Illustrated Horror Film Posters
February 2, 2022 10:38 AM Subscribe
"I am a fan of the illustrated posters that used to be the staple of nearly every science fiction and horror film released. These posters are able to communicate so much about a film with a single, masterfully created image that it’s a shame this style isn’t so popular nowadays."
100 Illustrated Horror Film Posters: Part 1 and Part 2
An unholy resurrection of Mitheral's 2008 post courtesy of #DoublesJubilee
100 Illustrated Horror Film Posters: Part 1 and Part 2
An unholy resurrection of Mitheral's 2008 post courtesy of #DoublesJubilee
Hell yep, these are awesome.
posted by Liquidwolf at 11:18 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by Liquidwolf at 11:18 AM on February 2, 2022
Boy I remember the House and Fright Night ones from the shelves at the video store, and thinking "NOPE"... but they really are amazing illustrations. Even if they're occasionally somewhat tangential to the actual content of the film.
Reminds me of a post from a while back about amazing old sci fi and horror background mattes. So much detail and character!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:18 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
Reminds me of a post from a while back about amazing old sci fi and horror background mattes. So much detail and character!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:18 AM on February 2, 2022 [2 favorites]
'House' was always a favorite of mine, along with 'Terrorvision', 'The Stuff', 'Piranha 2: The Spawning', 'Basket Case'...
posted by neuracnu at 11:31 AM on February 2, 2022
posted by neuracnu at 11:31 AM on February 2, 2022
I had that Nosferatu poster framed on my bedroom wall for years. I think I've still got it somewhere.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, with the retirement of Drew Struzan, there's almost no one doing this kind of thing any more. A lot of us illustrators would love to do them, but there's no market for it; the closest stuff I've seen is 80s nostalgia montage posters (e.g. Stranger Things), but even that is rarely allowed to look painterly.
posted by tautological at 12:18 PM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by tautological at 12:18 PM on February 2, 2022 [3 favorites]
The other movie with the title House (Japan 1977) has a swell poster. For some inexplicable reason, this excellently weird film was never distributed here in the 20th century, it really would have been a massive hit with cult/repertory audiences. (80s William Katt House is okay).
posted by ovvl at 5:35 PM on February 2, 2022
posted by ovvl at 5:35 PM on February 2, 2022
I had the Critters poster in my room in middle school/high school. Got it from the discount poster bin at the video store.
The other movie with the title House (Japan 1977) has a swell poster. For some inexplicable reason, this excellently weird film was never distributed here in the 20th century, it really would have been a massive hit with cult/repertory audiences
Hausu ( House) was released by Criterion not long ago. It's had a cult following for decades in the US.
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:32 PM on February 2, 2022
The other movie with the title House (Japan 1977) has a swell poster. For some inexplicable reason, this excellently weird film was never distributed here in the 20th century, it really would have been a massive hit with cult/repertory audiences
Hausu ( House) was released by Criterion not long ago. It's had a cult following for decades in the US.
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:32 PM on February 2, 2022
Lotta movies tried to just blatantly capitalize on Jaws spooky waters vibe, huh? The original artwork is so effective for Jaws I bet it put a lot of asses in seats.
In this list, Nosferatu def stands out. Ty!
posted by BlunderingArtist at 3:58 AM on February 3, 2022
In this list, Nosferatu def stands out. Ty!
posted by BlunderingArtist at 3:58 AM on February 3, 2022
I like how much the Forbidden Planet poster subverts expectations. I wonder how many people went to see it expecting to see a horror movie with killer robots.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:58 AM on February 3, 2022
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:58 AM on February 3, 2022
Lotta movies tried to just blatantly capitalize on Jaws spooky waters vibe, huh?
And some of them had fun with it too: Blood Beach.
posted by Paul Slade at 5:22 AM on February 3, 2022
And some of them had fun with it too: Blood Beach.
posted by Paul Slade at 5:22 AM on February 3, 2022
Horror movie? This one is everyday life for cat owners.
posted by cenoxo at 7:44 AM on February 3, 2022
posted by cenoxo at 7:44 AM on February 3, 2022
In my junior or senior year of high school, the local drive-in theater had a double feature playing for several weeks, "Fright Night" and "Return of the Living Dead". A buddy of mine talking into going one Friday night, because I was feeling down about having broken up with a girl friend. We got very high, had a great time, and talked a bunch of friends into going with us the following night.
And we just...kept going. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night for 3 or 4 weeks at least. Every time we went, a larger and larger number of people went with us, until towards the end we basically made up the entirety of the audience. It was essentially just a huge party going on, while the movies played in the background.
I never saw that image for "Fright Night" until a few years later, when video rental places had taken off. It was never entirely clear to me if the visage hanging in the air was supposed to be Evil Ed or not.
posted by Ipsifendus at 2:36 PM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
And we just...kept going. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night for 3 or 4 weeks at least. Every time we went, a larger and larger number of people went with us, until towards the end we basically made up the entirety of the audience. It was essentially just a huge party going on, while the movies played in the background.
I never saw that image for "Fright Night" until a few years later, when video rental places had taken off. It was never entirely clear to me if the visage hanging in the air was supposed to be Evil Ed or not.
posted by Ipsifendus at 2:36 PM on February 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Eh.
I don't mis the misogyny and unfeasible giant bugs.
The rest have some nice design touches
posted by Faintdreams at 6:47 AM on February 4, 2022
I don't mis the misogyny and unfeasible giant bugs.
The rest have some nice design touches
posted by Faintdreams at 6:47 AM on February 4, 2022
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