Production: Nix Films, Eter Pictures, Manto Films
Distribtuion: Magnolia Pictures (USA), Alta Films (Spain)
Genre: Western; sub-delegatory categories of Drama, Action and Adventure
Director: Mateo Gil
Synopsis: It's been said that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed in a standoff with the Bolivian military in 1908. In Blackthorn, Cassidy (Sam Shepard) survived and is quietly living out his years under the name James Blackthorn in a secluded Bolivian village. Tired of his long exile from the U.S. and hoping to see his family again before he dies, Cassidy sets out on the long journey home. But when an unexpected encounter with an ambitious young criminal (Eduardo Noriega) derails his plans, he is thrust into one last adventure, the likes of which he hasn’t experienced since his glory days with the Sundance Kid.
Thus poster adheres to the Genre Theory by Steve Neale as though there is the conventional colours of a Western movie, it's not as vivid or as 'spaghetti Western'-esque as those bold colours usually connote danger, death, blood, the harsh, relentless sun, and heated conflicts and whilst this movie certainly promises action and the other themes, narratively, it's said that Butch Cassidy's glory days are behind him and so the toned down nature of those colours may allude to the closing journey of Cassidy. There is an imminent sense of finality surrounding his story, as emulated by the black vignette effect surrounding the poster, also a Semantic Code for a constant, looming and perhaps enclosing threat that is imposed on Cassidy. This creates an Enigma Code because there is a sense of the fear of the unknown to what the threat is.
The settings is also conventional for the genre, the desolate nature of the Western outbacks allows room for large-scale brawls, shoot-outs and action scenes, but also disables a character to hide. The exposing setting makes even the strongest characters vulnerable.
The costumes utilised are also very generic; the stetson hats and boots are a particular signifier of convention, however facial expression is usually common within the genre as there is often a heroic stance/glance from the protagonist to signify their strength and masculinity, however there is a prevalent look of fear and struggle prominent on old Cassidy'f ace; weakness is not something inherently shown in Western movies, and perhaps the fact the poster is split in two connotes to the inner turmoil represented between the Binary Oppositions of Cassidy's past and presence, his good and bad side, etc.
as with the props of guns
typography
Website Link:
http://www.magpictures.com/blackthorn/
This website is very conventional, particularly by being initially greeted with a trailer of sorts for the movie, with a direct link to Youtube, and to also share or 'Watch Later', thus ensuring that this video is something that is actively watched, and is at the disposability of the user. This sense of autonomy provides the audience with the means to become a Prosumer (Clay Shirky) as they will proactively seek out texts that allow them to be in control of aspects such as how and when they watch, and they won't just follow what media texts are given to them.
There is also an 'About The Film' section which provides a synopsis of the movie to give those who may not particularly know the story of Butch Cassidy a look into the world of Western and the genre that it is involved in. The website itself seems to adhere to the genre it's in, though as also adhering to the Genre Theory, it's different as Westerns are seen as inherently old-fashioned and the website itself is technologically advanced, and so it may allow the audience to derive pleasure as it's a mix of two things that seem far too unlikely to work.
The website also has a very 'par for the course' marketing section where the imperative 'Buy The Blu-Ray' emulates other similar websites where online streaming seems redundant; it seems to continually thrive on physical DVD sales, which is why it's the second option on the category bar, hence the importance of the small company gaining profit from people actually buying it is stressed.
As typical with movie websites, there is a photo gallery
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