Guillermo del Toro Talks About Controversial Billboard Ad For The Strain

Recently, some billboards used in the marketing for FX’s new series, The Strain, had received a [...]

By Jamie Lovett

Recently, some billboards used in the marketing for FX's new series, The Strain, had received a strong negative reaction from the public. Plans were made to have them removed after being found too disturbing for public display. Guillermo del Toro, creator of The Strain, weighed in on these events from the red carpet of The Strain's premiere, expressing a different sensibility about the matter.

"I got asked a lot about this ad," del Toro tells Variety, "and they said, 'Do you find it morally disturbing?' And I said, 'Look, honestly, I find every other form of advertising more morally disturbing. Beer commercials, aftershave. This is just a f***ing worm in the eye!'"

FX Networks CEO John Landgraf backed del Toro, saying "We had to terrify some children in order to launch this show, but I think it was worth it. Just saying. The Strain is a modern take on the vampire myth, one in which vampires are brutal parasites aiming to take over the world. Think of them as the new one percent."

"I've been obsessed with vampires since I was a child. I was very, very lonely," del Toro jokingly added. "These are monstrous things that want to drain you. This was all done with a very, very perverse sense of fun. What you're about to see is me having fun."

The Strain series premiere will air on FX on Sunday, July 13.

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