Independent horror filmmaking has been around since the 1970s. Its low-budget approach allows filmmakers and directors to enjoy greater freedom than they would working for a bigger studio on large-budget projects. They also do not have to deal with these studios’ demands, which further enhances creativity even when working with limited budgets. Before releasing your project, it needs a poster for marketing purposes. Let’s look at some key elements to consider when creating one.
Create Intrigue and Suspense
The horror genre thrives on the unknown. It is best to use dark, atmospheric imagery that hints at the threat without giving away too much. Distorted figures, silhouettes, and shadows all work well for this genre. Many filmmakers have also included elements of contemporary art in their posters. To help you understand how to use it in your projects, we answer the question, “What is contemporary art?”
Compared to other types of art, it is a relatively new type of art that incorporates elements that have made it a great option for horror posters. It does not follow the traditional rules of art, giving its creator complete freedom over their creations. For this reason, it is an excellent tool for creating the fear and dread that should accompany a horror poster.
Contemporary art can help creators add an unsettling, eerie atmosphere that catches the audience's attention and piques their interest. It is perfectly suited for incorporating muted colours, dark tones, unsettling imagery, and ominous lighting into a poster.
Choose the Right Colours
We have established that darker tones work best to produce the feelings you should go for with your indie horror project poster. You should also play with colours that evoke unease like reds, dark, blues and blacks.
However, it is also acceptable to go with a completely white background with a single element for a different type of unsettling effect. The element will interrupt the expected white canvas, making anyone who sees the poster experience the uneasiness you are going for.
Use Different Elements to Build Tension
A great horror poster should also build tension. It can use the same elements that posters from other genres use to do this, but differently. Designers can use the rule of thirds and leading lines to draw the eyes to the most unsettling element on the poster. They can also use negative space to create a sense of emptiness and vulnerability that also increases the unsettling factor.
There is a lot of discussion in the design community as to what constitutes a horror font. Jagged or spiky fonts seem the most popular and go-to option for many designers because they are great for adding the feeling of unease. In contrast, a classic serif font might create a sense of the same type of horror evoked in older films.
Tailor the Poster to Different Horror Genres
If you are creating a psychological horror film, symbolism and imagery will work best because they both tap into our deepest fears. Here, unsettling objects, distorted faces, and cryptic messages work best. You can also up the tension factors to make the poster more intriguing.
Indie filmmakers creating a monster horror should only offer a glimpse of the monster to create intrigue and make the viewer wonder about the monster. You do not want to show everything, but you should use imagery that is suggestive but not revealing. The best designers focus on specific body parts like claws or glowing eyes to build intrigue without spoiling the reveal.
Slasher horror posters are a bit more straightforward than those of other genres. Including the weapon on the poster can be a powerful visual tool because a gleaning knife or blood-stained axe can set the tone for the violent and suspenseful horror experience and tone the filmmaker is going for.
The designer can also imply the weapon without showing it by using a creative tagline or effects like a few drops of blood on a pristine white marble floor.
Include a Hidden Message
A great bonus to add to a horror poster is a hidden message or symbol within its design. Providing handy tips can add another layer of intrigue while rewarding viewers who are attentive enough.
A horror film poster is a powerful marketing tool that all indie filmmakers should commission before releasing their projects. However, understand that what makes a poster great is subjective. It depends on the film and the kind of experience you want to convey. However, the above key elements should give you a great place to start to create one that entices your target audience to go see your horror masterpiece.
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Independent horror filmmaking has been around since the 1970s. Its low-budget approach allows filmmakers and directors to enjoy greater freedom than they would working for a bigger studio on large-budget projects. They also do not have to deal with these studios’ demands, which further enhances creativity even when working with limited budgets. Before releasing your project, it needs a poster for marketing purposes. Let’s look at some key elements to consider when creating one.
Create Intrigue and Suspense
The horror genre thrives on the unknown. It is best to use dark, atmospheric imagery that hints at the threat without giving away too much. Distorted figures, silhouettes, and shadows all work well for this genre. Many filmmakers have also included elements of contemporary art in their posters. To help you understand how to use it in your projects, we answer the question, “What is contemporary art?”
Compared to other types of art, it is a relatively new type of art that incorporates elements that have made it a great option for horror posters. It does not follow the traditional rules of art, giving its creator complete freedom over their creations. For this reason, it is an excellent tool for creating the fear and dread that should accompany a horror poster.
Contemporary art can help creators add an unsettling, eerie atmosphere that catches the audience's attention and piques their interest. It is perfectly suited for incorporating muted colours, dark tones, unsettling imagery, and ominous lighting into a poster.
Choose the Right Colours
We have established that darker tones work best to produce the feelings you should go for with your indie horror project poster. You should also play with colours that evoke unease like reds, dark, blues and blacks.
However, it is also acceptable to go with a completely white background with a single element for a different type of unsettling effect. The element will interrupt the expected white canvas, making anyone who sees the poster experience the uneasiness you are going for.
Use Different Elements to Build Tension
A great horror poster should also build tension. It can use the same elements that posters from other genres use to do this, but differently. Designers can use the rule of thirds and leading lines to draw the eyes to the most unsettling element on the poster. They can also use negative space to create a sense of emptiness and vulnerability that also increases the unsettling factor.
There is a lot of discussion in the design community as to what constitutes a horror font. Jagged or spiky fonts seem the most popular and go-to option for many designers because they are great for adding the feeling of unease. In contrast, a classic serif font might create a sense of the same type of horror evoked in older films.
Tailor the Poster to Different Horror Genres
If you are creating a psychological horror film, symbolism and imagery will work best because they both tap into our deepest fears. Here, unsettling objects, distorted faces, and cryptic messages work best. You can also up the tension factors to make the poster more intriguing.
Indie filmmakers creating a monster horror should only offer a glimpse of the monster to create intrigue and make the viewer wonder about the monster. You do not want to show everything, but you should use imagery that is suggestive but not revealing. The best designers focus on specific body parts like claws or glowing eyes to build intrigue without spoiling the reveal.
Slasher horror posters are a bit more straightforward than those of other genres. Including the weapon on the poster can be a powerful visual tool because a gleaning knife or blood-stained axe can set the tone for the violent and suspenseful horror experience and tone the filmmaker is going for.
The designer can also imply the weapon without showing it by using a creative tagline or effects like a few drops of blood on a pristine white marble floor.
Include a Hidden Message
A great bonus to add to a horror poster is a hidden message or symbol within its design. Providing handy tips can add another layer of intrigue while rewarding viewers who are attentive enough.
A horror film poster is a powerful marketing tool that all indie filmmakers should commission before releasing their projects. However, understand that what makes a poster great is subjective. It depends on the film and the kind of experience you want to convey. However, the above key elements should give you a great place to start to create one that entices your target audience to go see your horror masterpiece.