Whats the most effective film poster that you can think of?

Question

At the mo, i'm doing a project where i am analysing horror film posters. I'm using a 'Wolf Creek' poster and also a 'Final Destination 3'. Could you think of another one which uses different techniques to the two i've already picked?

Thanks alot in advance, x

Answer 1

Ooh! This is a good question!

The best poster I can think of in recent years (we're talking 8 years ago now) was the original teaser posters for Star Wars Episode 1 (no comments on the movie, just the poster).

Keep in mind that this was before Episode 1 came out. At this time, all we had to go on was the original Star Wars trilogy. We knew that Darth Vader at one time went by the name of Anakin and that was about it. We also knew that these new Star Wars films were going to be prequels.

The poster shows this innocent little boy in the desert. Innocent enough...until you notice that the shadow is not a shadow of a little boy. What you see is the silhouette of Darth Vader. Pretty cool. Nice foreshadowing (no pun intended).

Answer 2

...a tough question, since really effective movie posters come and go quite frequently, and sometimes, the poster proves to be the best thing about the film; I've always had particular favorites, but even THAT changes continuously, probably on a yearly basis; it's tough to break down an absolute favorite, from a timeframe span ranging from the early-to-mid 60's, to today!!!

...right now, two posters, deemed my 'flavor of the month' effective favorites, are (webpage samples posted below):

"Grindhouse"

This very stylish, albeit exploitive roadshow-style poster absolutely exhues the spirit of the grind house cinema of the early-to-mid 70's; it dynamically pulls no punches in letting one know what one is in for, and yet, at the same time, merely teases, and doesn't really give EVERYTHING away...

"Hostel Part II"

Personally, I am of the mind that horror cinema is going way, way, way beyond the fringe, in recent years, with the so-called genre known as 'torture porn horror'; yet, at the same time, the genre is so compelling, it dares you to look away. Whether you like the genre or not, you watch it for pretty much the same reason: you want to know just how far the filmmakers are going to go. The same could be said about some of the poster art associated with these films. Take the recent teaser poster for the upcoming film, "Hostel Part II"; just what the **** is that, on the poster?????

...yet, at the same time, without words, the poster almost calls out to you, and says, "Come See This Movie!....I Dare You!!!)

Answer 3

The one that springs to mind is the Jaws poster with a tiny
swimmer on the surface and the whole length of the shark visible rising beneath them
http://www.jawsmovie.com/fans/erik/DesktopJaws.jpg

Answer 4

Halloween (original) , The poster where he is standing in the background at the french doors

Even looking at the poster gives you goosebumps

http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/pic/55/024_AC083~Halloween-Posters.jpg