G321 Thriller Research: Poster Analysis

Alien

In the film poster advertising Alien it consists of two main colours, black and green. Green emphasises the alien side because we associate aliens as being green. The sci-fi font is San-Serif which makes it look futuristic and relevant to the films genre. The Ionic line "In space no one can hear you scream" is placed in the centre and has a huge impact on the poster. Despite its size, it makes a bigger impact then it being huge. This is because the space around it (the black abyss) is enhanced and you could interpret the line representing humans in space (We are ants in space). It instantly tells you the film is dark, scary and definitely a thriller film. 
The black background gives you a sense of lost in space, but trapped and confined to the darkness. Also the strange object in the middle could give you a clue about the film plot line, but its still a mystery which attracts you. The glow in the background of the blackness stands out and gives it a eerie outer space feel. The green glow contrasts the rest of the poster. The lettering and the glow stands out against the background. All together the poster gives off a sci-fi persona and allows the audience to get an idea of what the film is about. 




Leon

The close up of the character on the poster suggests he is the main character. He's looking up making him 'small' so maybe there is a bigger challenge ahead. The red tint suggests blood and danger along with the sunset which gives the impression of something ending, a finale. The reflection in his glasses hint at part of his life hidden because we can't see his eyes that well or the glasses reveal is life by showing us the building. Maybe where he lives or he works, the film could be centered around that building? The title Leon is in a vertical format which ties in with the vertical building and the character looking up. So a themed is linked together. Gives the sense of suspense to the audience who see the poster. 




Limitless

From the poster we get the impression that the man is the main character and by his facial expression it's a very serious film. He looks like he's focusing on something we cannot see. From the question "What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?", this implies the film is based around a pill that enhances you and makes you powerful and rich. We can gather that it enhances you because the numbers and words in the background symbol some sort of thought the pills gives you. Maybe makes you clever at maths? We can also assume the plot line is set in a city because in the background you can see block buildings so it's probably set in a city such as New York. The titles are slanted which could try a emphasis Limitless (Never ending) by having the text looking like its fading off in the distance. The colour scheme is mostly grey, whites and blacks which gives the effect of technology. Calculations and technology are a big part in the film, which we can conclude from the posters semiology. 

In conventions with thrillers all three posters give a sense of suspense and tension. In Leon and Limitless both characters are looking away and/or staring at something in the distance. This suggests they are isolated from us because they are significant but we as an audience don't know why. Aliens poster is conventional to a sci-fi with the correct colour usage and style for sci-fi. Even though its different from the other two posters, we know it isn't a light hearted family film. Unlike, Leon and Limitless there are no characters displayed so we get the impression we (humans) are insignificant in this film. 

All three are presented differently and are all different sub-genres of thrillers, so it is expected for them to vary in poster design.