These terrifying PSAs prove that fear, like shock, is an excellent way to grab attention. The ad campaigns, viral videos, billboards, and interactive installations above are gory, heart-wrenching, and downright frightful, with imagery that won't be immediately forgotten.
From domestic abuse to child trafficking, the environment, and drug use, the terrifying PSAs below are sure to scare you straight.
Implications - Shock factor is a tactic used by marketers to deliver a message that has upsetting topics. Through unique campaigns that evoke emotions within the viewers, advertisers capitalize on those feelings. Additionally, the more shocking the advertisement is, the more likely it will resonate in the audiences' minds, making the idea of terrifying the audience a useful tactic.
30 Terrifying PSAs
Raising Awareness, From Bleeding Billboards to Shocking Skinned Polar Bears:
Marissa Brassfield — May 2, 2010 — Social Good
30
Shockvertising
Does It Work? Jury Still Out
29
Powerful PSAs
Sexual Abuse
28
Cattle Branding Kids
Shocking Ads Portray Impact of Child Abuse
27
Disturbing Anti-Drug Ads
Montana Meth Project
26
Visually Disturbing PSAs
Juvenile Protective Association Ads Show Effect of Verbal Abuse
25
Shockvertising Smokefree Campaign
NHS: Get Unhooked
24
Gory Workplace Safety Ads
Using Awful Accidents to Raise Awareness
23
Gruesome Shockvertising
A Texting While Driving PSA Shows Horrific Realism
22
Child Shockvertising in PSAs
Anti-Smoking Ads Feature Kids with Adult Hands Holding Cigs
21
Child Poverty Shockvertising
The Barnardo Campaign Against Child Poverty Raises Eyebrows
20
Blood Spurting PSAs
The Bangalore Police Ad Campaign Targets Cell Phone Driving Enablers
19
Powerful PSAs
Smoking is Murder
18
Freefalling Safe Sex Ads
Use Condoms Campaign
17
Bleeding Billboards
Shocking Approach to Promote Road Safety in New Zealand
16
Reverse Psychology PSAs
Don't Vote Campaign Shows Killer Oil Prices
15
Stomach-Churning Safety Ads
Australian Worksafe PSA
14
Skinned Polar Bears for Global Warming
Visceral Friends of the Earth PSA
13
Eco Shockvertising
Moms Against Climate Change Tug at Heartstrings
12
Drug Addicts As Animals
Spoof Wildlife Doc as Viral Anti-Drug Ad
11
Abused Women as Dolls
Dar Al Amal Public Awareness Ad
10
Hygienic Shockvertising II
Carre Fresh: Wipe Whatever You've Touched
9
Animal Cavities For Smuggling
Anti-Cocaine PSA Featuring Pablo the Drug Mule Dog
8
Women as Pieces of Meat
Urging Men to Speak Out on Domestic Abuse
7
Suicidal Anti-Smoking PSAs
Thought-Provoking Help Line Ad
6
Adults With Childhood Abuse
ASCA PSAs Show the Need for Counseling
5
Awareness For Signs of Sexual Abuse
'Open Your Mouth' PSA
4
Visceral Shockvertising
The Catalonian National Theatre's Heart-Rending Ad
3
Shocking POV PSAs
'Animal Visuals' Gives You a Bird's Eye View Into Egg Industry
2
Terrifying Rainfall PSAs
The Solidarite Water Billboard Will Shock You
1
Overzealous PSAs
1979 Swine Flu PSA Evokes Laughter Instead of Fear
Related Ideas
Biomimicmarketing in Shockvertisement
French AIDS Campaign
Youth Shockvertising II
CONCEPT 'Don't Lose Control' Child Abuse Ad
Glow in The Dark Ads
Child Abuse Ads Show Hidden Images
Youth Shockvertising
Statutory Rape Awareness Ad
Shockvertising
PETA Slaughters Humans
Difficult Advertising & Branding
Olla Condoms
Shockvertising
Does It Work? Jury Still Out
Gruesome Shockvertising
Sony PSP Retry Ad
Powerful PSAs
Sexual Abuse
Faux Paparazzi Ads
Celebrity Underwear Shots Mocked to Sell Wax Jobs
Silly Surgical Masks
Fun Face Masks to Fend Off Swine Flu Symptoms (UPDATE)
Cattle Branding Kids
Shocking Ads Portray Impact of Child Abuse
Nude Shockvertising
AnimaNaturalis Strips Women for Animal Rights
Shockvertising with Bite
Stella Espresso Coffee
Eastern European Shockvertising
APFR Battered Women Ads
52 Powerful PSAs and Awareness Ads to Stir Your Emotions
31 Killer Incentives to Quit Smoking
Nudevertising Climate Change
Supermodels Take it Off for 350.org and Global Warming
Visually Disturbing PSAs
Juvenile Protective Association Ads Show Effect of Verbal Abuse
Mutant Humans for Global Warming
The Beacon's Reversing Evolution Campaign
Racy Fragrance Ads
Top Models Disrobe for Dolce & Gabbana Anthology
Shockvertising Smokefree Campaign
NHS: Get Unhooked
Bleeding Tables
Paint Or Die But Love Me
Graphic Anti-Smoking Ads
'Til Death Do Us Part
Anti-Child Abuse Awareness
Children's Underwear in Lingerie Section
Gory Workplace Safety Ads
Using Awful Accidents to Raise Awareness
Gruesome Shockvertising
A Texting While Driving PSA Shows Horrific Realism
Hitting With Words
Domestic Violence: Verbal Abuse
23 Ads Against Global Warming
Gas Prices Up in Houston, You Can Thank Hurricane Ike
3D Street Art for Pedestrian Safety
Auckland City Council PSA Gets Creative for Awareness
Alcohol Delusion Ads
The Beer Goggles Effect by Ibrew-Coopers Beer
10 Innovative Safety Devices for Your Children
Child Shockvertising in PSAs
Anti-Smoking Ads Feature Kids with Adult Hands Holding Cigs
Murder Realism as Advertising
Print Campaign for '13th Street Murders'
Sly Political Recruiting
Jason Mraz Assvertises for Obama
Double Entendre Advertising
Cheeky Axe Ads are Naughty and Nice at the Same Time
Shockvertising Lawsuits
American Apparel's $5 Million Payout to Woody Allen
Powerful PSAs
Smoking is Murder
21 Reasons to Register to Vote
Cellphone Billboards
Suggestive Celebratory PSAs
Stockholm Celebrates Condoms
Nude In-Flight Videos
Air New Zealand Finds a Way to Get Excited About Safety
Suicidal Animated Animals
Disturbing Global Warming PSA
Bleeding Paint Chairs
Anna ter Haar Designs
Fatty Shockvertising
The NYC Department of Health's Gross Pouring on the Pounds Ads
Fake Editorials for Awareness
APAV Anti-Domestic Abuse Campaign
Product Shockvertising
Bolt Detergent
Controversial Boob-Saving PSAs
MTV's Aliya-Jasmine Sovani Raises Brows
Polar Bear Shockvertising
The Plane Stupid Polar Bear Ad is Disturbingly Graphic
Stomach-Churning Safety Ads
Australian Worksafe PSA
Votevertising
Red, White & Drew Barrymore in Harper's Bazaar
Cooperation for Climate Change
Environmental Issues Are Chance for US & China to Strengthen Ties
Skinned Polar Bears for Global Warming
Visceral Friends of the Earth PSA
Masked Avatars
Swine Flu Face Masks Take Over Facebook Profile Pictures
Cannibalistic Cell Phone Ads
Boost Mobile Uses Ham-Eating Pigs to Deliver Their Message
Boxing Models for Global Warming
Baby Creative Makes Saving the Environment Hot
Eco Shockvertising
Moms Against Climate Change Tug at Heartstrings
Public Peeing PSAs
Joe Media's 'Idle Free' Public Urination Spot is More Than Toilet Humor
Animated Art as a PSA
'Burma Viral' for Myanmar
Abused Women as Dolls
Dar Al Amal Public Awareness Ad
Celebrity PSAs
Sexual Harassment by Hayden Panettiere
Award-Winning PSAs
Animated Amnesty International "Signatures"
Astonishing Flu Carriers
10 Animals That Carry Illness, From Swine Flu to Whale Flu
Hygienic Shockvertising II
Carre Fresh: Wipe Whatever You've Touched
Muddy Shockvertising
Wrangler Red Confuses Viewers With Barbaric Commercial for S/S 2010
Dumb Stunts for Cancer Prevention
Quit Stupidity Anti-Smoking Ads
Biomimicry PSAs
Thai Safe Sex Ad Uses Spiders, Snakes
Disciplined Ads
Elohim by Sabrina Goh 'Control Freak' A/W 09/10 Campaign
Cigarettes Welcome Again
Smokeasies Pop Up In NYC
Reverse Psychology Election PSAs
A-Listers Say "Don't Vote"
Melting Polar Bears
Takeshi's Artistic Response to Global Warming
Suicidal Anti-Smoking PSAs
Thought-Provoking Help Line Ad
Shocking Teen Abuse PSAs
DoSomething.org Uses Police Report Notes From Rihanna Case
Cellphone Breathalyzer
Adults With Childhood Abuse
ASCA PSAs Show the Need for Counseling
Top 50 Climate Change Tributes
Earth Day 2008
Melting Men for Environmental Awareness
Red Cross' Global Warming Warning
Political Scandals for Cell Phone Marketing
Virgin Mobile Ads Bash Spitzer
Hands-Free Law Virals
Messing with Driving Instructors 2
16 Mobile Headsets For the Hands Free Law
Extreme Climate Change Protest
Greenpeace Jumps On Airplane
Patient Murderers
Criminals in 13th Street Ads Take Their Time
Outbreak Monitors
Google Maps That Show Swine Flu Outbreak
Koreans Can Now Pay For Tolls with Cell Phones
LG PassON
Pixelated Images to Promote Safety
Greater Vancouver Crime Stoppers Campaign
Awareness For Signs of Sexual Abuse
'Open Your Mouth' PSA
Global Warming Awareness Dishes
'Only 1°C Change Can Affect Us' Cups
Visceral Shockvertising
The Catalonian National Theatre's Heart-Rending Ad
Celebrity Faux PSAs
Ron Howard Directs the Heidi Montag Public Service Announcement
Gory Candle Sticks
The Red Waxed Bleeding Pillar Candle is Perfect for Halloween
Frightening Eco Films
'Age of Stupid' Looks at Potential Global Warming Disaster
Hands Free Law (UPDATE)
California Cracking Down on Distracted Drivers
Shocking POV PSAs
'Animal Visuals' Gives You a Bird's Eye View Into Egg Industry
Shocking Domestic Violence PSAs
Keira Knightley Headlines Disturbing Women's Aid Film
Cinematic Shockvertising
Motor Neurone Disease Association Ad Is Like a Horror Movie
Projection Activism
‘The Watermarks Project' Beams Faux High Water Lines on Building
Teen Global Warming Activists
Inconvenient Youth