Suicide Squad looks to be breaking the gloomy DC mould with a second bonkers trailer that seems like the perfect combination of bombastic over the top action and moody mania.
After the drab Batman V Superman, and the director, David Ayer, coming out and admitting that all of Suicide Squad’s cheeky one liners were in the trailer, I admit I was a little bit put off Warner Bros’ next entry in to the DC cinematic universe.
However, this new tantalising trailer’s caught my attention once again, especially considering the film is rumoured to have undergone reshoots to bring it in line with audience expectations (ie. make it more funny).
It’s an impressive teaser, highlighting the titular Suicide Squad’s team dynamic, and it’s fun to see such a wide range of bizarre characters riffing off each other.
But, of course, Margot Robbie steals the show, bouncing off all the other characters like a kid high on Red Bull, delivering quippy one liners that’d make a Marvel character blush.
Looming over the trailer though is the Joker (Jared Leto), who appears to have upped the character’s creepiness to a whole new level, especially with his terrifying honking laugh, which may not be Mark Hamill’s distinctive cackle but will still raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
Interestingly, the trailer also shows a surprising amount of Ben Affleck’s Batman, who’s either appearing in flashbacks or may be the villain of the piece, which is an interesting take on the usual superhero formula.
Obviously though, the trailer is heavily influenced by the tone of the Deadpool movie (much like James Gunn predicted), playing up the irreverence and casual violence that rewarded the ‘Merc with a Mouth’ such a colossal sum at the box office.
The only thing that makes me uneasy about the trailer is the jarring tonal shifts, which I’m sure will fit the characters of the film who are themselves both dark and light, but I can’t help but think it may show that the David Ayer doesn’t have a strong vision of quite what he wants this film to be.
Still, that aside, Suicide Squad looks like it’s shaping up to be the best DC superhero movie this year.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.