30 Ads That Accidentally Turned Into Mini Horror Movies

Good ads make you feel something. Hunger. Curiosity. A quick impulse to click “add to cart.” But every so often, a brand aims for unforgettable and ends up in nightmare territory instead.

That’s the strange brilliance of an ad that accidentally turns into horror. You expect a cheerful pitch for soda or skincare, and instead, you’re greeted by something that could easily play before a jump scare.

A clown peers through a window. A jingle warps into a chant. A smiling mascot stares just a little too long. It’s effective, sure—but also deeply unsettling.

What makes these commercials stick is how fear hijacks memory. It’s the most primal marketing tool of all. A horror-style coffee ad promises to keep you awake, and it does—for reasons the brand didn’t plan.

A toothpaste commercial makes you question the human face itself. Even public service announcements lean into darkness, pulling viewers into dread just to make a message land.

The unsettling thing is that these moments do not happen in haunted houses or graveyards. They unfold in grocery aisles, kitchens, and family cars—the safest places made strange. And for anyone who’s seen them, these ads live rent-free in the mind, like ghost stories told through jingles.

1. Yoki Japanese Ad

To promote a men's entertainment magazine in Japan, this bizarre ad uses a figure from Japanese folklore called the Rokurokubi. The commercial shows a woman whose neck stretches to an absurd and unsettling length while reading the magazine. She is a creepy and surreal visual meant to capture the magazine's edgy, underground appeal.

AdCentral

2. Mr. Soapy Commercial

A public health PSA, reportedly made for a US Air Force base, stars a talking soap dispenser named Mr. Soapy, complete with googly eyes and a creepy, photorealistic human mouth. He cheerfully reminds a soldier to wash his hands after using the restroom, but when the soldier ignores him, the ad takes a violent turn. Mr. Soapy's face contorts in rage, his voice deepens, and he telekinetically slams the man into a wall. The ad's bizarre blend of a friendly, kid-show-style mascot and a violent, psychopathic enforcer of hygiene makes it one of the weirdest and most unsettling PSAs.

Jay Aress

3. Two Horses Salon Commercial

A bizarre short ad, simply titled "Two Horses," features a man approaching two women who are wearing incredibly realistic and creepy horse masks. As the man nervously asks them who they are, the "horses" just stare blankly and start uttering bizarre sounds. With little to no explanation about the establishment, it leaves the viewer to wonder what they just watched.

Jessi Preston

The Psychology of Fear in Advertising

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, an emotion researcher, explains that fear can dramatically affect consumer behavior. Her studies show that emotional responses, especially fear, can lead to increased brand recall.

This is particularly true when advertising employs unexpected or unsettling elements, as they tend to stand out in viewers' memories. However, while evoking fear can enhance memorability, it must be done carefully to avoid backlash, as overly frightening content can alienate audiences.

4. X-Cite Mints Combating Dog Breath

An ad for X-cite mints gets disgustingly literal with the concept of "dog breath." It shows a man sleeping on a couch who suddenly starts to gag. But instead of throwing up, an entire, live dog emerges from his mouth and plops onto the floor. The stomach-turning visual of a man essentially birthing a dog from his throat is a truly unforgettable and deeply weird way to sell breath mints.

Asylum Models & Effects

5. Childhood’s Fragile Monsters

A Finnish PSA about alcoholism shows kids being terrorized by creepy, life-sized monsters that no one else seems to see. These grotesque creatures, which represent the children's drunk parents, roughly pull them around, slam car doors, and loom over them with a menacing presence. The ad is shot entirely from the kids' terrified perspective, making it a powerful and deeply unsettling look at how a child experiences a parent's addiction.

Fragile Childhood

6. Gushers Commercials

The Gushers commercials from the '90s were a masterclass in surreal body horror for kids. In these ads, anyone who ate the candy would have their head instantly and grotesquely transform into a giant, realistic piece of fruit. They doubled up the weird with a series of ads where people were tasting things like hand soap and squid ink, thinking it would gush like a gusher. How wrong they were...

Commercials Ads

A marketing professional noted that brands should focus on striking a balance between intrigue and discomfort. For instance, using humor alongside horror can make unsettling ads more palatable and engaging.

This approach aligns with findings from psychological research suggesting that mixed emotional messaging can enhance overall viewer experience, keeping them engaged while also making the ad memorable.

7. NRJ Mobile

A French commercial for NRJ Mobile starts with a girl laughing at her phone, but it gets weird fast. Her mouth unhinges to a horrifyingly massive size, like her head is about to split in two. Then, her friend looks at the phone and does the same thing, her jaw dropping to an unnatural degree. The ad repeatedly rewinds and fast-forwards this creepy moment, and if that wasn't enough, there's another version where their eyeballs literally pop out of their heads and float above their gaping mouths.

BuzzmanTV

8. Snickers Halloween Grocery Store Lady

Snickers ran a Halloween ad that was more unsettling than funny, featuring a woman in a grocery store being approached by another "woman" with a creepy, oversized mask for a face. This strange lady knows the shopper's name and starts aggressively piling Snickers into her cart, insisting she needs them for trick-or-treaters. The whole thing is revealed to be two kids in a trench coat, but the initial encounter with the uncanny, masked figure who knows who you are is genuinely unnerving.

Alex Taylor

9. Mike's Hard Iced Tea Commercial

In an ad for Mike's Hard Iced Tea, a depressed office worker tells his female colleague that he thinks he's grown a second, evil head. The camera then reveals a literal second head sprouting from his collar, complete with a leering expression. While his normal head looks miserable, the evil one crudely checks out their coworker, making the whole situation a bizarre and uncomfortable mix of body horror and workplace harassment.

GangOfEriks

Cultural Context in Advertising

Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, highlights that cultural context plays a significant role in how horror elements are perceived in advertising. For example, what might be terrifying in one culture could be humorous or trivial in another.

Understanding these cultural differences can prevent brands from alienating potential customers and can help them tailor their messaging to be more universally appealing.

10. Skittles Yoghurt Boy

In a surreal and creepy ad for Skittles Dips, a wealthy young man orders his butler, Higgins, to fetch him more "yogurty coated Skittles." The terrified butler walks through the mansion to a dark pantry where he finds the "Yogurt Boy", a pale, slimy, humanoid creature. With a pair of tongs, Higgins dips a Skittle into the goo on the creature's body, causing it to let out a series of bizarre, high-pitched shrieks before presenting the candy to his master, who casually asks for more.

Maxwell Montes

11. SCOEE10X Odor Remover Ads

An ad for the pet odor eliminator SCOE 10X stars a person in a full-body cat costume that lands deep in the uncanny valley. This human-cat hybrid, complete with grey makeup, a blonde wig, and cat ears, reacts with theatrical disgust to the smell of a giant litter box in the middle of a bedroom. The whole thing is bizarrely unsettling, especially when the hybrid creature decides to do her business on the living room floor, a sight you could live without seeing.

StealthPornucopia

12. BBQ Peperami Advert

A commercial for BBQ Peperami puts its famously manic mascot, "The Animal," in a truly horrifying spot. The sentient, green sausage creature is shown lying on a sizzling hot barbecue grill, letting out a pained scream as a giant fork flips him over. It's all played for dark comedy, but the sight of a cartoon meat stick being cooked alive while yelling makes for some seriously unsettling television.

Lee Trott

Marketing experts suggest that brands should conduct thorough audience research before launching ads with horror elements. Engaging focus groups can help gauge reactions and ensure that the intended emotional responses align with audience expectations.

Moreover, testing different versions of the ad can provide valuable insights into which elements resonate best, ultimately leading to more successful campaigns.

13. American Horror Story | Season 6: Bite Me Promo | Fx

One of the creepiest promos for American Horror Story: Roanoke is a quick shot of a giant, hairy spider crawling out of a woman's mouth. The camera is super close on her pale face as the spider's spindly legs emerge from between her lips and scuttle across her cheek. It's a classic mix of body horror and arachnophobia that hits all the wrong notes in just a few seconds, leaving you with a seriously gross and lingering image.

FX Networks

14. Halo Top's "Eat The Ice Cream"

A bizarre and dystopian ad for Halo Top ice cream plays out like a scene from a sci-fi horror movie. It shows an elderly woman who wakes up in a sterile, all-white room, where a friendly-looking robot begins to force-feed her ice cream. As the woman becomes more distressed and confused, the robot's cheerful demeanor turns sinister, repeatedly commanding her to "eat the ice cream" and delivering the chilling line, "Everyone you love is gone. There is only ice cream." The ad's bleak, psychological horror is a truly unforgettable way to sell a low-calorie dessert.

Mike Diva

15. Quiznos Ads

The Quiznos commercials from the early 2000s were famously bizarre, featuring two rodent-like creatures called the Spongmonkeys. These crudely animated, googly-eyed things would burst into a discordant song, screaming about how much they loved the subs in a high-pitched, off-key mess. The combination of their grotesque appearance and their manic, atonal singing about "the moon" and "tasty meats" made the ads both impossible to forget and incredibly, incredibly weird.

magicalme394

The Impact of Visual Storytelling

Cinematic techniques in advertising, similar to those used in horror films, can deeply engage viewers. Expert filmmaker and storyteller, Cindy Chupack, argues that visuals can create an emotional narrative that lingers in the viewer's mind.

By incorporating suspenseful visuals and sound design, brands can effectively evoke strong emotional responses, ensuring their message is both impactful and unforgettable.

16. Creepy PSA From The UK About Swimming In Open Water

A notoriously creepy British PSA from the '70s personifies "dark and lonely water" as a grim reaper-like figure in a black cloak. Voiced by actor Donald Pleasence, this sinister spirit watches gleefully as children fall into dangerous water, hissing about the "ironic" fact that the water that gives life can also take it away. The ad ends with the chilling promise, "I'll be back," a threat that terrified a generation of kids and made them scared of so much as stepping in a puddle.

Zone Horror

17. Starburst's "Berries And Cream"

A Starburst ad from the mid-2000s introduced the world to the deeply strange "Little Lad." The commercial features two friends on a park bench, who are interrupted by a man dressed in old-fashioned, pageboy-style clothing. When they mention the new "Berries and Cream" flavor, the Little Lad's eyes light up, and he breaks into a bizarre, high-pitched song and dance, clapping his hands and kicking his feet while singing, "Berries and cream, I'm a little lad who loves berries and cream!" The character's manic energy and unsettlingly cheerful performance made the ad an instant, creepy classic.

MarcoshanAU

18. Duracell Commercial

A bizarre 90s ad campaign for Duracell introduced the Puttermans, a family of unsettling, stiff-jointed robots. Their whole deal was that they outlasted everyone else because they used Duracell batteries. The creepiest part, though, was in one specific ad where the dad, Herb, knocks the grandma over, causing her to fall apart on the floor. Instead of helping, the entire robot family just stands there and breaks into this eerie, mechanical laughter. The combination of the uncanny valley puppets and their casual cruelty toward their own grandmother made the whole thing incredibly weird and memorable for all the wrong reasons.

90s Commercials

Experts in advertising psychology recommend using narrative arcs similar to those in horror films—building tension and then delivering a resolution. This method keeps viewers engaged and can lead to a more memorable advertising experience.

Brands should also consider the pacing of their ads, ensuring that the build-up to any 'jump scare' is balanced with sufficient payoff to maintain viewer satisfaction.

19. Ronald Under Your Bed

A series of Japanese McDonald's commercials from the 2000s features a version of Ronald McDonald that is pure chaos. Instead of the jolly clown, this Ronald is a lanky, pale figure with a fixed, painted smile who communicates only through a series of high-pitched, bird-like squeaks and giggles. The ads show him silently appearing outside a young boy's bedroom window at night, hiding under a girl's bed, and running through dark alleys, making the whole thing feel more like a home invasion by a silent horror movie monster than a fun ad for burgers.

Nothing Stuff

20. Japan's Cami Ad With Dancing Babies

A series of Japanese commercials for the Toyota Cami is a masterclass in early CGI weirdness, starring an army of uncanny, dancing babies. These diaper-clad infants, with their jerky, synchronized moves and dead-eyed stares, perform elaborate dance routines around the car in a variety of bizarre settings, including on a giant vinyl record, on a snowy mountaintop, and even while snowboarding through the sky. The ads' surreal and deeply unsettling quality, a hallmark of a certain era of Japanese advertising, made them an unforgettable and creepy classic.

AdCentral

21. Gainomax Scary Monkey

An energy drink ad for Gainomax starts out as a bizarre parody of The Ring, complete with a creepy girl in a white room and ominous whispering. Things get weirder when the girl, who turns out to be a talking monkey in a wig, warns viewers that "bananas are for monkeys" and that they should stop eating her food. The combination of the horror movie tropes, the unsettling monkey-girl, and the nonsensical message makes for a truly confusing and creepy commercial.

Gustav Egerstedt

Avoiding Negative Brand Perception

While horror can be an effective advertising tool, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, warns that it can also backfire. Ads that are too disturbing can create negative associations with the brand.

To avoid this pitfall, brands should aim for a tone that encourages intrigue over outright fear, ensuring that the overall message aligns well with their brand identity.

22. Autoway Tires In Japan

A Japanese ad for Autoway tires plays out like a found-footage horror short. Filmed from inside a car driving down a snowy road at night, the passengers spot a ghostly woman in a white dress standing in the distance. In a classic jump scare, she suddenly slams against their windshield with a terrifying shriek. The car then violently reverses, demonstrating the tires' excellent traction while the passengers scream in terror, making for a genuinely scary and effective commercial.

andre andrea

23. "Mental Wealth" Playstation Advert

In a 1999 ad for the PlayStation, a Scottish girl with an unnervingly alien-like appearance talks directly to the camera about "mental wealth." Her digitally altered, tear-shaped head and huge, black eyes create a completely uncanny and almost extraterrestrial look. The ad's bizarre, philosophical monologue and its strange, otherworldly visuals were part of a campaign that aimed to position the console as a mind-bending, almost surreal experience, but the result was just plain creepy.

PlayStation Europe

24. Kewpie Tarako Spaghetti From Japan

A Japanese commercial for Kewpie Tarako Spaghetti is a surreal and deeply unsettling experience. The ad features a young girl eating pasta while an army of "Tarako Kewpies" (creepy, baby-like figures with red, fish-egg bodies) march toward her in a synchronized, cult-like procession, all while chanting "Tarako, Tarako" in a high-pitched, monotone voice. The sheer number of these bizarre, smiling creatures and their relentless march makes the entire commercial feel like a fever dream.

中あたる

A branding expert suggests that companies can mitigate risks by ensuring their horror-themed ads are accompanied by positive messaging or a strong call to action. This approach allows them to leverage the fear element while maintaining a constructive brand image.

Additionally, analyzing consumer feedback post-campaign can provide insights into how the ad was received and what adjustments might be necessary for future advertisements.

25. The Lynx Chocolate Man

A UK ad for Lynx body spray, known as Axe in the US, features a man made entirely of chocolate who seems absolutely thrilled to be eaten alive by women. He cheerfully offers up his own fingers and nose for them to devour, all while sporting a manic grin. The whole thing is played for laughs, but a sentient chocolate man gleefully participating in his own cannibalistic demise is just deeply, deeply creepy.

Advertisement

26. McDonald's Unignorable Banners

For a series of "unignorable" banner ads, McDonald's decided to get a little meta and creepy. Instead of a normal ad, they featured a person staring out from the banner, pointing directly at your cursor. As you moved your mouse around the screen, the person's eyes and head would follow your every move, making it feel like you were being watched from inside the ad and making it impossible to ignore.

adsoftheworldvideos

27. K-Fee's Scenic Terror Drive

German coffee brand K-Fee became famous for a series of commercials that were basically just horror movie jump scares. The best-known ad starts with a peaceful, relaxing shot of a car driving down a beautiful country lane. Just as you're zoned out, a terrifying zombie suddenly lunges at the screen with a bloodcurdling scream. The tagline then appears, which translates to "You've never been so awake," cleverly (and cruelly) linking the jolt of pure terror to the caffeine kick from their coffee.

Matthew Benson

Emotional Branding Strategies

Dr. Brené Brown, a vulnerability researcher, emphasizes that emotional branding is crucial for lasting consumer relationships. Creating ads that resonate emotionally, even through fear, can foster deeper connections with audiences.

She suggests brands should showcase vulnerability and authenticity, allowing viewers to relate to the message on a personal level, thus transforming horror elements into a part of a broader, relatable narrative.

28. The Kinder Surprise Is Not So Kind

An old '80s commercial for Kinder Surprise features a creepy, sentient egg-man that looks like a reject Humpty Dumpty. He sits on a wall, speaks in a bizarre, nonsensical language, and wiggles a single, tiny finger at the camera in a way that's deeply unsettling. The combination of his weird, high-pitched gibberish and the uncanny valley look of the egg itself makes you wonder what kind of horrifying "surprise" is actually waiting inside that chocolate.

NeoFritker

29. Little Baby's Ice Cream "This Is A Special Time"

There's an ad for Little Baby's Ice Cream that is pure nightmare fuel. It features a person completely covered in white goo, staring into the camera with huge, unblinking eyes. They then slowly take a spoon, scoop the paste off their own head, and eat it, all while a deadpan voice talks about how much he loves his life. It's one of the most unsettling things ever made to sell a sweet treat, feeling more like a found-footage horror clip than an actual commercial.

LittleBabysIceCream

30. OG Creepy McDonald's AD

The very first Ronald McDonald, who debuted in commercials in the 1960s, was a truly bizarre and unsettling figure. Portrayed by future weatherman Willard Scott, this original clown had a paper cup for a nose, a cardboard food tray balanced on his head as a hat, and a strange, almost sinister-looking face. In the ad, he waddles around with a jerky, puppet-like motion and can magically pull hamburgers out of a box on his belt. This strange, low-budget version is a far cry from the polished mascot we know today and remains one of the creepiest characters in advertising history.

VintageTVCommercials

To enhance emotional engagement, brands should also consider storytelling techniques that foster empathy. By crafting narratives where consumers can see themselves reflected, companies can turn horror into an opportunity to build connection rather than fear.

This strategy often leads to increased brand loyalty, as consumers are more likely to support brands that resonate with their values and emotions.

Fear is a powerful teacher. It sharpens attention, stamps memory, and makes even silly scenes feel important. That is why these ads echo years later. They touched the same wire scary stories do, only with jingles and logos attached. You do not have to love them to admit they worked. Maybe they worked a little too well.

Which one still visits your brain at night. The jump scare on the country road. The clown at the window. The chant you can hear as you read this. Tell us your pick, share this with a friend who hates horror, and compare nightmares in the comments!

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, the intersection of horror and advertising offers both risks and rewards. Research shows that while fear can capture attention, it must be wielded with care to avoid alienating consumers.

Experts recommend balancing horror with humor or positive messaging to ensure a more engaging experience. Ultimately, understanding audience reactions and cultural contexts is essential for crafting effective ads that resonate and foster brand loyalty. By leveraging insights from psychology and marketing, brands can navigate this delicate balance and create memorable, impactful advertising.