Brands in the News

Four Scary Spots

30 Oct 2014  

It is Halloween, a day for frights and spooky scenes. So here are four exceptionally scary ads to consider.

Dale Carnegie

This is truly a frightening ad. The setting is all too familiar: someone with a gun and a mask. While the setting is a bank robbery, it feels like a school shooting. This is any parent’s worst nightmare.

The idea that a company would use the scenario to build sales is equally scary.

Home Away

I wonder how this spot was approved. It is disconcerting to think of a baby being abused in such a fashion. It is also disconcerting to think that a company hoping to win over moms would decide to spend millions of dollars to show the ad to the a large portion of the country on the Super Bowl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jvg4LUl0IU

Mini Cooper

This spot could actually be a suburbanite’s nightmare: the attack of the shopping carts. It builds on the classic fear that the carts will come zooming at your car.

Happily, the Mini Cooper saves the day. With exceptional handling the car avoids the threats. It triumphs over the malicious carts and, in the process, builds its brand image and drives sales. This is a Halloween spot that works brilliantly well.

 Ameriquest

This might be the best Halloween spot of all time. The creative speaks for itself. The weak branding and fundamentally flawed strategy locks up the award.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM1SvOWnfy8


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