Commercials are ubiquitous and often completely unremarkable, trying to sell their products in often cheap and uninteresting ways. Every now and then, a good gimmick or noteworthy theme flashes across the screen, and it makes waiting for the show to return less onerous. One of the reasons why folks enjoy the Super Bowl so much is the chance to watch a succession of really good commercials and judge them on their effectiveness. And the crazier the motif, the stronger the name recognition. But, some commercials are a bit too odd.
It is especially gratifying for the writers of TotallyHorror to find supernatural themes in commercials, especially this far away from the Halloween season. Considering that many of us on staff are Supes ourselves, we really love seeing family anywhere on TV. A few commercials in particular that grab my attention these days are the Messing with the Sasquatch, Ford Focus Vampire Boyfriend and the Food Lion Talking Lion.
Let's start with the Vampire Boyfriend. It's a spoof on the Twilight series which was all the rage for the last couple of years. Clearly, I love the fact that an undead creature is being featured, and it appears that some time was taken with the special effects, but one is left to wonder the same thing as with the Talking Lion: why? What do vampires, stalking, and unrequited Nosferatu love have to do with a car? Perhaps the same thing that an advice-giving, anthropomorphic predator has to do with produce. Lions, arguably, can be seen as authorities in grocery shopping, they being the King of Beasts and groceries being full of animal products. And no one is going to contend a lion's ability to eat whatever it likes. But, giving advice? To someone that, even to me, looks like tasty morsel of human? All while the lion lounges in comfort, like a contented grandfather? It's somewhat off putting. And Big Foot with the beef jerky? That series of commercials is clever and funny, but then I find all the bullying hard to stomach. God knows, life was hard enough growing up half banshee in DC. Some of those Sasquatch commercials really bring up sad memories. Until of course, the Yeti takes care of the bullies in such fun ways.
I want as much horror-inducing characters to help me make my purchasing decisions as much as the next shrieking hell-maiden of doom, but I'd also like a bit logic with my nonsensical fantasies. A vampire hawking antibiotics and bandages at least makes a bit of sense: one could have the vamp cleaning up his victim right after he's feasted upon him. Or, to engage the family dynamic, there could be a vampire mother tending to her prodigy's boo-boo after a fight with a werewolf clan. I mean, really: that is something all of us could relate to. I'd like to see the Food Lion giving age appropriate advice about taking down a gazelle and dressing it with some of the fine fresh vegetables the store has to offer. And how about the Sasquatch engineering some harmless pranks on the hikers and campers its meets in the woods, which actually happens in real life? And then sell them trapping equipment and plaster of paris molds.
More Supernatural themes and characters in life, and more realism! That's the only way to go!
