15. “Thoroughbreds”
Cory Finley’s arch and razor-bladed “Thoroughbreds” is a difficult film to sum up in any satisfyingly short way. But in the simplest terms, the film follows two disenfranchised young women, with varying degrees of empathy (polar opposites, in fact) that attempt to pull off a hit with the help of a local drug-dealing loser. Hijinks ensue. However, the good folks at ARSONAL attempt to crystallize this unique premise into one image, and they do so with a cleverly constructed poster that features both actresses (a great Anya Taylor-Joy and equally amazing Olivia Cooke) with the words “Good breeding gone bad” speaking to their privilege, class and discontent. Of course, even the placement of the words, presents a bit of a subliminal meaning and misdirect, with the word “good” over the head of Taylor-Joy, implying she’s the sane one (compounded by the fact that she’s leering over at the other girl, obviously cautious and concerned), and “bad” near Cooke, suggesting wickedness through and through. And after you’ve seen the film, the symbolism of those words near those actresses becomes as clear as the reflection in the most pristine of prized merciless knives. – Charles Barfield
14. “Under The Silver Lake”
For his latest trick, director David Robert Mitchell (“It Follows“), pushed horror aside to lean into noir and mystery. And the evocative poster for “Under The Silver Lake” points to the secrets and ambiguities of what truly lies beneath. Mitchell’s latest is about a young man (Andrew Garfield) who crosses paths with an alluring girl (Riley Keough) in the swimming pool of his apartment complex. Smitten, his world is thrown for a loop when she vanishes the next day. Setting out across L.A. to find her, he inadvertently uncovers a greater conspiracy at work. And this wonderfully haunting poster captures the setting immediately. A girl is sinking, further away from the surface. Is she drowning? “What are they hiding?” the poster teases us. Underneath that body of water, we also see palm trees, immediately invoking Los Angeles and the reflection of the young Garfield compelled to find answers. This “Under The Silver Lake” poster, blue, cold, immersive, perfectly sets the table for the movie, crafting an eerie mood, a compelling narrative and an enthralling riddle you want to solve yourself. – CK
13. “Vice”
Let’s be real, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s doughy, grizzled face isn’t going to get people to flock to the theater. And even though it’s really Christian Bale (Batman, for crying out loud!) under all those prosthetics and pounds of…err, acting commitment, the average moviegoer isn’t about to stop and stare at a picture of a former VP many describe as a war criminal these days. So, Adam McKay and the fine marketing folks behind “Vice” decided to utilize color and present an iconic image of Dick Cheney in perfect silhouette, with only his glasses and the collar of his button-down providing contrast and the hint of his notorious scowling jaw. The yellow color pop that draws the eye to the poster immediately gives the poster that “Hope” vibe of the now-famous Barack Obama poster from 2008. Except, you know, with a color that invokes the feeling of cowardice and a certain bodily fluid. Maybe McKay and co are just taking the piss. – CB
12. “Hereditary”
The riff on the classic family portrait has been done for decades in film posters. But never has the idea been as eerie and ominous as with Ari Aster’s “Hereditary.” The family at the center of this modern horror masterpiece is featured in what, on paper, could only be described as the typical family portrait your parents would drag you to Sears for once a year, but here the picture is stripped bare of the manufactured happiness that always makes for such phoniness. The truth here is more naked and painful: each character looks as if they’re being forced to watch an execution, with looks of sadness and frustration buried behind their dead eyes. Colors are muted, and light is almost non-existent, giving the viewer the idea that the lighting expert must have fallen asleep. And the little girl, who steals the show in the film, is front and center, the only burst of color in the whole image, giving you a sense of comfort. And if you look closer at her hands, you can see there’s more to this little kid than just a cute yellow hoodie. “Hereditary” is, first and foremost, a family drama dealing with the idea of mental illness that is, yes, passed down from generation to generation. And how better to show that than with the world’s most unnerving family photo? – CB
11. “Us”
How much can be said with two colors, two letters, two heads, and one name? Apparently, a whole hell of a lot. The poster for Jordan Peele’s upcoming 2019 horror film “Us,” pushes minimalism to the max. What does the average film fan need to get hyped up about the upcoming psychological thriller? To be exact, all we need is the name Jordan Peele, the title of the film, and two silhouette images of people’s profiles. But boy, does this poster say a lot. After the massive success of “Get Out,” Peele has become a bit of a modern master as far as thrillers go. And for his next psychological thriller, the poster tells you the emphasis will be on psychological. “A New Nightmare” is how the film is described, and the two mirror images of silhouettes resembles a twisted, hazy Rorschach test. And the stark use of just black and white, gives the image an added bit of darkness, and also calls to mind the racial aspect that made “Get Out” such a resonant film. We still have no clue what the film is going to be about, but Jordan Peele’s “Us” already has a trippy, creepy poster, which has seriously whet our appetite. -CB