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King Kong
Observe how king kong stands upon the Empire State Building, with the female protagonist in hand. He he refuses to let go, even as he is bombarded with gunshots from fighter planes. He has managed to destroy one of the planes, but many more circle around him attempting to gun him down. King Kong was released in 1933, right after the great depression. The movie, character of King Kong, and the poster represent the chokehold The Great Depression had on New York and America. (1) -
Halloween
At first glance, a viewer will notice the menacing knife in the hand of what one would presume to be Michael Myers. As the knife is swung back you can see a menacing pumpkin in the reflection of the blade. Michael Myers, serves as a cultural representation for the fear of strangers and undeserved punishment, evident through the iconic killing spree. Elements of the victimization of woman, represented by Laurie Strode, are also prevalent in this classic slasher film. (2) -
Child's Play
At first glance, the viewer will observe a terrifying doll, knife in hand, looking you menacingly in the eyes. The character of Chucky in the movie Child's Play reminds the viewer that even comforting aspects of childhood, like our toys and imagination, can become twisted into dark, violent imagery. It reminds us that childhood nostalgia, ad comforting as it may be, can portray elements of evil and horror through all stages of life. (3) -
Scream
One analyzing the poster for the movie Scream will first notice the many characters on the poster. In particular, the black and white face of Emma Duval, who looks at us with a shocked expression. The movie Scream was released at the end of the age of the modern slasher. Crime shows were becoming popular, and the movie included elements of mystery surrounding crime, satire of the classic slasher movies, and provided viewers with a realistic portrayal of mental health issues. (2) -
Hereditary
In the Hereditary Movie poster, the vertically stacked faces of a mother and daughter are most prevalent. There expressions look solemn, as they look over the unsettling objects on the table. Post 2016 Horror films started having major themes of mental illness. Hereditary portrays viewers with representations of guilt, generational trauma, and mental illness with its portrayal of each member of the troubled family. (4)(5) -
Midsommar
One might observe first how a girl cries while wearing a crown of flowers. The poster is beautiful and full of color. The words "Let the festivities begin" appear on the poster. The film Midsommar represents trauma and toxic relationships, evident through Dani's family, and relationship with Christian. At the end, rebirth and acceptance are major themes, with the village being the only ones supportive of Dani. Themes of cultural appropriation are evident, a common political issue in America. (6)