A film featuring not only Dracula but also Frankenstein's monster, Wolfman and the master monster-hunter Van Helsing? It sounded like some kind of cobbled-together horror greatest hits compilation - Now That's What I Call Scary 1.
I grew up watching Hammer horror films. The characters are classics - epitomised by the likes of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee - and should be treated with great care, so I put the new upstart movie from my mind.
Until recently.
Last week, I was stuck in traffic during another horrific journey on London's North Circular. Peering out of my window I found the Wolfman staring menacingly down at me. Next to him was the dark, mysterious Van Helsing. And waiting in the wings was Dracula, but not as we know him.
This Dracula actually looked like a giant bat. Absolutely fearsome. Van Helsing must have been either bloody hard or bloody stupid.
Was I just bored out of my brains, or was this terrifying, dark battle really about to commence? The answer lies somewhere between the two.
Cutouts of the scary trio had been stuck on top of three consecutive 96-sheets to form a 'cluster of evil'. The effect was stunning and overpowering, and really captured the essence of the forthcoming film. They were dark and gothic but, more importantly, they were frightening.
Over the coming days it seemed like Wolfman and Dracula had come to life and were out to terrorise me. They were everywhere - roadside, on the Underground and buses, even on TV. But only outdoor could achieve this sense of ubiquity and bring to life the monsters to such stunning effect.
This looked like a film that would introduce these monsters to a new generation. Time moves on, but even the oldest characters can be modernised to dramatic effect. This outdoor campaign proves it.
The film promises to be a horrific feast. For the first time, a poster has frightened me into the cinema. Will Van Helsing prevail? Of course he will. But not before the monster of all battles.
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