Film Preview: Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Page Revisions:

(September 18, 2016) Original
(December 11, 2016) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#2-#4)
(January 8, 2017) New Trailer (#3)
(February 5, 2017) New Posters (#5-#9)

Release Date:

February 10, 2017

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.”

Poster Rating: B / B / C+ (2) / C- (5)

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Review: (#1) It’s strange to find a poster design with so much negative space that works so effectively in spite of that. This design does that, creating a simple elegance without complicated maneuvering.

(#2) It certainly feels darker than the prior film’s designs. There’s even a subtlety to having Jamie Dornan with his mask off as a symbolic exposure of the character, which is hinted at in the trailer. (#3 & #4) In these character posters, one features both masked and the other features only one of them masked. The symbolism of design #2 is not carried off well in these sets, but they are at least subtly seductive.

(#5-#9) Five character posters with a common theme, but little visual finesse.

Trailer Rating: C / C / B

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Review: (#1) A new version of Beyoncé’s song from the first film dominates the trailer along with a myriad of images that may well compel fans of the original to seek out the sequel, but which looks predictable and is surprisingly light on eroticism, the raison d’être of the books and film franchise.

(#2) The film doesn’t get more interesting with additional trailers, nor does it get more seductive. The film exists only to please the books’ legion of fans and nothing more. It gets that across with the bare minimum of effort.

(#3) The studio is doing a fine job marketing the psycho-sexual romantic thriller aspect of the film, which should certainly play well with the target audience. There’s no certainty that it’s a good movie, but that won’t bother those targeted.