I can not express the joy I initially felt when High Life was announced. Finally, after years of waiting, a How High sequel! And directed by French indie film darling Claire Denis? Not what I expected, but you never look a gift horse in the mouth. Was I also a little let down when neither Method Man nor Redman were returning to their iconic roles? Of course, but never did I doubt they were going to do something wonderful with this project.

I am afraid to say that High Life may not actually be a sequel to How High. Though I can’t deny that the possibility may still exist. It’s complicated, is what I’m trying to say.

While the connections between the two may not be the most obvious, neither film exists in the obvious. Both films are handling subjects unknown within the mortal realm. Whether it’s High Life and the soul-rending possibility of nothing existing past beyond ourselves, or How High and whether smoking a corpse allows you to see ghosts. The films are both about handling death, and whether the ultimate goal in life is to accept that inevitability.

Another thematic occurrence between the two films is that of getting blitzed out of your fucking mind. In both cases, the acts of indulgence are the main forces driving our characters for a large portion of the films. In How High, Silas and Jamal use marijuana as a gateway to a world of the upper class, something that had previously been denied them. It is their drug use which actually propels them into a new world. The same could be said of High Life and it’s use of sex. Dibs’ quest to perfect deep space pregnancy and the use of the cum collector is what drives much of the action, from turns to insanity to Monte’s later drive to continue living. It is the cravings of the body and mind which tether these films together.

This, of course, is not to say these films are complete parallels of each other. They both can stand on their own while also complementing each other, like chocolate and peanut butter, or peanuts and butter. While How High has broad humor and cultural references, High Life is subtle humor and attempted rape. These are films that may share some thematic similarities, but they do not rely on each other to get their points across.

While my disappointment with the promise of a sequel still stings and will sting for the rest of my life, High Life’s beautiful story and existential dread more than made up for it. The double-feature is one destined to be discussed for generations to come until the inevitable crossover High How Life comes along to fill in all remaining questions. And I’ll be here, waiting for that day, waiting until I have to drift into a black hole if I must.