Monday, March 26, 2007

Publicity

Attention horror movie marketing wizards! Apparently when it comes to depicting bondage, brutality and impending death in the ads for your latest charnelhouse offering, you may go no further than this campaign, which was running on billboards in LA and on 1400 New York City taxicab tops until last week. I guess this is one way to get people to see a Roland Joffé film... The MPAA officially moved to have these ads yanked because though the film has been submitted for a rating, the ad campaign (run by the production house, not the distributor) hadn't, which is a no-no as it is, but they also privately recognize this kind of button-pushing campaign to be a clear act of defiance.

After Dark Films' CEO Courtney Solomon says the campaign doesn't really reflect the tone of the film anyway...

"This movie is certainly a horror movie and it's about abduction, but it's also about female empowerment. We reshot the ending so the main character ends up in as much of a positive situation as the situation could allow. There is no rape or nudity in it, though it should be an R-rated movie. For the audience it's made for, it's satisfying to that audience. I'm sure that's not the same audience that's complaining about the billboards."


Michael? Is this really the most shocking movie marketing campaign ever imagined?

2 comments:

Michael said...

Well, Jesse, I'm not totally sure. I guess it depends on the subjected viewer's response and what they are particularly sensitive to. Some may say violence while others are offended by coarse language or sexuality and drug use and some just riled by plain old 'ideas' that don't run in line with their own. I would have to think that there have been wilder or more jaw-dropping examples of movie advertising and shock tactics but I'd be hard-pressed and foolish to post any, not that some have come to mind or anything. Is that what you're suggesting? Are you looking for filth to shock a casual passerby to this blog? Tsk tsk.

Jesse said...

Just trying to pass the ball is all...