Summary:
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Actor Connor Storrie and director Nia DaCosta collaborate on horror-comedy short film “Look Behind You” for Verizon.
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Storrie’s accidental smart home activation causes chaos in the film, leading to a humorous twist courtesy of Verizon.
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Verizon strategically leverages Storrie’s viral moment and DaCosta’s prestige to create a unique advertising campaign.
Actor Connor Storrie and director Nia DaCosta have collaborated on a horror-comedy short film for Verizon titled “Look Behind You,” the brand confirmed Tuesday.
The short follows Storrie as he attempts to cook and rehearse lines at a remote cabin, only to be repeatedly startled by smart home features activating on their own. Lights flicker, music blasts from speakers without warning, and what starts as a quiet night in quickly spirals into something straight out of a slasher film. The culprit turns out to be far less sinister. Storrie has been butt-dialing his own smart home system the entire time, courtesy of a Verizon network reliable enough to transmit even an accidental pocket dial without fail.
The casting choice was deliberate. Storrie and his “Heated Rivalry” co-star Hudson Williams went viral after the show premiered during Thanksgiving weekend, with Storrie’s physique becoming a widely discussed topic online.
In a Vanity Fair “Heated Questions” feature, Storrie was asked point-blank about his glute routine, to which he credited elevated dumbbell squats and good genetics. Verizon leaned fully into that cultural moment, building an entire campaign around it.
DaCosta, known for directing the 2021 film “Candyman,” is currently attached to “28 Years Later: Bone Temple,” set for release later this year. Her involvement signals a growing trend of studios and brands recruiting prestige filmmakers to elevate traditional advertising formats.
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“From the concept to execution, this was an incredibly collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience,” Storrie said in a statement. “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.”
DaCosta echoed the sentiment, calling the project an enjoyable experience. “I had such a great time working with Connor and making this spot for Verizon,” she said. “The team was amazing and we had so much fun bringing this to life.”
Storrie and DaCosta were both seen at this year’s Vanity Fair Oscars party ahead of the project’s reveal.
