Trailer review: Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix take ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ to thrilling heights

The first trailer for the much-anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux dropped recently, and let's just say, it’s the tease we didn’t know we needed. For those of us who were spellbound by Joaquin Phoenix's chilling portrayal of Arthur Fleck in the first film, this follow-up, set for an October 4 release, promises to delve even deeper into the twisted mind of Gotham's infamous clown and his Puddin’-lovin’ counterpart. And now, the stakes are higher, the madness is more palpable – after all, Folie à Deux does translate to “Madness of Two”. 

The addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn has had die-hard fans in heated discourse since the news hit that she’s taking over the character. Yes, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of the “Queen of Gotham City” has set the bar sky-high, but come on, it’s Lady Gaga! If anyone can bring a fresh, and nuanced take on Harley, it’s her, and I’m eager to see how cinephiles receive her. 

Musical mayhem

We’ve known the film will be a musical for a while now, and with Gaga at the helm, there’s no doubt it won’t disappoint (just look back to her performance in A Star is Born). But wait, a musical? With Joker? Yes, you read that right. And with Gaga at the helm, it can’t possibly be that bad. The real curveball here is Phoenix. Can he sing? We got a glimpse of his singing chops in the trailer, and after some light internet sleuthing, I discovered that not only can Phoenix sing, but he can sing extremely well. But as someone who’s recently had a bad experience with their favourite film being turned into cringey B-grade musical (looking at you Mean Girls: The Musical), I am sceptical and excited in equal measure.

While fans have their own vision for what they wish the musical sequel to be, filmmaker Todd Phillips told Entertainment Weekly he has already envisioned characters to belt out already established tunes against the backdrop of a slightly more cinematically vibrant than its predecessor but otherwise grim Gotham. So don’t worry, the Joker will not be breaking into a Katy Perry song halfway through the film. 

A bold narrative awaits

The trailer masterfully teases the story without giving too much away – exactly what it should do. It picks up right after the explosive finale of the first film, with Arthur’s chilling live TV execution of a talk show host still fresh in our minds. We see him riding in a police vehicle, with snippets of his trial littered throughout the trailer.

As for the plot, your guess is as good as mine. The trailer gives just enough to whet our appetites without spoiling anything. Speculation is already running wild, with theories ranging from another deep dive into Arthur's delusions to a full-blown public rise to infamy alongside his equally unhinged partner in crime, Harley. There's a theory floating around that the events of the film might just be in Joker's head similar to the theory that it was the same in the first film. And while that twist works sometimes, it would feel like a cop-out if used in this instance. This time around, we want Phillips to fully commit to the narrative and deliver a story as unflinchingly bold as its predecessor.

The final shot of the trailer, with lipstick smeared on a glass, is the cherry on top – the perfect tease. It’s clear this film aims to be more than just another cog in the comic book film machine. It promises to be an ambitious, boundary-pushing piece of cinema, with Phoenix and Gaga poised to deliver electrifying performances.

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