Sunday has once again arrived all too quickly and here at Halloween Love that means one thing – it’s time for another batch of incredible poster images from the thriving alternative art community!
So far I’ve revealed my personal favorite posters that pay tribute to: Jaws – Stephen King’s IT – Alien – The Shining – The Thing – Ghostbusters – Jurassic Park – Scream – A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. Today we zoom away from the mask making town of Santa Mira and head to Haddonfield, Illinois, where apparently a large man in a Captain Kirk mask has been seen acting strangely.
He’s coming home!
As always this list showcases MY personal favorite posters. The select few that pushed my art loving buttons and made me want to grab a wire coat hanger and sit in a cupboard for several hours. There are hundreds more incredible designs out there but these are the best of the best in my humble opinion.
Hold my hand and let’s go wander the leaf covered streets in search of candy and masked maniacs!
HALLOWEEN: THE NIGHT HE CAME HOME – (Dan Mumford)
Once again Dan delivers a stunning piece that is packed with the smooth lines and incredible lighting that makes his work instantly recognizable. Everything feels alive and organic. From the twisting branches reaching upward toward the moonlight, to the way Michael blends in with the surrounding trees as he emerges from the shadows, it’s a poster that is packed with pleasing atmosphere. Dan is an artist who isn’t afraid to splash darkness across his images in a big way, and I love him for it!
Halloween – (Ken Taylor)
This is detail and texture at a standard that just makes you want to rub the back of your neck and swear silently as you stare at what’s in front of you. It’s an astonishing piece that pays tribute to the behavior that has always unnerved me the most when it comes to Michael Myers – his nonchalant tunnel vision when stalking a potential victim. The guy just doesn’t give a shit! He’ll stand on street corners and watch you in broad daylight, knowing full well that his appearance will often be overlooked because it’s October 31st. The rich shades of orange and red within the floating leaves give the poster a pinch of autumnal magic, while the only pure white to be found is along the right side of that unmistakeable mask, making it shine like a beacon at the centre of the scene. A genuinely epic poster created by a very talented artist.
Halloween 1978 Poster – (Mark Button)
Mark’s poster is another that packs an atmospheric punch. The lighting and shadows blend beautifully, and the sketchy but detailed style reminds me of Drew Struzan, which is the biggest compliment I can give to any poster artist these days. The mask looks incredible, and the way the dark collar frames the characters below is a nice design choice that makes them stand out. Awesome colors, considered placements, and a glowing pumpkin! Poster perfection!
JOHN CARPENTER’S HALLOWEEN – (Nathan Thomas Milliner)
As always Nathan has nailed the illustrations here, but in my humble opinion it’s his color scheme choices that push this poster into the realm of greatness. The shades of grey that wash over the characters brings them to life in a way that more obvious and expected colors might not, while the intense burning shades of orange around the edges give it that all important Halloween vibe. It’s an image that is seriously pleasing to look at and always puts me in the mood to watch the movie one more time.
Halloween – (Matthew Therrien)
Matthew’s poster looks cool as a thumbnail image, but then you enlarge it and a whole new level of awesome emerges. I’ve seen several posters that use the Myers mask in clever ways, but this concept has always been one of my favorites and was actually the first artwork I thought of when putting together the list. A unique and classy piece that you never forget after seeing it for the first time.
DEATH HAS COME TO YOUR LITTLE TOWN – (Matt Ryan Tobin)
I interviewed Matt last year for Halloween Love, and it was this poster more than anything else that motivated me to reach out to him. For once Laurie gets to be the headline act, and even though the bottom half of her face can’t be seen, you INSTANTLY know that’s Jamie Lee Curtis. The multiple knife blades that reflect Michael create a sense of relentless danger, and by placing everything onto a white and featureless sky Matt makes sure your eyes absorb every last tiny lurking detail. It’s atmospheric, it’s autumnal, it’s haunting, and it’s brilliant.
Halloween: UK Quad Variant – (Jock)
A jaw-dropping piece of art by Jock, which was printed in two different sizes to reflect the difference between classic UK cinema quad posters and the more standard shapes we get these days. I’m a Brit, so of course I decided to share the bigger version, PLUS you get to see more of this incredible image, and that is only a good thing. This dreamlike masterpiece has a photorealistic quality when viewed briefly, but spend a few moments really studying it and all of the textures and illustrated details start to emerge. Exceptional work from an artist who always delivers posters that feel fresh and different.
Halloween Minimalist Poster – (Cadaverous Jake)
CANDY CORN KNIFE!!!!! ‘Nuff said. I’ve seen conflicting reports regarding who created this seriously cool poster, so just drop a message below if I got it wrong. If not, awesome work Jake. A minimalist masterpiece!
For further information on any of the posters you have seen here today or the artists who created them, you are only a Google search away.
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