In a window cluttered by SXSW releases and a competing religious horror movie (also featuring creepy nuns), our goal was to create an attention-grabbing moment to garner awareness for The First Omen, reinvigorate a cult classic franchise that had been dormant for over 30 years, and introduce it to a new generation of horror fans across social media.
In partnership with our creative/production agency MediaNug, the 20th Century Studios Digital Team set out to create a custom piece of social content centered on merging two distinct points of cultural relevance. First, we tapped into the widespread trend and online discourse surrounding gender reveal parties gone wrong, a topic that consistently garners significant attention and engagement. Second, we aligned this with the film’s thematic elements, including horror, religious undertones, and its exploration of motherhood and family dynamics. By creatively combining these entry points, we crafted an original short form promotional video designed to surprise/delight/intrigue audiences, provoke conversation, amplify the film’s unique appeal, and reintroduce The Omen franchise to horror fans old and new.
The 20th Century Studios Digital Team and MediaNug developed treatments for horror-themed gender reveal parties, which culminated in a full script written by both teams. We collaborated to fully produce and cast the project and shot several versions of the concept. A significant challenge arose during the outdoor shoot when heavy rain unexpectedly disrupted our schedule. This forced us to adapt on the spot, improvising new scenes and setups to keep the production moving. What initially seemed like a setback turned out to be a creative advantage: the rain infused the final piece with a frantic, scattered energy that perfectly echoed the unsettling tones of the horror film. To further enhance the visual impact, we incorporated photography-grade smoke bombs as part of the stunt work. Combined with the rain, this created a visually striking and atmospheric scene that felt entirely unique, but with the aesthetic of a real home video. The project’s success lay in its ability to transform challenges into creative opportunities, delivering a final product that stood out through its bold concept, adaptability, and distinct visual style that was also native to vertical video platforms like TikTok & Reels.