A2 Research and Planning: Semiotic Analysis of Stir of Echoes

Stir of Echoes is a supernatural horror / thriller released in the United States in 1999, starring Kevin Bacon and directed by David Koepp. The film is loosely based on the novel of the same name by Richard Matheson.

The colour scheme used in this poster consists of black, brown tones and white. The image is shot in sepia tone which denotes nostalgia and the image appears older than what it is. The slash effect across the poster enhances the old fashioned portrayal of the film. This is commonly used in supernatural thrillers to create a sense of eeriness and of the supernatural.

The image is a low angle shot of some stairs and a person’s legs standing at the top, which creates a shadow all the way down them. The shadow and the lack of a face on the dark figure denotes the unknown and mystery. The use of stairs in the image has connotations with a journey to find whatever’s at the bottom of them. This subtly foreshadows the outcome of the movie. This is emphasised by the tagline ‘some doors weren’t meant to be opened’ which suggests that what the figure finds at the bottom of the stairs is imperative to the film. The tagline attracts consumers by leaving them wondering what is behind the door.

The font used is bold and the white contrasts against the shadows in the image, the effect of this is to make the title stand out on the poster. The same font is used for the actor’s name at the top of the poster.