The Matrix Poster Analysis

The Matrix Poster Analysis

Setting

This poster is very futuristic so the setting can be different things. To me, the audience, it looks like it would be set in a city because of the concrete looking walls behind the star vehicles. It also looks like the setting changes within the film to a digital universe because of the coding in the background. \

Props

The props in the poster are weapons. All of the characters have a gun in their hands. The main star in the poster, Keanu Reeves, has a bigger gun so it would connote that he is more important and needs the bigger gun because of a huge antagonist. This could show that it is a action genre and there will be fighting.

Costumes

The costumes in the poster are very shiny and tight. This gives the audience a feeling that the film is futuristic. All the characters on the poster are wearing sunglasses, which could connote that they do not want their eyes seen or that in the film the future is bright.

Shot types and camera angles

The shot type is a long shot [or a full body shot] of four of the characters. This could connote that the costumes are very important. The camera angles are all eye level with the characters.

Lighting

The lighting in the poster is dark at the bottom and lighter around the main character, Keanu Reeves, which also connotes that he is the main character and is important within the storyline if the film.

Colour

The colour pallet of the film is black, grey, blue and white. The black in the poster could connote that something bad will happen because the black is the colour of death. Grey connotes that the future is industrial because the colour grey reminds us of smoke.

The placement of the characters

In the poster we have a female character in the back with her shoulder forward. In front of her on the other side of the poster there is a male character with a moustache facing the other way as if toward the female character but head turned toward the camera. Next to him there is another man facing off behind the camera. Finally there is a male that I assume is the protagonist because he is the most forward. He is also taking up the most room on the poster.

Also there is also a clear division of the male and female characters, with the males on the left and the one female character on the right. This could connote that she is important and is the only female character. this could also connote that she has a huge role to play in the film. 

Masthead

The masthead in the poster is on the bottom half of the poster just underneath the main character’s knees. This could mean that he has something to do with the objective of the Matrix [whatever the matrix means].

Target audience.

From analysing the poster, I can now confidently say that the matrix would be for males in the age range 18-25. This is not only because of the male protagonist and the guns but also because of the female character in the tight clothing.