Spike Lee’s A24 Remake Trailer Shows Denzel Washington In Deep Negotiation With A Kidnapper

The latest trailer has been revealed for Highest 2 Lowest. The thriller movie is a modern-day remake of the Akira Kurosawa classic High and Low. It takes the Japan-set story from 1963 and transports it to the streets of New York City, following a music mogul caught in a ransom plot.

The movie is directed by Spike Lee and features Denzel Washington in the lead role, marking the pair’s fifth collaboration. Joining Washington is a cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, Ice Spice, and Aubrey Joseph. Highest 2 Lowest is set for a theatrical release on Aug. 15 before hitting Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.

Now, A24 has released a new trailer for Highest 2 Lowest. The trailer begins by showing an interaction between Wright and Washington’s characters, Paul and David, where Paul notes that he needs “theme music.” Then, the scene shifts to show David at work in his music job.

Things take a turn for the worse when it is discovered that someone has kidnapped David’s son, Trey (Joseph). David attempts to reason with Trey’s captor over the phone, while his colleagues and legal help are also on the case. As the plot continues, the trailer is set to the tune of a rap song.

What This Means For Highest 2 Lowest

Denzel Washington talking in Highest 2 Lowest

Image by Yailin Chacon

The trailer’s main marketing tactic is emphasizing the existing achievements of the film and cast. It begins by reminding us that Washington is a two-time Oscar winner, and also notes that this is his fifth Spike Lee movie. Later on, it includes quotes from existing reviews that came after the movie’s Cannes Film Festival premiere.

This shows that Highest 2 Lowest‘s biggest selling point is its existing clout. Both Lee and Washington are big enough in their production lanes to attract audiences based on their own name, and that is exactly what this thriller remake is attempting to accomplish.

In terms of the content itself, this clip gives a much better taste of the film’s plot than the previous Highest 2 Lowest trailers. David is in truly dire straits as he becomes wrapped up in this ransom plot, leading him to extremes. Exactly how this ends up playing out for him remains to be seen, but the results are undoubtedly thrilling.

Our Take On The Highest 2 Lowest Trailer

Denzel Washington sitting in a train in Highest 2 Lowest

The Highest 2 Lowest trailer has a unique tone that offers the perfect blend of humor and thrills. Even with the stakes this high, there is a levity to it throughout as the characters crack jokes. Once David takes matters into his own hands, it will be amazing to see how the tone changes within the film itself.

Source: A24

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