The Rock’s Skyscraper Makes a Surprisingly Good ’90s Movie in This Perfectly Remixed Trailer
Nerdist gives the new action flick a retro makeover
If a part of you has ever wondered how quintessential action star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would have fared as a ’90s movie icon, then good news: Nerdist has you covered.
The cross-platform entertainment hub released a retro reimagining, dubbed a Nerdist Remix, of the trailer for Johnson’s latest summer blockbuster, Skyscraper. From Universal Pictures, the film follows former FBI agent and veteran Will Sawyer (Johnson), who is hired to assess the security of the tallest, “safest” skyscraper in the world. When the building, his family and his honorable reputation all come under literal fire at the hands of terrorists attempting to frame him, Sawyer must fight to protect everyone from certain destruction.
The reworked trailer was written of Joan Ford and Matt Caron, who also edited the clip. The result is a Die Hard-esque spin that revives some of the best trailer tropes from the ’80s and early ’90s, like synth pop musical accompaniment and cringeworthy puns (“Crime is on the high-rise,” indeed).
While not part of the retro reboot specifically, the presence of ’90s star Neve Campbell (who plays Will’s wife, Sarah) also helps make for the ideal adaptation.
The remix is especially fitting given that Skycraper was largely inspired by two (admittedly pre-1990s) action classics, 1988’s Die Hard and 1974’s The Towering Inferno—both visually referenced in retro posters commissioned by Johnson himself.
The Nerdist Remix team received the ultimate stamp of approval in the form a tweet from The Rock himself, which read: “Dreams come true! My squad at @nerdist officially made me a 90’s action star. Check out one of the greatest retro trailers ever made! #90s #FannyPacks #AndExplosions.”
For comparison’s sake, here’s a look at the actual 2018 Skyscraper trailer:
CREDITS:
Nerdist Remix
Edited by Matt Caron
Written by Joan Ford and Matt Caron
Narration by Darin De Paul
Graphics by Charles Shattuck
