How To Sell A Movie, Advertisers of Notorious and/or Controversial Films, Lesson #1

Saturday, August 21, 2010 12:59 AM By Simon

Don't put the fucking climax on the fucking poster.



C'mon, Tartan (Extreme?) Home Release/South Korean Distributors of Amazing Park Chan-wook Films! Thanks to these widely-distributed posters, I wasn't nearly as surprised/pertrubed as I could've been! Audition, yes, it was nasty, and made me find that ankle bracelet I made in 3rd grade just to assure my slightly traumatised brain that I did, in fact, have feet, but really, the only surprise about this movie (aside from, uh, the phone rang, and if you don't get that, then good for you) was that the whole Asami-isn't-that-nice-Mr.-Man was supposed to be a surprise.

As for you, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. You got no excuse. That's the original theatre poster, my man. Audition's advertising (ahem) facepalm can be chalked up to trying to sell on the film's already buzzed about notoriety in North America, but you. That's just bad judgement, putting the two main characters, who previously never meet in the film, together, in the same frame--nay, still--from the movie, looking all 'this is it, yo'. Way to ruin some perfectly good tension, you dicks. Not you, Park, you're alright.

But seriously, Japan/South Korea. You guys are the fucking masters of posters. I mean, lately. 21st century, definitely. Unless 2000 doesn't count. But still. You even make romantic comedies look awesome, with your hi-res, ultra-stylised photography, bright colors (even gray is eye-catching on Asian cinema posters), general intriguing poses and snapshots. But the nineties weren't a good time for you two, I can see. Tsk tsk.

Ah, well. The nineties wasn't that great a stylistic time for anyone, was it?

...

Seriously, I want every South Korean poster on my wall, they're all just so good. G'day.

4 comments:

Notas Sobre Creación Cultural e Imaginarios Sociales said...

Maybe they think people would never expect such disturbing images to come to life within the movie or something...hehehe.

Wouldn't it be bad for your health to have those posters in your room? Like painting the walls red turns people crazy and shit?

August 21, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Simon said...

Jose: Not those specifically...I hate when people just paste a provacative still onto paper and call it a poster, but in general, South Korean movie posters are kind of beautiful.

My walls were red when I was but small...this could explain something...

August 21, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Danny King said...

Ironically, I just watched "Audition" last night for the first time. While that poster does give away the twist of the character, her "creepy" side is introduced early enough where I don't feel that it completely ruins the film. And it is a pretty gripping poster in its own right.

August 23, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Robert said...

I want the poster for The Host! you're right, those South Korean posters are amazing...if not plot spoilery.

August 25, 2010 at 9:15 PM