Skip to main content

Mike S's Top Five Horror Movie Posters


One of the things that attracts us to a movie- besides the trailers, is the movie posters.  They have to be eye catching, and able to hint at what the story's about without spoiling it.  They have to make you curious, and want to plunk down your cash to sit in a theatre seat and watch the movie.

So, with that in mind, I'm going to present my Top Five Horror Movie Posters:

Click on image for
a larger look.
1.  Alien.  This is right at the top of my list for it's sheer simplicity and eeriness.  It let's you know that it involves an alien egg... and that no one will hear you scream.

The black background, simple white text, and the landscape at the bottom illustrates just how alone you'll feel as you experience whatever comes out of the glowing, misty green crack in the egg... and it won't be good...

Seriously, this movie poster is just a masterpiece of movie advertising and art rolled into one marvelous piece.

The movie itself was terrifying, and the poster is just a delightful hint about the horror that awaits.

Once again- just a masterpiece.

Click on image for
a larger look.
2.  Halloween.  John Carpenter's masterpiece of cinematic horror.  The poster is no slouch, either.

Once again, the simplicity of it really appeals to me.  The way the hand and knife blend into the pumpkin is just genius.  And the tagline: "The Night He Came Home!".  It's brilliant because you don't know who "He" is- but you sure know you're gonna be afraid of him.

The blackness, and the rather sudden appearance of the knife wielding hand hints that the horror can- and will come at you from the shadows, while the pumpkin intimates that our killer may be of a supernatural origin... possibly from the shadows of legend and superstition.

One I would love to have on the wall of "The Corner of Terror", myself.

Click on image for
a larger look.
3.  The Changeling.  I don't think this list would be complete without a poster from one of my all time favorite horror movies- The Changeling.

As with the previous two, this one displays a nice simplicity to it that really appeals to me.  Just the wheelchair casting a ghostly shadow surrounding by a deadly red aura.  Just a great use of colour to create a mood.

The tagline at the top is a bit much for me, but that's balanced out by the simplicity of the title combined with the slightly deranged look of the title font.

The whole thing has a unsettling, creepy feel to it that sends a shiver of pleased anticipation up and down my spine whenever I see it.  Hmmm... I may just have to watch the movie again after this article's done...

Click on image for
a larger look.
4.  The Fog.  A John Carpenter movie makes the list a second time with this poster.  It's not as simple as the others above, but it's still a wonderful piece of advertising.

I love how it looks like the action is taking place in a spot light of sorts, with it dark everywhere else.  The look of horror on Jamie Lee Curtis's face as the single, decayed arm reaches through the gap in the door is just fantastic.

I also really like how the solidity of the door kinda dissolves into the ghostly light and mist coming from the other side.  The red of Jamie Lee Curtis's shirt really pops, and draws your eye to the centre and the look on her face.

My only complaint is the rather text heavy nature of the poster.  I found it a little distracting from the main image.  Other than that, another great horror movie poster.

Click on image for
a larger look.
5.  The Woman in Black.  More of a VHS case cover than a movie poster, this image used for the 1989 British TV movie is great in my opinion.

The contrast of the gray scale and the sickly green is wonderful, and really hints at the unnatural nature of the Woman in Black.  I also loved how she's not centered, but off to the side a bit- once again hinting at the otherwordly origins of her.

The title font is fairly standard, but sufficient to add a slightly Gothic feel to the image.

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend watching this version of the film.  You would not be disappointed, I think.

One I'd add to my wall for sure.

So, there we have it.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Let me know!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou
Post a Comment
Read more

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo
Post a Comment
Read more

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e
Post a Comment
Read more