Cologuard turn horror into humour
Cologuard and director Grayson Whitehurst turn horror into humour with Matthew Lillard.
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In a new campaign for Cologuard, Voyager Director Grayson Whitehurst flips the script on horror tropes to encourage colon cancer screenings with humour and ease.
Starring Matthew Lillard, best known for his iconic role in Scream, the campaign reframes fear of screenings, of aging and of the unknown, into something approachable and even funny. Edited by Sarah Jordan of Leap Year via Agency Blue Hour Studios, the spot highlights Exact Sciences' mission to empower people to take action on their health.
Opening with the dim lighting and familiar tension of a horror film, the spot follows Lillard home alone as he hears a knock at the door. With every creak and shadow building suspense, the reveal turns out to be nothing scary at all, just a delivery driver dropping off a Cologuard test. The playful twist reinforces the campaign's key message: horror movies may be scary, but avoiding colon cancer screening is scarier.
Credits
View on- Agency Blue Hour Studios
- Production Company Voyager
- Director Grayson Whitehurst
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Credits
View on- Agency Blue Hour Studios
- Production Company Voyager
- Director Grayson Whitehurst
- Executive Producer Alissa Feldbau
- Head of Production Meliz Yilmaz
- Editing Leap Year Post
- Post Managing Director Kira MacKnight
- Executive Post Producer Kira MacKnight
- Post Producer Phil Minton
- VFX Mission Control
- VFX Founder Mike Quinn
- Flame Artist Mike Quinn
- Color Ethos Studio
- Color Founder James Drew
- Executive Color Producer James Drew
- Color Managing Director Eliana Carranza-Pitcher
- Executive Color Producer Eliana Carranza-Pitcher
- Head of Color Production Natasha Sattler
- Color Producer Nat Tereshchenko
- Color Producer Ben Ferren
- Sound One Thousand Birds
- Executive Audio Producer Guin Frehling
- Executive Audio Producer Laura Dopp
- Audio Producer Elisabeth Viel
- Audio Engineer Hayley Livingston
- Producer Cassidy Gill
- DP Tom Banks
- Editor Sarah Jordan
- Assistant Editor Kennedy Girard
- Colorist Ryan Urzi
- Talent Matthew Lillard
Explore full credits, grab hi-res stills and more on shots Vault
Credits
powered by- Agency Blue Hour Studios
- Production Company Voyager
- Director Grayson Whitehurst
- Executive Producer Alissa Feldbau
- Head of Production Meliz Yilmaz
- Editing Leap Year Post
- Post Managing Director Kira MacKnight
- Executive Post Producer Kira MacKnight
- Post Producer Phil Minton
- VFX Mission Control
- VFX Founder Mike Quinn
- Flame Artist Mike Quinn
- Color Ethos Studio
- Color Founder James Drew
- Executive Color Producer James Drew
- Color Managing Director Eliana Carranza-Pitcher
- Executive Color Producer Eliana Carranza-Pitcher
- Head of Color Production Natasha Sattler
- Color Producer Nat Tereshchenko
- Color Producer Ben Ferren
- Sound One Thousand Birds
- Executive Audio Producer Guin Frehling
- Executive Audio Producer Laura Dopp
- Audio Producer Elisabeth Viel
- Audio Engineer Hayley Livingston
- Producer Cassidy Gill
- DP Tom Banks
- Editor Sarah Jordan
- Assistant Editor Kennedy Girard
- Colorist Ryan Urzi
- Talent Matthew Lillard
“We leaned into classic horror conventions, treating the camera as an active presence rather than a passive witness,” shares Whitehurst. “Movement and framing weren’t just about building suspense - they guided the audience through tension so the moment of levity landed even harder. By exaggerating every creak, shadow, and pause, the reveal of the Cologuard test flipped dread into humour. That rhythm between fear and relief, suspense and surprise, is what made directing this spot so rewarding.”
Through creeping shots, negative space and wide lenses to build tension throughout the home, DP Tom Banks and Whitehurst emphasised tonal contrast: cool, desaturated interiors that gradually give way to warm, inviting light as the delivery arrives, transforming unease into humour. Every element, from framing to post edits, was carefully refined by Sarah, who tuned the pacing, extended silences and tightened cuts to maximise suspense, letting the reveal land with precise timing and comedic impact.
“What made this edit so satisfying was following my instincts, leaning into moments that felt right and letting the timing guide the suspense,” says Jordan. “With both comedy and horror, timing is everything, so the smallest adjustment could completely shift the impact of the reveal.”
