THE CHALLENGE:
Feral is a film built on fear. It’s the kind that creeps in when you’re lost in the woods, disoriented, and with something lurking nearby. Set in 1919, the story captures the terror of being hunted by something wild, something primal. The title treatment needed to do the same.
The challenge was to create a typographic design that instantly conveyed unease—one that felt raw, aggressive, and untamed, while still remaining readable across different promotional formats. The typography needed to echo the film’s setting and themes without feeling too polished or predictable.
THE SOLUTION:
I explored multiple directions for the title treatment, providing a range of options that played with different levels of rawness and intensity. These included:
- Custom-designed typography that distorted gothic letterforms to heighten the feeling of unease
- Handwritten variations that felt erratic, like a desperate scrawl left behind in the woods
- Curated typefaces that balanced period authenticity with a modern cinematic edge
The final selection was a modern gothic font with claw marks ripping through the letters—reinforcing the feeling of something breaking through the darkness. The studio loved one of the sourced typefaces, so we secured licensing to ensure it could be used across all marketing materials.
The treatment was designed for maximum adaptability, maintaining its impact across different aspect ratios. Whether viewed in a theatrical poster, a streaming thumbnail, or a horizontal banner, the title remains sharp, eerie, and immersive.
MY PART:
✔ Developed multiple title treatment options, including custom-designed, handwritten, and curated typefaces
✔ Selected a modern gothic typeface that fit the film’s historical setting while feeling bold and cinematic
✔ Designed claw mark distortions that felt violent and intentional, reinforcing the sense of something lurking just beyond the title
✔ Ensured adaptability across different promotional formats, making sure the typography remained striking in both portrait and landscape layouts
✔ Secured licensing for the final typeface, ensuring the studio had full usage rights for all marketing materials
✔ Balanced legibility with raw texture, keeping the title readable while allowing the distortions to enhance the narrative
✔ Collaborated closely with the film’s creative team to align the design with the visual and storytelling direction of the project
The result? A title that doesn’t just introduce the film—it makes you feel like you’ve already stepped too far into the woods.
