Horror Poster Analysis 1: "The Cabin in the Woods"

This is an American 2012 Horror film. The main image consists of a cabin which we are also told about in the title. The cabin contains three different floors and on the image each floor is twisted at a diagonal angle in a distorted way. This suggests to the audience that this cabin is not normal and unusual and therefor strange events may take place within here, this also adds mystery and confusion, which will make the audience uncomfortable. Behind the main image is a faded woodland area hinting to the audience the setting of this horror, which is a secluded and isolated place. Within the poster there is no presence of a killer which perhaps connotes that the killer does not have human form but may have a supernatural aspect. The cabin and text contain darker colours adding a frightening edge. In contrast lighter colours have been used within the background, in the windows of the cabin and to help fade the woods into the background. This perhaps could signify mist being present and how the victims will not be able to see beyond this, it will be able to trap them. The use of lights within the cabin creates curiosity as to what is inside. The font used is slender yet dominant on the page. It has a scratched-like effect over it and the word ‘Cabin’ is the largest as this is the most significant thing. This could be why the title is placed towards the bottom of the poster as the main image contains this.  The tagline of ‘You think you know the story.’ Draws the audience in to watch the film as it is obviously going to contain unexpected elements and will have some kind of twist which will not stereotypically be in horror films. Again when considering the aspects that have been discussed above, the target audience for this film will be predominantly male. I feel this as the layout contains many masculine features such as colours used, effects and the use of imaging.