Insidious is a 2011 independent American psychological horror film, made in USA and Canada. The main theme of this film is family relations and child issues signified by the main image of the boy portrayed in the centre, also this suggest that he is the main character or the narrative is based around him. This is juxtaposed with the feeling of sadness and sympathy for the audience because the use of dark light foreshadows that he is controlled by a dark force. The use of low key lighting signifies that the film challenges the codes and conventions of the binary opposites of evil vs. innocence, and the shadows reinforce the demonic possession of the child. The iconography such as the dark and grey colours coincides with the conventions of psychological horror because the colours reinforce the theme of possession. The colour of darkness has been used to establish evil.

The colour of the poster implies that stereotypical conventions of horror have been used in making this film. For example the use of black and grey signifies a picture of horror, terror and evil. This establishes that the film is associated with horror, so the audience can tell what genre the film is by the colour scheme.

The house in the background is a clean blue and white, this suggests that the house is a safe place, a nice family home. However the dark grey clouds over the top of the house challenges this, the dark clouds represent that something sinister is bearing over the house and boy. This emphasises the psychological horror aspect of the film because it suggest evil can get you even if you think you are in a safe place.

“Insidious” is written in white and red, this creates enigma of audiences because they want to know what it is. The colour’s red and white have very different representations. Red is associated with danger, horror and blood, whereas white is associated with purity and innocence. The two colours in the poster are used emphasis the story, the white represents the boy and his innocence and the red represents the evil entity trying to take him over. Also “insidious” is written on the side to cause discomfort to the eyes when the audience looks at it, creating a deeper sense of horror.

The young boy conforms to the challenges of horror films. For instance the boy is centred in the middle of the poster; this establishes that he is the victim. His eyes also tell the audience that there is something wrong with him, possibly he is possessed by evil entities. Also on the poster it tells you what other films the creators have made, this entices fans of the other films to watch this one.