Film Preview: High-Rise (2016)

Page Revisions:

(January 10, 2016) Original
(March 20, 2016) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#2-#11) / New Release Date (changed from: 2016)

Release Date:

2016

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Life for the residents of a tower block begins to run out of control.”

Poster Rating: C+ / C / C+ / A / B+ / B (4) / C / C+

SEE ALL POSTERS BELOW
Review: (#1) There’s some falling going on, but there’s no explanation as to why. The building design is interesting, but that’s about as far as it goes.

(#2) The ground-side view of the first design, a brief reflection of a plummeting man. It’s a bit disturbing, but still interesting. (#3) The intriguing architectural details make for a handsome design, but not a particularly effective one. (#4) Heavily reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange, this artistically inspired design is perfectly balanced, well constructed and visually pleasing. (#5) An eye-bending puzzler, the design has some fascinating elements, but doesn’t quite reach the heights of poster #4.

(#6-#9) These kaleidoscopic designs are interesting and visually unusual, but they feel too repetitive. (#10) Our protagonist standing on his balcony doesn’t promote the film very well. (#11) The painterly elements of this design are interesting, but they don’t have an immediately understandable connection to the film.

Trailer Rating: B / A-

SEE ALL TRAILERS BELOW
Review: (#1) A thoroughly bizarre and fascinating trailer that gives the viewer a lot of things to be confused about, but the visual flair should make them not care that they don’t understand and want to find out what’s going on as a result.

(#2) The first trailer gives us a hint of the weirdness afoot, but this second trailer doubles-down on it all and presents a compelling and completely bewildering cinematic experience.

Oscar Prospects:

Is there really enough information about this film to tell if it’s an Oscar contender? Director Ben Wheatley hasn’t made an Oscar contender yet and the trailer makes this film look way too bizarre to appeal to more mainstream Oscar voters.