Bud Light's Hitchhiker Ad a Clever Homage to the Horror Movie Genre

Bud Light's Hitchhiker Super Bowl XLI ad uses a clever, conceptual twist on the horror movie genre to get its message across in a humorous way. Whether or not you're a fan of the slasher horror movie genre, the irony of the Bud Light lover willing to pull over for the man carrying an ax and Bud Light will not be lost on you. (Click here to watch this ad)

Bud Light's Hitchhiker ad begins with a man and woman, perhaps husband and wife, driving down a lonely highway at night. They spot a hitchhiker. He is carrying an ax, notes the wife. But, the husband thinks they should stop. He also carries Bud Light.

"And an ax..." points out the wife. The husband presumes that anyone who would walk down a lonely highway carrying Bud Light must have a good explanation for also carrying an ax. The car pulls over...

Bud Light's Hitchhiker ad appeals to audiences on both a humorous and sentimental level. The husband willing to rationalize the ax-wielding maniac for the hopes for scoring one of his Bud Light beers is a funny gag. The horror genre spoof also works on a sentimental level as it gives reference to some of the great horror movie genre spoofs of the past, such as Scary Movie and Friday the 13th Part VI.

The best part of Bud Light's Hitchhiker ad was the humorous payoff at the end. You see, the ax wielding maniac did have a good explanation for the ax. It's used as a bottle-opener, of course. But the real payoff is when they pass by the maniac with a chainsaw and Bud Light. The husband naturally wants to stop. "Look, there's Bud Light..." "And a chainsaw," laments the ax wielding maniac.

Bud Light's Hitchhiker ad also ties in Bud Light's tagline "Always Worth It." Hey, neither an ax wielding maniac nor a chainsaw wielding maniac prove worthy adversary for our Bud Light lover. Let's face it. Bud Light is "Always Worth It."

What some people won't do for a Bud Light. The message is put across in stylish and humorous fashion. Good job, Bud Light ad team!