The New Trailer for Fifty Shades Darker Taps Taylor Swift and ZAYN

The new trailer for Fifty Shades Darker takes an interesting turn … the wrong turn, but a turn nonetheless. Watch it now!

Apparently, the music used in the Fifty Shades Darker trailers is meant to really set the mood. It’s always slow and hypnotic. Or at least, it tries to be. The new trailer taps into the real starpower that drives the franchise (its album and associated covers) and brings forth the song specially recorded for this movie, “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift. But if you confused this Taylor Swift song with the one by Bon Jovi, you only have yourself to blame. Bon Jovi used a beat and, you know, instruments that don’t sound like someone just closed the dishwasher way too hard.

Now, what they should’ve done, what would really get the audience’s attention would be some Jackson 5. For example, Christian Grey / Jamie Dornan says, “Anastasia, I want you back.” Then, freeze frame, record scratch, “When I had you to myself…” I would’ve instantly committed to see this movie if they did that. Because the problem I have with Fifty Shades Darker is not knowing whether I’m supposed to take this movie seriously or not. Naturally, I understand that Universal takes this movie seriously because it makes money. But what’s the narrative here? I mean, outside of the sex? Is this truly an edgier version of The Notebook? Can we say that E.L James is the unbound (no pun intended) version of Nicholas Sparks? Is that what they want us to believe?

Because if every fairytale has a dark side, this one’s is its inability to figure out what it wants. Adding an ominous gunshot at the end doesn’t make you a thriller and breathy Taylor Swift tracks aren’t going help anyone finish. (All the puns are intended.)

Check out the new trailer for Fifty Shades Darker below:

Fifty Shades Darker opens in theaters on February 10, 2017.

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