Robert Rodriguez's Faux Horror Trailer 'Blood in the Salsa' Fails at Promoting 'Spy Kids 4'

Years ago, there used to be a television special that would run every six months or so that would highlight the world's funniest commercials. It gave us a rare opportunity to see commercials from different countries with television ratings and codes that weren't as strict as ours were. Many of these commercials pushed the envelope and really were hilarious.

Just like everything, corporate companies in America got wind of something that worked. They immediately exploited it, giving way to the countless attempts at being the funniest and most over-the-top commercial on television. If it weren't for TiVo, we would have to sit through these on an everyday basis now.

This concept has bled over into the movie business through faux trailers for nonexistent movies and viral video marketing campaigns. Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse" film was the first time these types of trailers were exploited on a high profile level. There were trailers made for ridiculous fake films like Rob Zombie's "Werewolf Women of the SS," Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving," Robert Rodriguez's "Machete," and many more.

We can't go online now without ads, trailers, and viral campaigns for movies bombarding us. Just like on television, the joke has worn thin. Companies and studios have killed the fun of something through overuse.

The latest example of this overkill is a faux trailer made by Robert Rodriguez to push people to see his latest film, "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World." The director made a viral video featuring himself being interviewed about his upcoming horror film "Blood in the Salsa." He goes on to explain how he wanted to mix his love for horror films with his love of Mexican food. This whole interview features quick clips from the film and we are treated to the trailer. I use the word "treated" generously here.

The trailer for "Blood in the Salsa" features some of the unfunniest scenes of tacos and burritos attacking people. They're rolling down the street and somehow jumping on people. There's even a scene of two soft tacos in a swimming pool half sticking out of the water like shark fins. They attack a woman swimmer in a bikini, of course. The whole thing is just ridiculous. It might have been funny five years ago before we were subjected to commercial after commercial of idiotic concepts pushing an agenda.

Rodriguez is stone-faced through the entire video, which somehow makes it even unfunnier. Then at the end he turns to the camera, smiles, and says, "Just kidding! Go see 'Spy Kids: All the Time in the World!'" Just kidding? Really?

First, who is the viral video even aimed at? Kids aren't going to see it. The only places it will be posted on are websites that I would certainly hope parents aren't allowing their young children to visit. The video doesn't show any scenes from the new "Spy Kids" movie to help "coax" parents who would frequent these websites into taking their kids to see it. The whole thing is pointless and irrelevant. It's just another failed attempt of epic proportions at marketing a product.

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