Curse of the Cat – Fake Movie Poster 2020

Robert Sammelin made this fake movie poster for "Curse of the Cat," sometime in the 20th century, probably digitally. I love how the graphic boldness hits you first, all those reds and blacks. It’s like a punch in the face. But then, you notice the texture, a kind of digital grain, that suggests the cheap printing of old horror films. Look at that title treatment, "Curse of the Cat"! It's so over-the-top, you can almost hear the dramatic music swelling. But then, the textures become more interesting, more tactile, the way Sammelin combines digital tools with a kind of painterly approach. For me, this artwork is like a nod to the great tradition of horror movie posters, while also playing with the digital tools of our time. It reminds me of some of the pulp novel covers that Jonas Wood has incorporated into his paintings. It's a great example of how artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and media, remixing and reimagining the past in new and exciting ways.