Thriller Poster Conventions

Today I looked at a variety of thriller promotional posters in order to identify and analyse the different conventions that they have in common; whilst we're not creating a film poster, it helps when creating a film opening to be aware of the conventions and what the audience expect to see when going to see a thriller film.

The film opening is the most important part, as not only does it introduce the film, but it has to be exciting enough to keep the audience's attention without giving away too much information. 

This poster for 28 Days Later is very simple with a simple red background which could symbolise blood, danger, panic, but also love. It shows a lone figure walking near Big Ben, which instantly tells the audience that the film is set in London, one of the most busiest cities in the world. Behind the title, a there's a biohazard symbol, which could suggest quarantine or an imminent health danger. Above all of this, there is the tagline which reads 'Day 1: Exposure. Day 3: Infection. Day 8: Epidemic. Day 15: Evacuation. Day 20: Devastation.' This tells the audience a series of steps that has occurred in the film, which is a direct link to the film title '28 Days Later', meaning that what the audience witnesses takes place 8 days after the final step; devastation. 

The poster for Buried was kept incredibly simple, with just a simple black background which could symbolise darkness, evilness, death, fear and mystery. The title is placed at the very top in white, which once you look down, the placement makes it seem as if the title is sitting at ground level and Ryan Reynolds is in fact buried several feet underneath. At the very bottom, you can see a small box illuminated by the light from a torch and you can see the actor, Ryan Reynolds inside. Just above him is the film's tagline; 'Your fate is never sealed', which is a direct link to that fact that perhaps the coffin isn't sealed and perhaps there is a way out. This film poster instantly draws attention, because it doesn't give you as much information as other posters do, e.g; 28 Days Later. 

Limitless is classed as a thriller film, however the poster breaks the majority of conventions seen and used for thriller film posters. It looks like an action film or maybe a science fiction with the unusual variation of bright, blurred colours that dominate the poster. The poster is divided into three sections, perhaps to in an effort to show three different viewpoints or three different stages. The top third shows the main character, played by Bradley Cooper, seeming to be living the life of luxury with his own private jet, a girlfriend and poker chips; all things that indicate he has enough money to gamble. The second third shows just him alone with the tall buildings and blinding lights, most likely a major city such as New York City, in the background. The last third shows him standing on the edge of a balcony in an apartment looking down to the ground below, perhaps contemplating whether or not he'll jump. Each section shows something completely different. The title is a simple white font with the tagline below which reads 'What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?'. This poster relies heavily on the tagline to draw audience attention in; by using an open question that is written in a way to be as vague as possible, but also in order to gain attention; as the images are quite generic.