Film Poster Research: Sicario Film Poster Analysis

Sicario (2015) film poster analysis:

Sicario’s colour scheme on this poster reflects the look of the film and trailer. The specific colours encapsulate the atmosphere, and the tone of the film.  The colours used in this poster symbolise different elements and themes of the film for example, the hints of red scattered around the picture may symbolise the blood, danger and death in the film. The dark smoky colours may represent sadness, hopelessness and loss and may also represent the smoke from the explosions as some dust clouds are in the poster. The colour palette is generally quite simplistic but they contrast well and are useful semiotic colours that perfectly reflect the themes in Sicario.

Sicario is a crime thriller/ mystery and has strong elements and expected objects from crime films in the poster, such as the SWAT member standing all covered up, protected and armed. The other FBI agents have bullet proof vests and guns and ear pieces for communication to show that their mission is extreme and serious, and involves tactical skills and planning for a big operation or a raid. Other soldier members are pictured walking in a derelict place fully armed, this tells us that this is more of a military operation and requires more force than just the police who are pictured at the bottom of the poster with all of their cars. This shows that a lot of people who are military, FBI, SWAT and police will be involved and that the violence and action is guaranteed for the audience. Just from looking at the poster you can tell that the settings are based in quite a run-down area that’s filled with crime, due to the dusty and barren shots with the soldiers, the destruction surrounding the police cars at the bottom. It’s clear who the lead protagonist is due to the actress Emily Blunt, being the biggest picture in the montage and the entire catastrophe occurring in and around her. This could suggest that all of the devastation is overwhelming her and the barbed wire could potentially be a representation of torment, imprisonment on a personal or wide spread level.