Naming your film’s protagonist “David King” isn’t exactly the subtlest biblical allegory.
But then again, Spike Lee has never been a subtle filmmaker.
His newest film, Highest 2 Lowest, is a remake of the 1963 film High and Low by renowned Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. But far less discussed, though no less important, are the biblical themes in Highest 2 Lowest and its use of Old Testament figures, scripture references, and metaphors.
King David | Biblical Themes in Highest 2 Lowest
David King (Denzel Washington) is a legend in music production. After defeating the giants of the industry and ruling the charts in the 2000s, he is preparing to buy out the label he helps run, Stackin’ Hits, so he can save modern music from the threats of AI and commercialism. He takes stock of his finances, gathers his assets, and prepares to bet everything he has on this endeavor.
But despite these seemingly noble efforts, the David King we see in the film seems cold and passionless. Music may be his connection to God, but he’s lost the faith and fervor he once had. His son Trey begs him to listen to the new artists he’s identified. His wife comments on the fact that he no longer walks home listening to music on the Brooklyn Bridge. His busy life and professional success are his idols now.
Spike Lee and screenwriter Alan Fox masterfully demonstrate this disconnect in the film’s first act by showing the extreme artifice of David’s life. The film’s opening credits feature shot after shot of King’s opulent penthouse apartment while “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” plays dramatically. As we’re introduced to King’s daily routine, a saccharine musical score accompanies cheesy dialogue and over-the-top performances reminiscent of a soap opera or bad Hallmark movie. While these decisions are disarming and occasionally frustrating, their prolonged presence makes one thing incredibly evident: David King is living in a fantasy world almost entirely disconnected from reality.
While King David of the Bible is known as one of Israel’s greatest rulers and a “man after God’s own heart,” the Old Testament certainly includes its fair share of moments when his selfish heart and desires got in the way. Much like David in Highest 2 Lowest, the biblical David occasionally let power and privilege go to his head. He took another man’s wife, Bathsheba, and had her husband killed in battle to cover up the sin. He acted in pride by taking a census, seemingly counting God's people as his own possession. And just as the film goes to great lengths to showcase David King’s “house on a hill,” the biblical David captured the fortress on Mount Zion and named it David’s City, building his palace there.
By simply naming the film’s main character “David King,” Christian audiences can already begin to fill in the gaps of his history. His rise from poverty to power, his popular influence on the music industry, and, as outlined above, his mistakes. Even King’s musical talent and occupation are a callback to the biblical David’s musical gifts.
Heaven and Hell | Biblical Themes in Highest 2 Lowest
David King’s fairytale life comes crashing down in an instant when he receives a call that his son has been kidnapped. While the performative aspects of Lee’s filmmaking remain at first, they slowly give way to the cinematic mastery we’ve come to expect from the veteran director. The camera comes alive, its sense of motion and rapid editing contributing an increased sense of urgency.
Denzel Washington’s performance truly kicks into gear as he begins negotiating with the kidnapper (portrayed with nuanced anger by rapper A$AP Rocky), and the previously sappy musical score kicks into gear with one of my favorite action cues of the 2020s. While a twist of fate reframes both the kidnapping and David’s perspective on events, this chain of events kicks off an edge-of-your-seat thrilling final hour with “highs” (pun intended) unlike any other this year.
The biblical themes in Highest 2 Lowest owe much of their power to the original High and Low. That 1963 film was titled Tengoku to Jigoku in its native Japanese language, which translates to “heaven and hell.” Highest 2 Lowest embodies that translation to its core, with its themes of heaven and hell reaching far deeper than its allusions to the biblical king David. David King had created a false heaven for himself that he thought was happiness, and his realization of what heaven truly is only occurs after his encounters with hell.
On the flip side the film’s aforementioned antagonist, the kidnapper Yung Felon, believes himself to be in hell, and thinks that this desperate act of evil is the only way to claw his way towards the artificial heaven he sees David living in. Or worse, maybe he can’t make it to heaven, but he can try to drag David to hell alongside him.
While I won’t spoil the specifics of Highest 2 Lowest’s electric closing act, the film’s final scene begins with a close-up of a cross necklace around David’s neck, with the camera slowly zooming out to reveal Denzel Washington’s smiling face. He’s journeyed through hell, and he’s refocused his life on what truly matters. And while music isn’t and shouldn’t be a god, it does act in the film as David’s spiritual grounder, the thing that connects his soul most to God. He lost sight of that at the start of Highest 2 Lowest, but by the end his love of music—and God—are stronger than ever.
Seeing the Light in Highest 2 Lowest
Highest 2 Lowest isn’t perfect. The supporting performances are a mixed bag, the slow start frequently halts the film’s momentum, and the strange tone can be difficult to enjoy early on. Certain audiences may also struggle to engage with the strong language present throughout. But the biblical themes in Highest 2 Lowest, its thrilling second half, and the layered performances by Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky make it a worthy watch, placing it among the year’s best films.
The original song that closes the film, also titled “Highest 2 Lowest,” acts as an anthem for David’s journey and marks the start of something new for his character. “I found some peace in the pain / I see clearer / I can finally see the light.”
“I need a theme [song],” David declares early in the film. And as Highest 2 Lowest ends, it seems that he finally has one.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Put a new song in my mouth.”
Psalm 51:10,12 | Psalm 40:3