Poster Research - Brighton Rock

Poster Research - Brighton Rock

Analysis

The names of the actors do appear within this poster, they are under-stated and accompanied by images of the actors who are in character. Main text is positioned in dead space of the image over the background of the sky. Interestingly, there are references to other films and one of them is 'Atonement'.

The main image is of centralised around the characters however the Pier setting in the background provides context. There is no tagline on this poster, however the cultural reference of the Pier gives an

Ratings and reviews of 'Brighton Rock'

idea of context. The poster also has a website positioned under the billing box in addition to critics praise above the titling. The titling itself is larger than any other text on the poster and would appear to serve some purpose of relation to the film. The billing block used is generic and barely compliments the design, the only use it makes is as a filler for dead space in the background. The age certification for this film is 15 which is shown alongside the billing box. Although, there is no release date advertised.

Media Language

• The poster makes use of low-key lighting along with dark colouring of setting, location and props.
• The costumes, hair and make up of the characters are ranged from bright to dark and insinuate a 1930's impression.
• Canted angle of the medium long shot at low angle perhaps sets out the ambiguity of the plot.
• The titling used in this poster is very formal and rather basic, in both font and colouring, however, they do both contrast very much with the image on the poster.
• It could be considered pathetic fallacy is being used here, perhaps as a manipulation of time as the sky changes from light to dark.

Representation

• The use of low-key lighting and dark colouring creates the representation that Brighton is quite a dark and sinister place.
• The red colour in the female's coat (to the left of the male) creates the representation that she is  perhaps a dangerous character or that she could be in trouble in some way in the film.
• The canted angle of the shot creates the representation of ambiguity and enigma within the film.

Red colouring shows danger

Audience

• Looking at the film poster, I would assume that the target demographic of the film is both males and females of around the age of 25 - 40. The genre of the film is thriller and crime which could draw in a younger audience. However, I believe that because the film is set in around the 1930s people of a more mature age would appreciate the plot more.

Narrative

Titling creates enigma in what the film is about

• It is difficult to tell just from the poster what narrative structure this film will follow. By the looks of it, the film appears to follow a linear narrative. The poster also portrays a sense of a plot which involves the three protagonists and involves a crime, in terms of Bordwell and Thompson's theory. In reference to Barthes theory a few of the enigma codes here are the characters, the lighting and the titling (both name and font). The action codes are the pier setting, dark clothing, etc. The main binary oppositions created, looking at Strauss' theory are, male and female and dark and light.

Genre

Rick Altman

• Semantic codes - Setting, props and decor along with clothing, hair and make-up are all iconographic of the thriller and crime genre, being formal in style and dark in colour. The shot size and angle used within the poster is also iconographic of the thriller and crime genres. As the shot is in a canted style it adds to the mystery of the genre. 
• Syntactic codes - The binary oppositions used are again stereotypical of similar films of the same genre. Additionally, the stereotype theme used is generic, with dark and sinister characters who portray a sense of mystery.
  
  
  
  

David Buckingham and Steve Neale

• Whilst it is very difficult to apply these theories to the film poster I would say that it takes on repetition of film posters of the same genre. Also, the font of the titling on the poster might show negotiation, change and variation in that it could be rather more 'creepy' to convey the genre as much as possible.