In the film poster for the movie The Shallows, the illustrator uses various visual elements to help the viewers capture their very own interpretation of the film poster. The elements used in the film poster contain many unstated assumptions such as: the angle of the camera, the gradient change from dark blue to a lighter aqua blue, and the use of copy as well as copy location on the poster. 

In this particular film poster, the angle of the camera plays an important role in how one interprets the overall meaning of the film. One viewer’s perspective may differ from another’s although they see the same image. For one that has little background knowledge of the film, The Shallows, the angle can help assumptions made by the viewer. Illustrators will often use various angles to depict art in a way that conveys an idea without the idea being explicitly stated. Although these ideas are not explicit, they are involuntarily understood by the audience. The idea behind angle used depicts the view of what lies below. In this case, what lies below happens to be the shark hunting in the shallows. While the shark is not seen, one can infer that it is a shark because the upward angle only shows the surf board, along with the surfer’s legs. This conveys the idea that although the shark can see the surfer, the surfer cannot see the shark. This film poster helps show the element of surprise that could potentially be shown in the film. If the angle were to be altered to be looking down into the water, the overall meaning and effect of the poster would alter as well. Though angles play an important role in how one interprets the film poster, many other factors also contribute. 

Another factor that contributes to how individuals decipher the film poster for The Shallows is the color change present. In this particular film poster there is a gradient change from dark blue to a lighter aqua blue. Colors along with color change can bring out various emotions within the audience. 

In the film poster, the dark blue is the space where the shark is hunting. Dark blue typically holds a negative connotation. This color also portrays mystery that is associated with a fear of the unknown. By looking at the lower portion of the poster the viewer can develop a feeling of trepidation and unease. This dark blue color parallels with its intended meaning of secrecy and terror. The inferred shark also holds a negative connotation along with the sense of mystery and fear. This color fits perfectly with how it is displayed within the film poster. The light blue color contained within this poster develops a different emotion among the audience. Light blue contains a sense of tranquility and calmness. These emotions are shown through the surfer in the poster for, The Shallows. In this poster, the surfer is in a peaceful state while resting on his or her surfboard, not knowing what lies beneath. 

Although the two colors have two very different meanings, they work together to create a greater overall meaning. Without the gradient change present in the poster, the audience would have a harder time grasping the overall concept of the poster and of the film itself. If the poster did not contain the dark blue, there would be no mystery or fear behind the meaning of the poster. Likewise, if the poster did not contain the light blue, there would be no sense of tranquility. However, since both of the colors are present, all of these emotions are present within the viewer for a better understanding of the poster itself. Color change and other factors contribute to the viewers understanding of the poster.

Although color change has a great impact of the viewers understanding, copy among the film poster has a greater effect upon the viewer and their analysis of the poster. The middle, lower portion of the poster contains text that states “WHAT WAS ONCE IN THE DEEP IS NOW IN THE SHALLOWS.” This text is written entirely in capital letters so that the viewer is drawn to it. These words directly state that the shark is steadily ascending into the shallow water, where the surfer rests. If the viewer had a difficult time grasping the concept of the poster with the other forms of unstated assumptions, this copy clearly lays it out. The location of the text also plays a role in how one interprets the meaning. This typescript is positioned in the middle lower portion of the film poster, in a place where the dark blue starts to blend into the light blue. The illustrator chose to put the text in this specific place because the text directly follows the visual behind it. If what is in the deep is emerging into the shallows, it has to slowly move up from the dark of the deep to the light of the shallows.

Copy and color are also used to display the title of the film, The Shallows. The title is located at the very bottom of the poster. The text is a deep red. This red text can also express another unstated assumption. Dark red often depicts rage and danger. Red is also the color of blood. This red could represent a foreshadow of what is going to happen in the actual film, considering the other circumstances of the film poster, the shark and surfer. It is important to observe that the deep red text is located in the midst of the dark blue of the ocean. This shows that the dangerous creature is hunting within the mysterious deep of the sea. The viewer is easily drawn to the title because of the contrast among the deep red and dark blue.

Unstated assumptions contained throughout forms of visual texts are often very effective in drawing in the outside audience. These unstated assumptions are present throughout the entirety of the poster for The Shallows. This gives the audience the chance to interpret the visual in a way that they can understand rather than directly stating the meaning behind the poster. By doing this, the audience has to decipher the meaning themselves leaving them the chance to make their own assumptions about the upcoming movie based on the film poster.
