The 'Looper' UK Poster Is Slightly Ominous

Because I've tried to avoid footage of Looper as much as possible in order to preserve the surprise of the film — something that will prove next to impossible to continue over the next few months, I'm sure — a new poster is just the thing to chew on.

This UK poster for Rian Johnson's third feature film calls back to the set photo we saw so many months ago, seen above, as it shows the rather crude-looking time travel device that helps power the film's plot. Said plot features assassins using time travel as a means of cleanly eliminating targets — people are sent back in time, and disposed of in the past. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays one of those killers, who is faces the future version of himself, played by Bruce Willis.

Check it out in full below.

I'm of two minds on this poster. As an object in a vacuum, it's great. The look reminds me very much of the key art for Primer, the wonderful time-travel film from director Shane Carruth. (Who also helped out on Looper.) And it's the sort of thing that a film nerd would be happy to look at each day as it hangs on the wall at home.

On the other hand, I don't know how well this works as marketing for the movie — movie star faces get put on posters for a reason. Regardless, it is early marketing, and I'll take it. Click below for a large version. And what the hell is inside the machine?

Looper opens on September 28. It also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo and Jeff Daniels. You can also check out the trailer, or the trailer with director commentary, or the US poster for the film.

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a "looper" – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good... until the day the mob decides to "close the loop," sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels.

[IGN]