Similar Products (Task 12)- Poster Analysis 4 - The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense is a successful and famous horror/ thriller film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film has arguably one of the most quotable lines in cinema "I see dead people" the film became well known due to the shocking twist at the end and the array of emotions portrayed throughout the film. The certificate is a 15, so the target audience for the film is fairly young and it appeals to a large group.

1. The film poster sells using the idea of a young boy trapped in a mysterious, dark and supernatural situation. This is shown by the use of a glowing supernova style '6' which the silhouette of a young boy in the foreground. The '6' is a orange/ red/ yellow colour, this could be interpreted as dangerous and harmful or perhaps warm and mysterious. This connotes the concept of the film as the boy tries to come to terms with his frightening and unusual gift.

2. The text on the poster is like handwriting, this suggests that supernatural beings are trying to get in contact, this is because many other films work on the idea of ghosts or such writing messages to the living. The font gives an eery feel to the poster. 

The poster is basic but creates a strong audience response towards the film. The audience can gauge that it will be a dark, supernatural film. It is successful with its simplicity and not giving away too much. Ferdinand de Saussures' theory of binary oppositions can be assessed in this poster, the supernatural and dangerous colours of the '6' contrasted to the innocence and vulnerability of the young boy. The boy is the same colour as the background suggesting it is this 6th sense that creates the issues in the film.


The poster is unsuccessful in the fact it is not very interesting to look at. Although it is eye catching, the audience isn't able to look at it for a long time and learn more about what happens in the film. It gives very little away about what the film is about, which in many ways is appealing, however to an audience wanting to see a horror or thriller I feel more needs to be suggested about the film.