The Strain TV series is an upcoming vampire TV series by renowned director Guillermo Del Toro, and its viral marketing campaign is slowly infecting the far reaches of the Internet. A viral commercial (filmed as an amateur camcorder recording a la Blair Witch) was released on YouTube and sets the stage for what will most definitely be a very eerie series.
The video depicts a couple at a restaurant as they bear witness to hordes of rats scampering to the sewers in alarming numbers, hinting at something worse coming. That something is the show's premise, a global pandemic illness with vampirism as the main symptom. This viral campaign will definitely pique the curiosity of viewers, and get them interested in seeing more, if only to put these strange clips into context.
Additional pictures from http://collider.com/tag/the-strain and http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/09/21/guillermo-del-toro-fx-the-strain/
Viral Vampire Television Marketing
The Strain TV Series Entices Viewers with Eerie & Dark Imagery
Trend Themes
1. Viral Marketing Campaigns - The Strain's viral marketing campaign piques curiosity and entices viewers to see more.
2. Vampire TV Shows - The popularity of vampire TV shows creates a market for new, innovative series such as The Strain.
3. Global Pandemic Narratives - The Strain's premise of a global pandemic with vampirism as the main symptom opens up opportunities for new stories in this genre.
Industry Implications
1. TV and Streaming Services - Streaming services and traditional broadcast TV networks can capitalize on the popularity of vampire TV shows with innovative storytelling and marketing campaigns.
2. Film and TV Production - Film and TV production companies can create new, inventive narratives within the global pandemic and vampire genres.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing and advertising companies can learn from The Strain's viral marketing tactics and create innovative campaigns for other TV shows and movies.