# Toyota Scion Deviants: Creepiest commercial ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369 "2007-07-03T17:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/1 "2007-07-03T17:21:23Z")
[Link](http://youtube.com/watch?v=S-q81MUKt8I) How creepy do you find this? I saw it for the first time last night at the Transformers premiere and was unsettled. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/2 "2007-07-03T18:09:39Z")
It’s very unsettling. I was expecting something like that ad where a cat gets decapitated by a car…but this is more in the realm of David Lynch or David Cronenberg bizarre. Are they going to show it on TV as well? Poor Sheeple. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/3 "2007-07-03T18:39:19Z")
OK, that didn’t make any sense whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/4 "2007-07-03T18:49:44Z")
Umm…weird. I don’t find it so much creepy as bizarre, from an advertising standpoint. It’s like the antihero, only more so. The consumers of the product are supposed to be the underground devils who decapitate people - sorry, sheeple? It was obviously going for edgy, but I think it missed and went right on past to offensive. (Not offensive like I’m hurt or pissed off, but offensive like I wouldn’t want to be part of that group.) And it seemed to be trying a little too hard to be Tim Burtonesque. But then again, I’m old (32) and a woman, probably not in the target demographic at all, so what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/5 "2007-07-03T18:59:44Z")
I love the message: Be an individual just like us! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/6 "2007-07-03T19:08:54Z")
I thought it was an interesting commercial, but ultimately failed just because you couldn’t even tell it was a car commercial, let alone a commercial for a Toyota Scion. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/7 "2007-07-03T19:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] But then again, I’m old (32) and a woman, probably not in the target demographic at all, so what do I know? [/QUOTE] I’m a 26 year old male. I still found it disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/8 "2007-07-03T19:37:57Z")
Also, anyone else notice that the Deviants/Toyota customers are apparently blind (large "X"s on their faces)? What should we read into this? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/9 "2007-07-03T19:59:15Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] Also, anyone else notice that the Deviants/Toyota customers are apparently blind (large "X"s on their faces)? What should we read into this? [/QUOTE] That Scions are…unlovely? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/10 "2007-07-03T20:08:29Z")
I’m guessing that was a trial piece, never intended for broadcast, perhaps not not even requested by Toyota. Some odd and disturbing ads get created that way, showing the ad agency’s creativity and ability to think outside the box. At least that’s what I’m hoping, as that is some messed up commercial. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/11 "2007-07-03T20:11:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] I thought it was an interesting commercial, but ultimately failed just because you couldn’t even tell it was a car commercial, let alone a commercial for a Toyota Scion. [/QUOTE] I’m with you here. I think the animation’s great, but I don’t think this ad will sell many cars. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/12 "2007-07-03T20:15:53Z")
[QUOTE=Telemark] I’m guessing that was a trial piece, never intended for broadcast, perhaps not not even requested by Toyota. Some odd and disturbing ads get created that way, showing the ad agency’s creativity and ability to think outside the box. At least that’s what I’m hoping, as that is some messed up commercial. [/QUOTE] A bit like the Sid Vicious/Kurt Cobain/etc. ads featuring the dead rockers wearing Doc Martens up in heaven? Doc Martens apparently never intended to release them as an ad campaign at all. The ads don’t even make sense. People usually like to buy products because the commercial makes the user look really hip or awesome (PC/Mac ads, anyone?), but the little deviants are just as creepy as the sheeple. Actually, more so. Unless they are trying to tap the socially deviant market. I think I’m going with the trial piece answer. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/13 "2007-07-03T20:25:53Z")
[QUOTE=Telemark] I’m guessing that was a trial piece, never intended for broadcast, perhaps not not even requested by Toyota. Some odd and disturbing ads get created that way, showing the ad agency’s creativity and ability to think outside the box. [/QUOTE] This was played during the opening night of Transformers at the movie theater. I don’t think the Volkswagen terrorist ad would be released that way… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/14 "2007-07-03T20:27:42Z")
Not as creepy as [this. (Quizno’s rats)](http://youtube.com/watch?v=aZrks-BPeLQ) ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/15 "2007-07-03T20:35:00Z")
REMOVED\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/16 "2007-07-03T20:37:53Z")
[QUOTE=CynicalGabe] This was played during the opening night of Transformers at the movie theater. [/QUOTE] Well, there goes that theory. Yikes, I can’t see that appealing to the folks I know who drive a Scion. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/17 "2007-07-03T20:47:28Z")
Saw the ad before Die Hard. Definitely disturbing. Of course, I think the Scions are some of the most awful looking cars ever created, so I’m not exactly unbiased. This ad definitely fits with the rest of that brand’s push to be “urban” and “edgy” in a really stupid way. ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/18 "2007-07-03T20:49:53Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] I love the message: Be an individual just like us! [/QUOTE] My thoughts exactly. As if the message weren’t already paradoxical enough, it’s coming from the mouth of Toyota. If there’s a car manufacturer more guilty of catering to “sheeple” than Toyota, I’d love to know which one it is … ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/19 "2007-07-03T20:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=Hypno-Toad] I love the message: Be an individual just like us! [/QUOTE] I agree, heh. They also, all look the same and have disturbing anti-social tendencies. At least the sheeple follow societal rules, and don’t break the law. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369/20 "2007-07-03T21:05:13Z")
I’d like to go on record as saying that I own a Scion, and do not, in fact, decapitate and skin sheep, people, _or_ sheeple! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toyota-scion-deviants-creepiest-commercial-ever/410369.md?page=2)