By Arlene Parks
It is important that horror films have a good movie posters to advertise them. Often viewers will base their decision to go to a movie on whether or not they like the poster. They may be attracted to the list of actors or directors who made the movie, or they may be attracted to the artwork of the poster itself.
The cinema posters for a film should work on several levels. It should give basic information about the feature such as who is starring in it and who made it. It should also give some idea of what the movie is about and why it is scary. But it should not give away too much information or viewers may be turned off about seeing it.
There are many lists of the "best" examples of horror movie posters. Some contain only ten examples, while other lists have up to 100. While these lists may differ in length and reasoning behind their entries, there are some posters that show up again and again because they truly are the best examples of their genre.
The cinema posters for a film should work on several levels. It should give basic information about the feature such as who is starring in it and who made it. It should also give some idea of what the movie is about and why it is scary. But it should not give away too much information or viewers may be turned off about seeing it.
There are many lists of the "best" examples of horror movie posters. Some contain only ten examples, while other lists have up to 100. While these lists may differ in length and reasoning behind their entries, there are some posters that show up again and again because they truly are the best examples of their genre.
One of the most ubiquitous horror movie posters is that for the film "Jaws". Starring Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, this movie about a man-eating Great White shark was directed by Steven Spielberg. The poster is minimal in details, showing only a female swimmer, a beautiful stretch of blue ocean water, and a giant, toothy shark rearing up from the deep. It makes its point in a simple, straightforward manner.
The 1979 remake film, "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht", starred Klaus Kinski as a demonic looking vampire who terrorizes a small village. The poster was simple, made up of mostly black and white line art mixed in with a few brushes of color. The vampire is twisted and ugly looking, and holds in his arms an unconscious woman. It is obvious from this poster that this vampire is not sexy or romantic like many modern day vampires appear to be.
The poster for the 1980s horror film "House", starring William Katt, Richard Moll, and George Wendt, gives a grotesque image of a disembodied hand pressing on a doorbell. While the doorbell looks innocent enough, the hand itself is grotesque. Flesh rots off the bones and hangs down in clumps, while veins clearly loop around dead hunks of muscle.
While the film "Forbidden Planet", starring Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis, could be viewed as science fiction, the poster speaks of its more horror-based undertones. Here a giant robot looms up from an alien landscape with an unconscious woman held captive in his arms. While artistically rendered, the fe
The 1979 remake film, "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht", starred Klaus Kinski as a demonic looking vampire who terrorizes a small village. The poster was simple, made up of mostly black and white line art mixed in with a few brushes of color. The vampire is twisted and ugly looking, and holds in his arms an unconscious woman. It is obvious from this poster that this vampire is not sexy or romantic like many modern day vampires appear to be.
The poster for the 1980s horror film "House", starring William Katt, Richard Moll, and George Wendt, gives a grotesque image of a disembodied hand pressing on a doorbell. While the doorbell looks innocent enough, the hand itself is grotesque. Flesh rots off the bones and hangs down in clumps, while veins clearly loop around dead hunks of muscle.
While the film "Forbidden Planet", starring Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis, could be viewed as science fiction, the poster speaks of its more horror-based undertones. Here a giant robot looms up from an alien landscape with an unconscious woman held captive in his arms. While artistically rendered, the fe
The 1979 remake film, "Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht", starred Klaus Kinski as a demonic looking vampire who terrorizes a small village. The poster was simple, made up of mostly black and white line art mixed in with a few brushes of color. The vampire is twisted and ugly looking, and holds in his arms an unconscious woman. It is obvious from this poster that this vampire is not sexy or romantic like many modern day vampires appear to be.
The poster for the 1980s horror film "House", starring William Katt, Richard Moll, and George Wendt, gives a grotesque image of a disembodied hand pressing on a doorbell. While the doorbell looks innocent enough, the hand itself is grotesque. Flesh rots off the bones and hangs down in clumps, while veins clearly loop around dead hunks of muscle.
While the film "Forbidden Planet", starring Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis, could be viewed as science fiction, the poster speaks of its more horror-based undertones. Here a giant robot looms up from an alien landscape with an unconscious woman held captive in his arms. While artistically rendered, the feel of the poster is more ominous than cartoonish.
There is almost nothing as frightening as the sense of vulnerability you feel while you sleep. Anything could happen to you. The poster for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" plays on these fears. A pretty teen played by Heather Langenkamp lays in bed with a look of surprise and horror on her face as a clawed hand reaches out of her dreams to attack her.
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The poster for the 1980s horror film "House", starring William Katt, Richard Moll, and George Wendt, gives a grotesque image of a disembodied hand pressing on a doorbell. While the doorbell looks innocent enough, the hand itself is grotesque. Flesh rots off the bones and hangs down in clumps, while veins clearly loop around dead hunks of muscle.
While the film "Forbidden Planet", starring Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis, could be viewed as science fiction, the poster speaks of its more horror-based undertones. Here a giant robot looms up from an alien landscape with an unconscious woman held captive in his arms. While artistically rendered, the feel of the poster is more ominous than cartoonish.
There is almost nothing as frightening as the sense of vulnerability you feel while you sleep. Anything could happen to you. The poster for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" plays on these fears. A pretty teen played by Heather Langenkamp lays in bed with a look of surprise and horror on her face as a clawed hand reaches out of her dreams to attack her.
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See Star Stills for a great selection of film posters from different genres. Find out what makes the best cinema posters