Research- Film Posters

For my research into film posters I decided to use IMDB as they are considered one of the top review sites for films. This means they are going to have the widest audience that have reviewed different films. Therefore I looked at the top 100 section for thriller films and then looked at how the top films (from the last 10 years) used film posters to advertise their films.

Inception:

Plot summary (Taken from IMDB): Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible - inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

The film poster shows an unusual situation as you would not expect to see a built up city with skyscrapers filled with water, reflecting the narrative of the film as it shows this new world. However it is also unclear as to why it is like this if you didn't know the plot and was seeing the poster for the first time, this therefore incorporates a fear of the unknown for the audience and has them guessing why it is like that. The film poster is also effective as they have used star power by having Leonardo DiCaprio standing centrally in the poster as it immediately has the audience engaged if they are fans of his work. It is also important that he is holding a pistol in his hand as it reflects the thriller genre of the film and also suggests that the plot will include crime and conflict.
The Departed:

Plot summary (Taken from IMDB):In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they have penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy - and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save themselves. But is either willing to turn on their friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?

The main element used in this film poster is  star power to engage the audience rather than any real visual effects or eye catching shots. It is clear that the 3 main characters starring in the film are Leonardo DiCaprio, John Nickolson and Matt Damon as they have their faces incorporated into the title of the film. I found that this was an effective technique as they are 3 famous actors which means that they are likely to attract an audience due to the calibre of their reputations. However the only downside to this is that there is essentially no plot conveyed in the poster due to the lack of mise-en-scene which could show what is actually happening in the shots. Therefore this style has positives and negatives, although for our film we won't have famous actors which would mean this style would be weaker for a low budget film like ours.

The Dark Knight Rises:

Plot Summary (Taken from IMDB): 8 years after the events of The Dark Knight find Gotham at a time of peace. This is due to Batman taking the fall for Harvey Dent's murder. However, a new evil force named Bane has arrived in Gotham and aims to take over the city and expose the truth behind who Harvey Dent really was. Now that Wayne Manor has been completely rebuilt - Bruce Wayne has become almost reclusive, rarely leaving the estate. And with Bane taking over the city by force, it forces Batman to come out of retirement. But his allies are few and far apart. An elusive jewel thief by the name of Selina Kyle could be the key to stopping Bane - but whose side is she on?

This film poster is very effective due to the eye catching effects that capture the attention the audiences attention immediately. This is due to the code chosen, in particular the colours as the dark background and silhouette of Batman contrasts so greatly with the colours in the explosion. This contrast emphasises the explosion, which is important as an explosion would connote conflict and action which is a key feature in thriller films. This convention is therefore likely to further engage an audience if they were to see a film poster like this. The use of colour in the trailer I feel would be effective to use in our own film poster as easy manipulation of the colour can create such a prominent effect.  

The Bourne Ultimatum:

Plot summary (taken from IMDB):Bourne is once again brought out of hiding, this time inadvertently by London-based reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation Blackbriar--an upgrade to Project Treadstone--in a series of newspaper columns. Bourne sets up a meeting with Ross and realizes instantly they're being scanned. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally, ultimately, uncover his dark past whilst dodging The Company's best efforts in trying to eradicate him.

This film trailer is similar to the first two poster in respect to it having a very heavy focus on star power. This is because Matt Damon is a very well known actor and having an image of his back and head, complimented by his name in large font is effectively making the audience identify that he is in the film. Once again due to actors like this having large fan bases, lots of people are likely to want to watch the film because he is in it, therefore it is an effective technique for a film poster. The poster also shows a setting without giving much else away. The extreme long shot shows how there will be a city as a location which is typical of a thriller film as they are busy which heightens danger in an action scene. Therefore having this incorporated into the film poster reflects the genre and is likely to grasp the audiences attention and make them interested in the film.