'The Strangers' Poster Analysis #6 - Horror/Thriller

This is one of the promotional posters for the 2008 horror/thriller slasher 'The Strangers' starring Liv Tyler. The film falls under a home invasion styled, horror/thriller film. 

This poster I find is considerably effective and very well achieves the tone and mood for the film. 

The first thing that is effective with this poster is the three masked intruders in the middle of the frame. The key thing and most iconic aspect of this film is the masks they wear, as they are extremely odd and make these three people extremely ominous. Since they are wearing these masks, the audience can then associate the film with home invasion, slasher and murder, also given the title of the film 'The Strangers'. The characters are also presented in a low-key light, making for a tenser, scarier atmosphere for the poster, which helps to lure in the audience and feel chilled by this poster since the subjects are in such low lighting and makes it all the more scarier. Similarly, half of the female character's face at the front is shadowed in darkness. This is used as a device to hide the characters true identity, and also adding to the idea that the killer can be anyone who comes out from the shadows, also adding to the ominous tone of the short film.  Lastly the female character positioned at the front of the three intruders is holding a large knife. This creates again, a very bleak and sinister toned poster, due to the connotations the knife and all of the masked intruders creates. 

The next thing to comment on in this poster is the tag line positioned at the top. It reads 'Lock the door. Pretend you're safe.' This tag line has quite an effective impact as it subconsciously includes the audience in it, and makes them think about a situation when even though their door is locked, they don't feel fully safe, This is the purpose of the tag line and it cleverly manipulates the audience into imagining a similar situation to the one happening in the film, ultimately making the viewing experience of the film scarier and more thrilling. Additionally the 'Inspired by true events' at the bottom of the poster also helps to add to this effect, of getting the audience invested in the film's plot and theme as much as possible.