LOS ANGELES (AP) — A series of advertisements for the upcoming horror film Captivity have been pulled after public outrage over graphic images depicting kidnapping and murder.The posters, which went up March 13, portrayed star Elisha Cuthbert being tortured and killed. They appeared on 30 Los Angeles billboards and 1,400 New York taxi tops.
The distributor, Lionsgate Films, and its producing partner, After Dark Films, decided to pull the ads after receiving an onslaught of phone calls objecting to them. They were to be taken down by this week.
Lionsgate spokesman Peter Wilkes said the studio didn't know about the content of the ads and didn't approve them. He said the film's promotional campaign was being supervised independently by After Dark.
"Once aware of the materials and the reaction to them, we immediately asked After Dark to remove the billboards, to which they immediately and cooperatively responded," Wilkes said.
An official at After Dark has said that the billboards were simply a communication error with the printing plant.
Captivity, from director Roland Joffe, is scheduled for release May 18.
1 comment:
"An official at After Dark has said that the billboards were simply a communication error with the printing plant."
Well, I see how that could happen. Someone's assistant probably checked the "disturbing and violent imagery" box on the order form.
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