use of dark colours helps to clearly show the genre the film is as a film poster should not be confusing to the audience. The use of dark colours and manipulation of effects helps the audience especially into understanding the concept of the film.

ProtagonistMany film posters only have the main character outlined to represent who the main character actually is which also helps the audience to identify who they will see most on the screen. Also many films focus on one character sometimes and shows events within the film which affects the main character the most representing sympathy or hatred for them.

Nonetheless film posters show only the main character especially if they are a big star as this would help gain more awareness.

Analysis – Shutter Island The poster portrays dark colours showing a form of ambiguity. The only light is shown through a match lit flame possibly suggesting danger.

Not a lot of information or pictures are given away in the film poster as the posters purpose is to gain awareness and generate hype within the audience.

Analysis – Black SwanThe poster for Black swan consists of ambiguity as all that is shown is a close up shot of the main character.

The crack effect represents a form of disruption that the main character will go through. This implies a form of action which is used to interest the audience.

The typography of the quote placed near the middle of the right hand side assists the audience to watch the film as the quote is in favour of the film. Film posters generally have quotes to show the audience how great the film is and to make them watch it.

Although the colour of the poster is mainly white it is clashed against a black back ground which represents a clash of pure/evil, good/bad.

AnalysisThe poster shows a close up shot of the main character which uses the typical convention of a psychological thriller film poster.

The use of effects to deliberately put pen marks across the characters face shows a form of madness and ambiguity which makes the audience question the film. This also helps generate interest.