'Flatliners' Trailer Suggests You Haven't Lived Until You've Died

“You haven’t lived until you’ve died:” oxymoron or an admittedly great tagline for what is an unnecessary, possibly terrible sequel? Either way, the new trailer for “Flatliners” hints at a sense of imagination that its predecessor lacked, if only in the film’s marketing.

Directed by Niels Arden Oplev (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”), “Flatliners” is a follow-up the 1990 Joel Schumacher film of the same name, about a group of young medical students who subject themselves to near-death experiments. (Apparently, Kiefer Sutherland reprises his role as Nelson Wright, which makes this a “legacyquel” rather than the IP-mining remake everyone originally thought it was.) Oplev’s film stars Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev, James Norton, Kiersey Clemons and Charlotte McKinney.

READ MORE: First ‘Flatliners’ Trailer Pulses To Life With Ellen Page & Diego Luna

Oplev’s first stateside credit was “Mr. Robot,” but, unfortunately, “Flatliners” feels like exactly the kind of studio workman material that gifted international directors must tackle in order to get bigger or better opportunities. Nevertheless, the cast is talented and, if nothing else, the trailer itself is a well-executed white-knuckle ride that hopefully indicates the film will be visually inventive, whether or not it breathes new life (ahem) into a familiar concept.

“Flatliners” opens September 27.