Connor Storrie is giving “Scream” vibes in a new film campaign for Verizon.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, the almost five-minute short, “Look Behind You,” features the “Heated Rivalry” star arriving at a secluded — what else? — cottage in the woods. While cooking dinner and reading a script, the house stereo seemingly goes on by itself as do some lights and the alarm system. Wandering around the cottage, Storrie looks worried as if he’s thinking something sinister may happen. The horror movie-like soundtrack adds to the eerie feeling.
The camera also happens to continually linger on Storrie’s denim clad backside.
A knock on the door reveals a man in a rain slicker – think “I Know What You Did Last Summer” – who tells Connor he’s his rideshare driver. A confused Storrie looks at his phone and realizes that he butt-dialed the ride request, as well as butt-dialed turning on the stereo, setting off the alarm and so on.
As he catches a glimpse of his backside in a mirror, words in big red letters pop-up on the screen. First, it’s “The Best Butt” followed by “The Best Network” before ending with “There’s No Escape.”
Storrie then turns to the camera and says, “Service so good, it’s scary.”
“From the concept to execution, this was an incredibly collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience,” Storrie said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Verizon is a brand that really understands storytelling and culture, so they fully leaned into the idea. And working with visionary director Nia DaCosta took everything to another level.”
Storrie and DaCosta first had Hollywood observers whispering about what the two might be up to when they attended this year’s Vanity Fair Oscar party together. “I had such a great time working with Connor and making this spot for Verizon,” DaCosta said. “The team was amazing and we had so much fun bringing this to life.”
Verizon touts the project as Storrie’s “first brand film” and DaCosta’s “first brand project.”
“The collaboration and creative process was pure magic,” Verizon EVP and CMO Leslie Berland said. “We set out to bring Verizon’s network to life in a way that’s bold and unexpected, and we’re thrilled with the result. Nia is an absolute artist, and Connor is simply a phenomenon.”
Watch “Look Behind You” below.
