From Bill & Ted Face the Music to You Should Have Left, See This Week's Trailers and Posters

This week in entertainment marketing, we got our share of laughter, terror and suspense. The week kicked off with another bogus adventure from our favorite dudes, Bill and Ted. Then we took a trip to a mysterious and mystical area of the Deep South, known as Lovecraft Country. 

Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams offered a listen to their Euro Pop singing duo—and the result, as expected, is pretty funny. Joseph Gordon-Levitt returned in a high-concept airplane hijacking flick—as if flying right now weren’t concerning enough. Speaking of scary, Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried move into a haunted mansion that can shapeshift. 

Lastly, we’re expanding our entertainment marketing horizons this week and including our first piece of video game marketing. We look at a new spot for the highly anticipated The Last of Us Part II. You can expect to see more game marketing in our weekly recap moving forward.
 
Lots of impressive work ahead. Here’s a look at some of the latest trailers and posters.

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Orion Pictures 
Trailer Agency: Buddha Jones 
Poster Agency: Art Machine

Excellent news—Bill and Ted are back! Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reprise the roles of the iconic characters. After failing to write the song that unites the world, Bill and Ted travel to the future to steal the song from themselves. Pretty rad, right?! The trailer is fun, and the musical cues and graphics are righteously on-point. I love the poster as well, which transports you back to a signature ’80s style. Bill & Ted Face the Music on Aug. 21.

Lovecraft Country

HBO 
Trailer Agency: Motive 

The trailer for Lovecraft Country is full of unexpected twists and turns. From executive producers Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams and based on the novel of the same name, Lovecraft Country follows a young man in search of his birthright. The trailer nicely blends supernatural elements into the Jim Crow South. The music and sound design drive the intensity of the piece, as does the quick-cut editing style. Lovecraft Country premieres this August.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Netflix 
Trailer Agency: Big Picture 
Poster Agency: Concept Arts

Brace yourself world for Fire Saga, Iceland’s most embarrassing musical duo, who’ve just been selected to represent the country in the Eurovision song contest. The trailer is full of laugh-out-loud moments. However, as expected from a film about music, it’s the soundtrack that really sets the tone of the piece. The music alternates throughout the trailer, establishing a European techno vibe that couldn’t be more fitting. The poster is an epic shot of the singing duo in all their glory. The Story of Fire Saga comes to Netflix on June 26.

7500

Amazon Prime Video 

In 7500, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a co-pilot whose flight is hijacked. After the pilot is severely injured, JGL must save the passengers as well as his flight-attendant girlfriend, all while staying locked in the cockpit. The eerie music and poignant sound design, combined with the voyeuristic security footage, make for an intense and powerful trailer. Check out the poster as well. The blue hue and the title design give an unsettling vibe. 7500 lands on Amazon June 19.

The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog
Trailer Agency: AKQA

The new extended commercial for The Last of Us Part II is done in the old-school spirit of classic game trailers like Gears of War—juxtaposing an acoustic cover of the New Order hit “True Faith” with scenes of ultraviolence. The result is powerful. The level of detail in the CGI is remarkable. The trailer’s sound design explodes with intensity and drives the piece down to the final gunshot. How will Ellie, now 19, navigate a world 25 years into a devastating global pandemic? Find out when the the highly anticipated sequel hits shelves June 19.

You Should Have Left

Universal Pictures
Trailer Agency: Buddha Jones
Poster Agency: N/A

The trailer for this haunted-house thriller starring Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried will have you jumping out of your seat. From the opening long shot, which nicely builds the tension, to the spine-shivering quick-cuts as the story and terror progresses—this trailer unravels at a perfect pace. Add in the ominous music, and you’re left with one helluva horror trailer. Check out the chilling poster as well. You Should Have Left is available on demand June 19.