How PR stunts in films keep the audience talking

Movie marketing has changed. Audiences are no longer passive. They want to be involved. They want to talk, share, and feel part of something bigger.

That’s where public relations (PR) stunts come in.

From eerie billboards to immersive pop-ups, the best campaigns today don’t just promote a film, they create conversation with their fans. And the cleverest ones? They make sure that conversation happens before, during and long after release.

Clever right?

So why do PR stunts matter more than ever?

In an era saturated with content, capturing attention is tough. Everyone is competing for a few seconds of audience focus. PR stunts cut through the noise. They offer something unexpected, something that makes people stop and take notice.

Well-planned PR campaigns build intrigue and anticipation. They tease the audience without giving too much away. They invite curiosity. And when done right, they create moments that audiences want to share and discuss.

Let’s talk about Horror Movies. 

Horror movies need carefully crafted marketing to grab attention and deliver genuine scares, while steering clear of misleading audiences to keep them engaged.

The iconic horror films have employed innovative marketing tactics to get people talking. 

Effective horror movie marketing often relies on mysterious teasers, engaging puzzles, and immersive real-world activations to heighten suspense and captivate audiences.

So, what did Final Destination do well?

Final Destination: Bloodlines was released on 16th May and it certainly had a lot of advertisements and marketing beforehand. As the film’s promotion intensifies, sharp-eyed fans have recently noticed a strikingly ‘traumatic’ marketing tactic. 

The ‘diabolical’ stunt referenced the infamous logging truck scene from Final Destination 2, where a securing chain snaps, causing logs to spill onto the highway and trigger a deadly pileup.

For the latest marketing push, a real haulage truck was stacked high with logs and draped in promotional material for the film, a chilling sight that immediately got fans’ hearts racing.

After the photo was shared online, dozens of fans flooded the comments, expressing shock and horror at the daring move. This got people talking about the film. 

Another example would be the billboard which (quite literally) dropped for the film. Bringing the horror of the 2000s franchise to life, the campaign pushes the boundaries of what billboard ads can be, thinking outside the box and doing something effectively to get the audience talking. 

Billboard advertising has clearly been evolving recently, with interactive displays and sonic activations reshaping the landscape of out-of-home (OOH) marketing. By cleverly tapping into the film’s real-world horror, this innovative campaign perfectly demonstrates how a straightforward idea can deliver a powerful, attention-grabbing impact.

Horror is arguably one of the best genres for marketing campaigns because it naturally lends itself to creating suspense, mystery, and emotional engagement, key ingredients for memorable promotions. Horror campaigns excel at “planting seeds” of curiosity and fear early on, teasing audiences with subtle hints, eerie visuals, or cryptic messages that slowly build anticipation. This gradual unveiling keeps fans guessing and talking, turning marketing itself into an immersive experience. Because horror taps into deep, instinctive emotions, its campaigns can leave a lasting impact, making audiences eager not just to watch the film, but to become part of the story’s chilling atmosphere well before the first scare hits the screen.

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