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The 32 Freakiest Ads Of 2008

The 32 Freakiest Ads Of 2008
9 min readAdvertising, Featured, Humor, Interactive Marketing, Random Thoughts, WTF

The gory/comic spot for Evil Dead the Musical, by Saatchi & Saatchi in Toronto won the title of AdFreak's Freakiest Ad of 2008, after collecting 49 percent of the votes at AdFreak... check out all the ads in alphabetical order... which one is your favorite?

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">ALS Society of Canada | "Head &amp; Shoulders"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0Q4kIx95aU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0Q4kIx95aU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This gut-wrenching PSA used a children's song to depict the ravages of ALS. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">American Asthma Foundation | "Park" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSMtJ2Rgru8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zSMtJ2Rgru8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This PSA conveyed the experience of an asthma attack on a shockingly visceral level. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Amnesty International | "The Stuff of Life"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLL7O9hIloA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yLL7O9hIloA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

Another disturbing PSA: this one from Amnesty, depicting the waterboarding torture technique. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Aware Helpline | "Just as Horrific"</span>

Aware-helpline-2

These anatomically jarring PSAs from Singapore made the case that verbal abuse can be just as horrific as physical abuse. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Barbecues Galore | "Chicken"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/ib-UOuEdGFg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ib-UOuEdGFg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

What can you say to your chicken dinner when he asks you to hook him up with a girl just as you're marinating him? [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Burger King | "Morning Tongue"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/53ZDenGeN9w&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/53ZDenGeN9w&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

After dreaming of hash browns filled with cheese, the hero of this BK spot woke up with a nasty case of "morning tongue." [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Canex | "Yorkie"</span>

Canex-worm

This gross print campaign made you wonder if you're actually feeding your dog-or the worms inside him. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Colombian Association of Arterial Hypertension | "Home"</span>

Acha-home

The rotting undead, doomed by high cholesterol, livened up this Colombian health campaign. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Converse | KissingWithRoss.com</span>

Ross

Ross taught many a lonely Web surfer how to kiss, with gusto, on his very own Converse-branded Web site. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Danish Cancer Society | "Bear Trap"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/pv5sCbUDEVw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pv5sCbUDEVw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

A trip to the tanning booth did not end well for this young woman. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Donate Life California | "Maggot"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/wBd8nn95IGs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wBd8nn95IGs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

When you die, said this non-profit, donate your organs to your fellow humans, not to insect larvae. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Doritos | "Tongue"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFA8ZQKRuA0&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFA8ZQKRuA0&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

A wayward spicy tongue ruined a young couple's date in this Doritos commercial. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Dunkelziffer | "Tentacle" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/pwZETO2m5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pwZETO2m5s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This ultra-creepy German ad depicted the lingering trauma of sexual abuse. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Dutch Socialist Party | "Connie"</span>

<object width="425" height="345" data="http://www.sp.nl/media/flashflvplayer/flvplayer.swf?file=http://www.sp.nl/media/video/SPThuiszorg.flv" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="src" value="http://www.sp.nl/media/flashflvplayer/flvplayer.swf?file=http://www.sp.nl/media/video/SPThuiszorg.flv" /></object>

What's that? You want to see a nude 86-year-old woman criticizing Holland's homecare policy? OK, you got it. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Easy Living magazine | "Amy"</span>

Amy-winehouse

The troubled singer stripped down for this British magazine's breast-cancer awareness campaign. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Evil Dead the Musical | "Marquee" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/btdFUUAZ2GQ&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/btdFUUAZ2GQ&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This promo encouraged viewers to attend the musical, but maybe not linger beneath the marquee. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Extended Stay Motels | "Lick"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/1F8Lj27Q0NY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1F8Lj27Q0NY&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

A woman figured that licking everything in sight was the best way to check a room's cleanliness in this spot for the motel chain. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">GotVMail | "Business Ideas by Gary Busey" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/CAoH96IEZx4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CAoH96IEZx4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

The very insane Gary Busey offered manic, nonsensical business tips in this collection of 40 spots. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Jack in the Box | "Make a Jack Sandwich"</span>

Jack-sandwich

This Web site urged you to upload photos of yourself and a special friend, so all three of you could sleaze out in the hot tub. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Jokk | "The Trap"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/VMdbxFUYQnE&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VMdbxFUYQnE&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

Hunting for berries to make Sweden's Jokk juices is extremely dangerous, but worth it. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Kincho | "Android"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/WcMqdIWNyWo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WcMqdIWNyWo&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

The Japanese company turned to a creepy, fake-smiling fembot to promote its sunscreen. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Land Transport NZ | "Bed"</span>

Nzbed

New Zealand tackled the issue of drivers falling asleep at the wheel with all the subtlety of a splattered skull. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Lotus | "Faceless People"</span>

Lotus

The automaker Lotus decried the loss of individuality with ads (and street marketing) starring faceless people. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">McDonald's | "Nose"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/fweGelz5fpw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fweGelz5fpw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This nightmarish Swedish commercial for McDonald's coffee might keep you up at night. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Mebucaïne | "Throats"</span>

Mebucaine

Misplaced mouths cried for help in this campaign for a Novartis throat lozenge. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Old Spice | "Centaur"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/YtN9CW01QDM&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YtN9CW01QDM&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

The too-often-marginalized man-horse hybrid got a chance to shine in this Old Spice spot. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Skittles | "Piñata" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/3yPaLq1EpQw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3yPaLq1EpQw&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

A human piñata recovered from a beating at the hands of a Skittles-seeking colleague in this off-kilter spot. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Steimatzky Bookstore | "Shrunken Head"</span>

Steinmatzky

This ad for an Israeli bookstore ridiculed non-readers for their shrunken, intellectually impoverished heads. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Southwest Airlines | "The Other Side" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5W76SOwDi8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q5W76SOwDi8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This spot characterized the employees at rival airlines as two-faced freak-show monsters. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">TM Advertising | "Jitsu's Secret" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/77wsqA4sR0M&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/77wsqA4sR0M&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

The Texas shop's intra-agency YouTube challenge featured a shocking admission from Masters of the Universe character Jitsu. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">Treximet | "Heads Off" </span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeINJ7AkvYg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeINJ7AkvYg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

Women with migraines literally lose their heads in this OTC pharmaceutical spot. [Read more]

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<span style="font-size: 15px; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial;">X-travel | "Boeing 737"</span>

<object width="425" height="344" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sw871vN2c18&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sw871vN2c18&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>

This unnerving viral for a Dutch travel agency showed an airplane crash-landing into the Mediterranean. [Read more]