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‘Layers of Fear 2’ Trades Tension for Uneven Game Play

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Layers of Fear 2, the highly anticipated follow-up to Bloober Team’s Layers of Fear, released this week with a brand new story to tell. Unfortunately, it seems the magic of the first has been somewhat muddled in the creation of this new chapter.

Set on a luxury cruise ship, Layers of Fear 2 is every bit as beautiful as its predecessor. Immaculate dining rooms and state rooms are open for exploration; gorgeous sunsets gleam through portholes and windows, and terror can wait around any turn.

Bloober Team also seriously upped their game in this sequel with sound design adding layers upon layers of directional sound.

Players step into the shoes of an actor who has been brought on board to star in a film directed by a reportedly deranged film director whose musings we hear in voiceover–by none other than Tony Todd (Candyman)–as the game progresses.

Layers of Fear 2

The settings are stunning in Layers of Fear 2

Unfortunately, the game seems to flounder, not only in purpose but also in storytelling.

The first hour or so of the game feels much like the first Layers of Fear. Players solve puzzles, rooms change in the blink of an eye, and strange voices whisper from the dark.

The developers deftly use jointed wooden mannequins to incredible effect in these scenes. It’s almost unbelievable how utterly terrifying an inanimate object suddenly moving can be, but the turn of a head or the shift of a hand can be truly startling in these circumstances.

Then things get strange.

Suddenly the actor comes face to face with a deformed creature who can and will kill you…instantly, again and again, until you figure out exactly how to navigate safely away from it. While this might work in other games where the player is expecting confrontation, it was completely unexpected in the Layers of Fear setting.

Not only did it pull me out of the storytelling space the game had curated to that point in the game, but the combination of slow game mechanics versus a very fast-moving monster left me frustrated and angry. What’s more, there’s very little signposting in this game. Many key moments you’re going to figure out only by trial and a lot of errors.

Once this confrontation aka running-for-your-life-while-slamming-doors-without-making-a-single-mistake challenge is over, the player finds themselves back inside the walk and explore model.

Unfortunately, this creates a very uneven gaming experience. It’s as though Bloober attempted to please everyone with this game and somewhere along the way lost sight of their objective.

Still, there is a lot to enjoy here, especially during those sequences where you’re exploring and putting together the story. Unlike the rather internal experience of the first game, Layers of Fear 2‘s story is more external, putting together the story of those who have sailed this ship before while trying to adapt to “the Method” that the director is asking you to take on for his film.

There are moments where the game asks you to simply give over to its madness and it’s up to the player to decide just how deep they’re willing to go in their exploration and immersion.

Will you give over to the madness?

Can you accept the conceit of stepping out of an elevator on a ship to find yourself on a cobbled stone street while still accepting that you’re actually still on the ship? How about a door in slideshow that actually becomes a door?

If so, and I recommend you go with it, then you may find things to love in Layers of Fear 2.

Layers of Fear 2 is available on PC, PS4, and XBox now.

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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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