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‘Control’: Furious, Razor Smart and Infinitely Cool

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Control

When you see Remedy Entertainment pop up an immediate interest is piqued. The folks behind Max Payne, Quantum Break and Alan Wake are a team dedicated to bringing that outside the box auteur content to the mainstream. Their latest mind bender, Control is Remedy reaching peak coolness, artfulness and the all out ability to make jaws drop.

Control centers around Jesse Faden a woman seeking answers concerning her mysterious past. When Jesse arrives at the The Federal Bureau of Control’s home base known as ‘The Oldest House,’ she is thrown into combat against an invading force known as ‘The Hiss’ onto a path that will unlock her full potential as well as answer her questions regarding her mysterious past.

The game takes place within the walls of The Oldest House and task you with exploring all sectors contained within. This is accomplished by discovering and taking over control points as well as the ultimate goal of pushing The Hiss out of the area.

Jesse has a lot of awesome tools at her disposal. For one, her Service Weapon is able to change and harness several different approaches to combat. These see the Service Weapon changing from pistol to shotgun to machine gun, etc… Each one of weapon settings is also fully up-gradable and can be further moded with items found in the House.

Combat is a complete blast, and really gives you the feeling of taking on the full brunt of Jesse’s powers. Once you are able to chain them all together things get really interesting. I think the coolest thing the folks at Remedy did was make it to where you can activate your powers and fire your weapon at the same time. For example, putting up a shield while levitating and dashing, or levitating while using telekinesis to hurl objects all make the game even more excellent.

Control

Controls are incredible and tight and that comes as a welcome surprise. For the amount of moves that the game has Jesse executing its mind boggling that you can control her with such ease. A lot of games that give you the ability to unleash a bevy of moves is usually subdued by its own prowess. Either by only allowing you to execute one move at a time or in some cases just coming off somewhat wooden. Control is masterful and effortless in its approach to controlling Jesse. The approach is a straight up blast and absolutely sets the bar in what controls should look like from here on out.

Control’s main character, Jesse (Courtney Hope) is a rare case where mocap and acting prowess is combined wonderfully. Hope, who has a background in dance, perfectly embodies the character in an approach that fits the heightened dream like tone of the world. Her performance lies in the subtleties and would fit perfectly into the world of David Lynch. From voice to the physical work Hope creates a character that feels fully fleshed out and is a protagonist that you immediately side with.

Speaking of, the entire cast and voice work is really well done here. The Oldest House is full of characters that ride the line of deeply interesting and the darkly cartoonish. The next level mocap that Control offers combined with the pitch perfect voice direction makes for a audible world that matches the games overall visual atmosphere.

Control grabs you

and doesn’t let go.

The design of Control is phenomenal and an absolute achievement. From The Oldest House’s architecture to the the ways that the physical world is manipulated, the design is pure cotton candy on for the eyes and a true spectacle. That same design is extended almost everything in the game including Jesse’s service weapon, which might go down as the coolest weapon I have seen in a game or film in a decade.

Contorl

If you ever asked yourself what a colab between Christopher Nolan and David Lynch would look like, Control would be the answer. It’s mind bending mechanics, bizarre world of characters and dream like atmosphere act as melding of what we have seen from both above mentioned directors. But, that doesn’t take away from the singular experience that the game offers in anyway. Control is very much its own game, and its own crane style approach to its development.

Control grabs you and doesn’t let go. It’s furious, razor smart and infinitely cool. This is the kind of game I want to play and the kind of movie I would pay to see on the big screen. The ability to work on as many levels as Control does easily gives it my vote for Game of the Year and is a serious must play for fans of art in general. In fact, the game could have stopped at its artful masterful design and that would have already been enough… but then they go ahead and throw in that insanely great combat. This is one that seriously needs to be played to be experienced and you should definitely make it a point to play it as soon as possible.

Control is currently available on PS4 and Xbox One.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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