2. Baring this in mind, the
way the boy is holding the
girl can be taken 2 ways:
Just a loving imbrace, or it
could be said that he is
At first glance, this looks
gripping on to her as a
like a teen rom-com
show of ownership, trying
because of the tactile
to establish some sort of
couple in the foreground,
power (as many killers
as well as the chalkboard
often do in some way)
(which has connotations
with American high
schools) in the background
The tagline 'From the first This could then hint at
blush of romance to the what is often said of
last pull of the trigger' murderers, that they seem
plays on this, but the normal and unassuming to
mention of a trigger grabs their peers, but are hiding
the audiences attention, as their true intentions
it hints that this film is a lot
more violent than the
typical teen movie
3. Close up of the girl in the
foreground (with a blank
Main Colours background) could show
The contrast between her the invasive and intrusive
pale white complexion and nature of being the star
the black text and
background not only goes
with the oxymoron of the
film's title (since a swan is
usually white rather than The crack in her face could
black), but could maybe show that she is 'cracking
show how separated she is under pressure', and that
from reality itself. It could her life is beginning to fall
also potentially represent 2 apart and the cracks are
sides of her own starting to show, hinting at
personality – the 'black what could happen to her
swan' and the 'white swan' character in the film
4. The tagline 'Killer looks.' is
a pun that makes use of
dark humour. Paired with
the character's reflection in
the knife, it hints that he is
quite egotistical and
narcissistic, as well as
being dangerous.
However, the fact that
he appears to be looking
away from his reflection
could show that he
refuses to accept who
he really is
5. Main star is not USP because he is not very well known, but
Ben Stiller, who is presenting the film is. So including his Main Colours
name at the top of the poster could persuade fans of his The main colours used are black, white,
No critics are quoted previous work to go and see this film red, yellow and blue. I really like the way
Which to me adds to the element of mystery that half of the image of the boy is
about the poster, as well as allowing the covered in a blue filter, as it looks like he is
audience to form their own subjective opinions partly submerged in water – a play on
words considering the title is Submarine
Persuasive techniques
Because It is quite a minimal design with no
tagline, the poster doesn't give much away
about the film. In this way, it persuades its Intended audience
audiences with the element of mystery The poster gives very little away
about the type of film it is, so I
would assume this is to appeal to
all audiences
Message of the poster
The lack of tagline means the only insight we
Genre Conventions
have into the personality and life of the
As with most independent films, I'm sure
character is the main image. The ‘submerged’
there was a budget that included an allotted
effect created by the blue on the bottom half,
amount for production of the poster,
paired with the almost awed expression of his
Although quite simple and cheap to make
face could be telling the audience he feels
with the right computer software and
overwhelmed or is ‘drowning’ in his own life
camera, this poster does its job and is cost
effective
Background & Foreground
The background is a blank white in the top Symbols
half of the main image, and has a slightly This poster does not have a rating symbol,
blurred/wavy effect in the bottom half, to so could potentially stilll be to be certified.
make the blue section appear to look even It does however feature small logos of the
more like water production and distributions companies
involved in the film.
6. Genre Conventions
Main star is not USP, because there are no names on The critic's quote makes it obvious that the film
This goes against the conventions of many short
display and we can not see the girl's face is a horror, they describe it as 'terrifying'. It also
films, as rather than being quite miimalistic and
links quite nicely into the main image, as the
simple to coincide with budget, this poster is able
words 'it lands its hooks into you, there's no
to make the only 2 things in the image – the girl
tearing away' could also be used to describe the
and the bear trap – look very professional, as if it
bear trap
was made for a more mainstream film with a high
budget. In terms of Thriller conventions, the
simplicity of it combined with the impending
sense of danger create quite a nice eery/creepy
effect
Intended audience
Since the main image seems to symbolise some sort
of gory danger is involved the target audience would
be adults or teenagers who enjoy horror films
Persuasive techniques
The first thing to catch the audience’s eye Message of the poster
would be the main image, showing a little girl The entire image foreshadows
standing in the middle of a bear trap. The fact danger that is unforeseen by the
that she is obviously in impending danger, yet characters
doesn’t seem to be fazed or have noticed, as
well as a the fact we cannot see her face
Main Colours
The whole image is in sombre colours, other than
the girl in the red hoodie, making her the focal
Symbols point. The red hoodie would remind the audience
The ‘R’ film rating is used in the US to of Little Red Riding Hood – the story of a young
symbolise that the film is not suitable for girl who puts herself in danger by wondering
those under 17 without an adult present. through a forest alone talking to a stranger – so
This would let the person who sees the the audience could expect a similar (but probably
poster know what kind of content the film more lethal) element of danger. Red also has
has, and if it is suitable for them based on connotations with blood and danger.
their age
Background & Foreground
The background is a blank grey, allowing the main image in the
foreground to become the focal point
7. Genre Conventions
Main star is not USP, because there are no names on The critic's quote makes it obvious that the film
This goes against the conventions of many short
display and we can not see the girl's face is a horror, they describe it as 'terrifying'. It also
films, as rather than being quite miimalistic and
links quite nicely into the main image, as the
simple to coincide with budget, this poster is able
words 'it lands its hooks into you, there's no
to make the only 2 things in the image – the girl
tearing away' could also be used to describe the
and the bear trap – look very professional, as if it
bear trap
was made for a more mainstream film with a high
budget. In terms of Thriller conventions, the
simplicity of it combined with the impending
sense of danger create quite a nice eery/creepy
effect
Intended audience
Since the main image seems to symbolise some sort
of gory danger is involved the target audience would
be adults or teenagers who enjoy horror films
Persuasive techniques
The first thing to catch the audience’s eye Message of the poster
would be the main image, showing a little girl The entire image foreshadows
standing in the middle of a bear trap. The fact danger that is unforeseen by the
that she is obviously in impending danger, yet characters
doesn’t seem to be fazed or have noticed, as
well as a the fact we cannot see her face
Main Colours
The whole image is in sombre colours, other than
the girl in the red hoodie, making her the focal
Symbols point. The red hoodie would remind the audience
The ‘R’ film rating is used in the US to of Little Red Riding Hood – the story of a young
symbolise that the film is not suitable for girl who puts herself in danger by wondering
those under 17 without an adult present. through a forest alone talking to a stranger – so
This would let the person who sees the the audience could expect a similar (but probably
poster know what kind of content the film more lethal) element of danger. Red also has
has, and if it is suitable for them based on connotations with blood and danger.
their age
Background & Foreground
The background is a blank grey, allowing the main image in the
foreground to become the focal point
