Gabi Summers

FILM POSTER ANALYSIS

THE AWAKENING

The main colours used in the poster for ‘The Awakening’ are mainly a dull black and a light grey with a hint of white. The colour black is significant of death and evil as well as mysterious, supernatural and sinister. This could imply that there is something unknown in the film as it creates quite a dark uneasy atmosphere. The dull grey colour also emphasises this as they are stereotypically associated with horror and bad happenings since the colours appear lifeless. The colour white that is used slightly suggests some goodness amongst all the dark; it is significant of peace and possibly could represent hope in light of a dark situation.

COLOUR

In the awakening poster, there are a couple of main symbols. The house is in the background plays a huge part in the portraying of the film. The house is in the main focus of the image even though it is in the background, this suggesting that the house holds some significance for the narrative. We do not need any foreknowledge of the film to know that the house will be some way included as the de-saturated, isolated old house automatically implies an eerie feel in which we are at unease as to what will happen there and the locations significance. As well as this, the child's face in the background of the image holds significance as well, we are unaware of who the character is however, we know that it will be symbolic to the film since he is almost hidden away out of the poster, but still in focus.

SYMBOLS

The main central figure in ‘The Awakening’ poster is the female. We can immediately tell that the woman holds some significance for the film as she is centrally directed on the poster, showing she is important as she is framed directly in the middle of the poster. The fact that the woman is almost wrapping her arms around herself however, suggests that she might be hiding something and is perhaps insecure. The woman is represented photographically in order to portray the expression on her face as well as including the costume of the woman. Another object in the poster is the bent in trees. These have been used almost illustratively in order to attempt to add to the atmosphere and the story. The trees appear to be forming almost an arched walk way behind the female, this implies that they are almost closing in on her; suggesting that she is not safe. As well as this, the trees add to the isolated and eerie setting seeing as there are no leaves on them, representing the lack of life about.

FIGURES & OBJECTS

I think the intended audience for the poster is any age range from around teenage years. The poster creates quite a scary and eerie effect and therefore, will not be suitable for children. As a result of this I think that the poster appeals to any other audience as it is not specific what the film is about meaning you cannot get a feel for the narrative to further categorise the type of audience it is appealing to.

AUDIENCE

Persuasive techniques of the film poster are the captions below the title. This is almost a cliff hanger for the audience as the phrase ‘all the children are gone, except one’ leave the audience uneasy as we do not know what it means. This persuades the audience to view the film as they wish to find out more. As well as this, the actors and the critic reviews attract audiences towards the film as they almost advertise the film and give it a unique selling point.

PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES

In the poster, elements of the horror/thriller genre are mostly shown. For example, the isolated house in the background is stereotypically an element of this genre as it is symbolic throughout the film of an old, dark house in the middle of nowhere that something is going to happen in. The female covering herself also adds to this genre. We are unaware of her use at this point from the poster but get the idea that she could be used as a detective or heroine as well as being a female protagonist. The lack of colour in the

poster also links in with the genre since the dark and eerie

atmosphere often represents something supernatural or evil.

GENRE

The names of 2 acting stars are featured on the poster. This is a unique selling point. The purpose of advertising the stars names is to appeal to audiences; if a viewer see’s an actor they like advertised in a film they are more likely to go and see the film and therefore meaning that the film is successful.

USP

Expert critiques are quoted on the film poster as this reels the audiences in. If the film ha been highly rated by professionals then people are more likely to view the film as a lot of people base their opinions on what is said in the media etc. Therefore, if critiques have rated the film highly and recommended it then people are more likely to trust this and view the film. The reviews also give the audience more of an incline as to what the film is about and as a result of this, may persuade more audiences to see the film.

STAR EXPERTS

The attention of the poster is more than likely gained from the special effects. The faded out child’s face in the background is not immediately obvious and therefore the attention of the audience is gained once they notice it as they being to see interest in the poster. The audience question what the film may be about. Furthermore, the female character featured on the poster will grab the readers attention. The woman is portrayed as a female protagonist which subverts typical film conventions. This will appeal to audiences as it is something ‘different.’

ATTENTION

The tagline for The Awakening being ‘All children are gone. Except for one’ makes the audience feel slightly uneasy as it is slightly nerve racking. The line has been used in order to create a cliff hanger for the audience. It does not answer any questions or mention why there is one ‘child’ left but it leaves us to question ourselves what the film might be about. This is used as a persuasive technique so that audiences will go and see the film in order to have their questions/theories answered.

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