The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Poster Analysis

The red in the eyes and of the moth, in contrast to the black and white of the rest of her face, connotes danger and death – possibly from the moth. The red also links to the title at the bottom of the poster. The lowercase letters contrast the danger and shocking colour of the red.

The colour and pattern on the moth is significant as it connotes danger and death – from the skull to the flames – suggesting a death/hell like presence. The fact that it is covering her mouth may be symbolic of the moth’s presence and its deadly power. The black and white in the image is slightly out of focus which highlights the vivid colour of the eyes and the moth. This highlights the importance of the moth and the red in comparison to the woman.

The text is smaller on the poster and is in a vibrant red and white in contrast with the dark background. The text is small, meaning that people are able to focus on the image of the moth and contemplate its meaning.

Including the actors' names gives more information about the film and who stars. This could influence an opinion to go and see the film as the audience might like/dislike the actors starring in the film.

We are left asking many questions as the poster isn’t that descriptive of the overall story, however these questions entice the audience as the answers should become clear in the film. For example...
  • What is the significance of the moth covering her mouth?
  • Why are her eyes red in contrast to her face?
  • What is the significance of the title within the story?
  • Why is one nostril bigger than the other?

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