Analysing Folk Horror Posters - 'The Wicker Man'

 'The Wicker Man'

The poster for 'The Wicker Man' contains the following folk horror conventions:

• the bright red, orange and yellow colour scheme connotes the sun (the ultimate giver of life and symbol of nature) but also the flames of sacrifice
• imagery associated with rituals and ceremonies (the prop of the Wicker Man, naked female dancing, a man praising the heavens/worshipping)
• isolated location far from civilisation
• film title connotes ceremony and sacrifice - also seen with the flames
• serif font, with an archaic aesthetic
• 'R' rating - suggesting unsettling themes or images
• image of the man inside the giant Wicker Man indicates sacrifice and 'fish-out-of-water' narrative
• the tagline references a ritual or ceremony  and suggests pain and sacrifice
• costume references iconography of cults, ceremonies and rituals (the white costume and naked woman)
• iconography of nature - the sea and sky