From Star Wars: The Bad Batch to Zola, See This Week's New Trailers and Posters

Brighter days are upon us, folks. For the first time in a year, theaters in Los Angeles and New York are reopening. There is a resonance of yesteryear and a semblance of normalcy on the horizon. This week's batch of work celebrates that optimism.

Despite their reputation, The Bad Batch and The Suicide Squad are here to do good and spread some humor. There are also some stories about ladies pushing back on the male patriarchies that try to regulate them. It's not all rainbows and butterflies. We mustn't forget the pieces so creepy they may entice you to hide in your house for another year. Hollywood always serves a variety.

Here's to brighter futures and the weekend ahead. Check out some of the most hopeful and horrifying trailers and posters released this week. 

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Disney+    
Trailer Agency: Buddha Jones    
Poster Agency: LA    

May the fourth will soon be here, and Disney+ is delivering another epic Star Wars adventure. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, an animated series, follows an elite squad of clones as they navigate the aftermath of the Clone War. As a whole, it's two minutes of action-packed escapades and a howdy-do with key characters. Appropriately so, the trailer's sound design blows you out of this world. Check out the new poster and its laser-illuminated sky, too.

The Night House

Searchlight Pictures
Trailer Agency: AV Squad
Poster Agency: N/A

The craft of The Night House trailer is mesmerizing. There's top-notch editing, but what's even more remarkable is the sound design—it's enough to frighten the bejesus out of even the most stoic. Also, the mirroring graphics add a dimension of artistic influence to the piece. I was taken with them from the opening Searchlight logo. Speaking of Searchlight, their key art never ceases to impress me, and this poster is no exception. It's layered with detail, and the red tint illuminates the spinetingling tone of this ghost story. Visit The Night House on July 16.

The Suicide Squad

Warner Bros. Pictures    
Trailer Agency: BOND    
Poster Agency: Concept Arts

The Suicide Squad is back in a new standalone sequel to the 2016 film. Some faces are familiar, like Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis. Then there are also newcomers like John Cena, Idris Elba and Sylvester Stallone. The trailer is a compilation of laugh-out-loud humor; Elba and Cena come in strong here. There is also an epic match-cut at the climax. Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" is the musical backdrop for this band of misfits. The new poster is bursting with energy and campy vibes. I'm here for it! The Suicide Squad is back in action on Aug. 6.

The Handmaid's Tale

Hulu    
Trailer Agency: Workshop Creative    
Poster Agency: The Refinery

June is on the run in the Season 4 trailer, or so it seems. Turns out, she's not seeking freedom. She wants justice—now who's the prey? The trailer packs a lot of punch. The expository dialogue strikes an intense flame, which is carried over as the motif in the new poster. Barriers and confinement are being burned away, and freedom is upon us. This girl is on fire. The Handmaid's Tale returns April 28.

In the Earth

NEON    
Trailer Agency: Zealot    
Poster Agency: Empire Design    

When a scientist and park scout get lost in a forest, famous among locals for its folklore, what could go wrong? The trailer for In the Earth is kind enough to imagine the possibility of nightmares for you. The editorial is exhilarating. What drives the terror is the trailer's ability to amplify nature's whispers, the uncertainty of fog, and the hollowness of the dark. Add in some supernatural elements, and you're left with one scary bit of marketing. In case your skin isn't already crawling, check out the series of character posters, which combine the elements of terror buried within this story. Take a stroll through the woods on April 23.

Zola    

A24    
Trailer Agency: GrandSon Creative    
Poster Agency: P+A    

Some trailers are supremely branded to their source material, and Zola is one of them. From the Twitter thread that spawned a feature film comes a road trip adventure with two young women caught up in the world of exotic dancing. The trailer beams with editorial zest and flair, and the poster is a glowing and glamorous filter, reflecting the human nature of the digital generation.