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Movie outfit slammed for ‘menacing’ voicemail

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Heavy breathers

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 12th February 2003 15:21 GMT

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The advertising watchdog has slammed movie giant Twentieth Century Fox for a "menacing" voicemail ad that contained heavy breathing and screaming.

The ad was publicising the Tom Cruise film Minority Report but only seemed to scare some people absolutely witless.

The message started with a man drawing breath before saying slowly: "Where's my Minority Report?"

This was followed by heavy breathing before he screamed: "Do I even have one?"

Then there was a girl's voice…some more heavy breathing…before a voiceover tripped in urging people to buy the movie on DVD or video.

Those who complained said the ad was "offensive" adding that it caused them "undue fear or distress".

The Advertising Watchdog Authority (ASA) agreed describing the ad as "menacing". ®

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