'Panic Room' Poster Analysis #4 - Thriller

'Panic Room' is a 2002 home invasion thriller film directed by David Fincher and starring Jodi Foster, Forrest Whittaker and Jared Leto. Here is the theatrical release poster for the film:

This poster I feel is greatly crafted and represents the films main theme of invasion and protection quite well.

Firstly, you have Jodi Foster's character in the foreground of the poster. I think the way she has her eyes wide open and seems to be lying on the floor is effective and it makes her look at her most vulnerable and also her most weak. The large, red font just under her is also extremely obvious and stands out very well, clearly presenting the title and main substance of the film, since 'Panic Room' is associated with a room of high security and stability in the case of a murder and invasion. It is also effective as the font is written in red due to the fact that red is very often associated with danger, anxiety or horror. Hence when you see the title Panic Room on this poster, you feel a certain tone that immediately hits you due to its design. This foreshadows certain elements and prospects of the film such as violence,since Jodi Foster and her daughter in the film are victims of great threat and danger due to the invading criminals who will stop at nothing to get what they are seeking.

The other captivating thing about the poster is the intruder in the background. He's dressed in all black and is also slightly blurred, so his character is not clear to see and it makes him more ominous and dangerous.In addition his body shape is hunched, which can be suggesting he is stronger than her and this is why in the poster she's lying down and is looking considerably vulnerable. This may be linking back to the stereotype that men are stronger than women, and could be why the creators decided to use this aspect in the poster. He is also directly in the centre of the poster, which may suggest the character has more of the power in the poster or in the film's diegesis, and he is not to be crossed.

I also think the way the poster has been chosen to cut off sections on the right and left is clever and appropriate, so it makes for just one strip down the middle of the poster. This creates a smart effect and makes it look like Jodi Foster is trapped within the frame and in fact within her own home, which once again foreshadows the film's theme of invasion and security.