Movie Poster Of The Day - Crocodile (1980)

I love old movie posters. In particular, I love posters that featured original art. Sometimes this art was more exciting than the film itself, promising action and images that were not on-screen. Once you had paid your money, though, the poster had done it's job.

Today, I'm checking out Crocodile (1980). Here's the synopsis from IMDB: "A giant crocodile is killing and frightening people living nearby rivers. Two men, whose wives and daughter have been killed by the crocodile, decide to chase and eliminate it."

Made in Thailand and originally released as Chorakhe, the US release poster (pictured) is colorful and kinetic. Based on the trailer, the proportions look about right; the film really does feature a giant crocodile. Of course, the stiff model in the film doesn't match the thrashing beast promised in the poster. Still, the poster accurately reflects the tone of the movie; an over-sized croc, laying waste to unlucky bathers.

The poster has some nice touches. The centering of the yellow eye, drawing the viewers gaze. The man peaking out of the throat of the crocodile (behind the bikini-clad woman draped over the lower jaw). Even the way the boater in the top right-hand corner "breaks out" of the confines of the painting, almost like the artist is saying "this movie is so awesome, it's going spill off the screen!"

A great tagline ("FROM THE SLIMY DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN...NATURE EXPLODES WITH SAVAGE FURY!"), a vibrant image, an up-front representation of the kind of film you're getting ("monster eating people")...everything a good movie poster should have.