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‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Zombies’ Is a Straight-Up Blast

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Dead

When there is no more room in hell, the dead will consume your free time. The Call of Duty franchise is back with another entry with Black Ops 4. This one skipped the single-player campaign completely, instead focusing on the cornucopia of entertaining multiplayer modes. One of them, of course, being the staple that is Call of Duty: Zombies.

In the latest offering, the team over at Treyarch has kept the essentials in place, with what we have come to know and love about Zombies, and added a full-on bit of the fantastically bonkers to keep things interesting and replayability a constant high.

Black Ops 4: Zombies is broken into three different maps and respective stories with their own set of characters. Voyage of Despair, Blood of the Dead and IX. Each map comes with new story lines, hidden challenges and (of course) a crap-ton of zombies.

Much like in previous COD: Zombies, this one has hidden challenges that if unlocked reveal cut-scenes that make up the real hamburger of the narrative. Sure, you can run and gun and dominate wave after wave, but if you want to reveal actual plotlines, searching for these challenges is really beneficial.

Your old buddy, classic survival mode is here and ready to play, but this time he brought some friends. A mode called ‘Rush’ that feels a lot more like an arena shooter is a blast. It focuses in on a kinetic based score. Weapons won’t cost you anything in Rush but getting hurt by zombies will bring your score down. It takes a little getting used to in comparison with the longer threaded classic mode, but it’s a worthwhile looksee, for sure.

Voyage of Despair transports you and your team aboard The Titanic, at the ill-fated moment it collides with the lone iceberg, in order to investigate some big occult stirrings. You start on the deck and have to battle your way from galley to engine rooms. This map in particular is very tight, especially when facing the hordes. Hallways become death traps or strategic bottle neck opportunities. It’s gonna be all in how you and your play it.

IX is the most bonkers of the map offerings. This one takes you and your team to a Greek gladiator arena where you are pitted against zombies, giant possessed tigers and hulking armored Spartans. This map allows for a little more wiggle room in terms of slipping your enemies, but forces you to quickly get used to winding catacombs and twisting pathways. Gathering your bearings early is your best friend on this map.

Dead

The classic updated stylings of Blood of the Dead, is where I found myself putting in the most time. This combines a nice amount of ancillary obstacles into the mix of the chaotic, ubiquitous zombie action. Having a WWII crew back, up against Nazi zombies is satisfying too. Nazi zombies was the first foray into this territory and it’s been the proper amount of time between then and now to make this return feel really special.

Elixirs are fun to experiment with in this entry. Each of these do a magnitude of different things to assist you in the onslaught. These are all trial and error but when combined with the right loadout are all out game-changers. The addition of the laboratory, where you can create rare concoctions, is nice and adds weight to the overall atomic age B-movie feel.

This COD Zombies goes full ham in terms of customization. This one allows for customization in every single aspect that you can think of, from loadout to specialized power-ups and everything in between, matches can be fully decked out to suit an infinite number of play styles.

Every bit of controls that you had in previous COD Zombies is still present here, and that’s to say everything is absolutely fluid, responsive and satisfying. Treyarch, knows that its control scheme freaking works and works well, and it’s something that they didn’t change. Thank heavenly zombie!

The bonkers approach to the maps is absolutely great, and one that doesn’t take itself seriously. This entry is totally about two things. One: The fans and, Two: The fun. It’s an addictive experience that doesn’t rely on grinding so much as it does its ability to be purely a blast. The variety of storylines, characters and modes make this one of the best out of the COD: Zombies entries, and is one I will keep going back to for constant zombie-slaying team-based fun.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is out now.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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