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[Review] ‘Hitman’ Deconstruction of an Assassination

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Agent 47 is back in the latest “Hitman” entry. This time around, Io-Interactive gives us a bit of a rebooted experience. No worries though, it keeps 47’s past intact and helps to build a richer history in the Hitman-verse by showing how he came to work with his handler, Diana Burnwood and his entry into the ICA.

I point that out, because “reboot” has the tendency to be a nasty word to fans of things that were already established. In fact, I was hesitant about this “Hitman” entry, when I heard that dreaded word, “Reboot.” Lucky for us fans of the franchise, I swallowed my hesitancy and expectation and it turns out, there is no reason to worry.

“Hitman” takes Agent 47 back 20 years, following his escape from the asylum in Romania (story from the first Hitman title). 47 is chosen by the ICA due to his particular skill set. While the head of the ICA has his doubts about 47 and his untraceable past , ICA handler, Diana Burnwood sees something special about 47 and demands he be given a fair chance at proving himself.

Agent 47 is given two simulation missions of past ICA operations. These act as a test to see if 47 is a capable silent assassin, while also reintroducing gamers to the stealth action they are used to from other “Hitman” titles.

The first location challenges you to  assassinate a art thief named Kalvin “The Sparrow” Ritter. The Second location puts the crosshairs on a Soviet spy named Jasper Knight on who is located  on a Cuban airfield.

If you have the skill and cunning to pass these tests, the ICA will send 47 on a mission to Paris.

The Showstopper mission takes place during a fashion show at Palais De Walewska. You are given instruction to take out spy organization IAGO operatives, Dahlia Margolis and Viktor Novikov. While ,Novikov is preoccupied with the fashion show downstairs, Margolis is holding an auction upstairs. The auction being held sells secrets to bidders from all over the world.

“Hitman” carefully deconstructs each location to give you freedom of choice as to how you dispatch your target. The magic and addictive nature of “Hitman” lies in how it focuses on allowing you to play through the same location, in order to incorporate different assassination techniques. It also allows for approaches that involve going in silent or loud.

For example, you might take the straight up-close and personal garrote kill, or perhaps, a knife across your targets throat, the first time around. You are then allowed to revisit using a different means of attack that could involve poisoning your target or causing a chandelier to drop on their unsuspecting heads. Different disguises will allow you to infiltrate certain areas, while others will gain suspicion. The choice is truly in your hands and that makes “Hitman” another fantastic entry to the series.

Your level of perfection, will dictate what rating you get when the mission is over. You are able to  reach all the way up to a five-star silent assassin rating. In order to do that you will have to strategize your mission in great detail.

Escalation is a new mode in “Hitman,” it challenges you to go back into the location and to take out different targets in the Palais. Each time you attempt an Escalation mission challenges are added. For example, you have to take out two targets, hack a computer, assassinate a target with a certain outfit or weapon and overcome obstacles like laser triggered mines.

Time sensitive targets also become available for a limited amount of hours. Elusive Targets appear in-game for a certain amount of time and only give you one chance to take them out, before they escape. These targets will come with their own back story and are said to be released randomly between episode releases.

“Hitman” sticks to the same gameplay we have seen in previous entires ,while tightening up the controls and revamping the graphics to look as sleek as 47 himself.  Io-Interactive gives gamers a reason to come back and revisit locations by creating a living sandbox that has a painstaking attention to detail.

The major thing that sets “Hitman” apart from previous titles is its episodic structure. In this “intro pack” we are given the prologue (two training missions) and the Paris Showstopper mission. Seven locations are set to release through the year, each will take us further into 47’s story while offering new locations and challenges to overcome as you see fit.

The episodic release model allows gamers to really take in and enjoy the levels, as opposed to finishing a level and moving onto the next without a second thought. For me, giving me the game in portions made me enjoy “Hitman” in a way I was unable to previously. I have been a fan of 47 since the beginning but I was guilty of taking out my target with one single method, moving on to the next level and rushing through the game. This entry lets you stop and smell the death flowers and give you a richer experience for doing so.

“Hitman” is out now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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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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