Summary
- The new Expendables 4 red band trailer hypes the film's graphic violence and a return to the franchise's roots.
- The Expendables 3 was rated PG-13, a move that alienated the franchise's core audience, and the new film, which is rated R, serves as a clear course-correct.
- Part of the franchise's fun is its abundance of over-the-top blood and gore, and the new sequel's return to this is a promising sign.
The new Expendables 4 red band trailer is here, and it hypes the new entry's R-rating with some graphic violence. Directed by Scott Waugh, the sequel sees the return of Sylvester Stallone's Barney Ross, Jason Statham's Lee Christmas and much of the rest of the team for a dangerous new mission. After the lackluster reception to The Expendables 3's PG-13 rating in 2014, the installment is going back to the franchise's roots.
Ahead of The Expendables 4's release date next month, the Lionsgate YouTube channel has released a new red band trailer for the movie, teasing its very R-rated violence. Check out the trailer below:
In addition to a host of explosions and some vehicular mayhem, the trailer makes very clear that the latest sequel won't be shying away from "all the blood and guts," with a number of shots included that show enemies being killed in gruesome fashions.
The Expendables 4's R-Rating Was The Right Choice
The Expendables films have never been critical darlings, but they struck a chord with some audiences who enjoyed seeing the best Hollywood action stars teaming up for violent adventures. Given the age of many of the franchise's stars and the R-rating, the first two movies were more popular with a slightly older demographic. The Expendables 3's PG-13 rating was part of an attempt to bring in younger audiences, but the end result didn't have the desired effect, with the film appealing to neither younger audiences nor the franchise's core demographic.
The violence in the first two movies is completely over-the-top, with Stallone, Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and the rest of the film's stars dispatching enemies with gooey blood spatters and gory dismemberments. This very graphic violence doesn't accompany an overly serious tone and is part of the movies' fun. Evidently, it's seemingly also a crucial ingredient to the franchise's success.
The Expendables 4's R-rating is a promising sign, but it remains to be seen whether audiences will once again embrace the franchise. The trailer features more lackluster CGI and green screen work than previous installments, which could end up working against it. The film is intended to serve as Stallone's sendoff, with the story teeing Statham's character up for more of a leadership role. If The Expendables 4 is a hit, it's entirely possible that Statham returns for more installments, all of which are hopefully rated R.
Source: Lionsgate/ YouTube
