One Medical has introduced this film to remind people that not wearing a mask can be terrifying, even if you’re a chainsaw killer. The spot is a collaboration between San Francisco ad agencies Goodby Silverstein & Partners and barrettSF.
Titled “Freaking Us Out,” the film features a masked chainsaw killer and a young woman running through the woods at night. The scene intensifies and blurs–as it often does when a chainsaw killer and a young woman are running through the woods at night. But this time, the killer trips and we see that he’s the one who’s being chased. And he’s the one who’s freaked out, because he is wearing a COVID mask and the young woman chasing him is maskless. Her breath appears in the night and a super reminds viewers: “You’re freaking us out. Wear a mask.”
“The spot is a powerful way to remind people how not wearing a mask amid COVID-19 is not only dangerous but terrifying,” said Jeff Goodby, co-founder and co-chairman, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, One Medical’s advertising agency. “A Halloween-themed horror film seemed like the right way to bring light to the reality that being around someone without a mask is scary for everyone, even chainsaw killers.”
Production was carried out through Goodby Silverstein & Partners’ in-house production department. Jeff Goodby and barrettSF’s CEO Jamie Barrett collaborated on the writing, art direction, and direction of the film.
“Jeff and I care about many of the same things and the no-brainer message of wearing a mask is one of them,” said Barrett. “It was great to combine forces.”
