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REVIEW: DOOM Is Visceral, Hardcore and Genius

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Doom

DOOM is finally upon us. I have to admit, we were a bit worried when Bethesda decided to not send out review copies until the release day. (Usually a bad sign) However, we were pleased to find a very, very, very good game that will make any DOOM fanboy happy.

DOOM was one of the first shooters that I played as a kid. I remember blasting Nine Inch Nails and Ministry over my stereo while playing through the night ; tearing through legions of hell spawn on varying difficulty levels while chugging cases of Mountain Dew was pure perfection.

So how much of that nostalgia was rewarded with the recent release of DOOM? The answer is, every single bit. Well, minus the cases of Mountain Dew.

DOOM puts you back in the Praetor suit of “DoomGuy,” the space marine with no spoken words. When you begin the game you are thrust face first into the action with hell and all of its inhabitants spilling over into our dimension. Fanatical zealot, Olivia Pierce is trying her damnedest to open up a permanent portal from hell to our world.

Much like the classic DOOM, this one takes place at a mining facility on Mars. The Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC) is mining argent energy. You soon discover that argent energy is an insidious source and it is up to you to destroy it as well as Olivia Pierce.

DOOM has some fast, polished and liquid gameplay. You move much faster than you do in most first person shooters and that change is a welcome and rewarding one. The controller responsiveness is a match for the fast-pacing and a much needed tool when dealing with the amount of enemies that the game throws at you in the later missions.

Weapon and Praetor suit power ups are one of the biggest and most welcome changes to DOOM. You are now able to upgrade parts of your weapons that allow for things like explosive shotgun rounds, lock-on missiles, sniper scope and a whole lot more. Your suit is also upgradable with things like added protection from explosions, a better radar, (helps to locate secret areas) better equipment usage and a more. Secret areas also offer collectible DoomGuy figures, each one of these are different variations of the Praetor suit.

Glory Kills are one of my favorite new additions in DOOM. This allows you to rip stunned enemies to pieces in varying violent ways. Once blasted a certain amount of times demons will begin to blink, signaling you to move in for the Glory Kill. These range from ripping demons jaws open, ripping an arm off and beating them to death with it and curb stomping all hell out of them. There are a variety of Glory Kills that you can perform, depending on which body part you are aiming at when you initiate them. Glory Kills don’t just looks awesome, they also cause the enemy to drop health or ammo. That health might come in handy in a pinch. I know it has saved my butt more times than I can count.

Chainsaw

Rune Trials allow you to equip Runes that can do things like increase ammo, and make some abilities last longer. Rune Trials take you briefly into another dimension where you are tasked with a timed challenge. For example, killing 30 enemies within the time limit or killing a certain amount of demons with a special move if you are able to complete the challenge you are rewarded with a new rune to help you in the fight.

For the first time in a long time, secrets and challenges are imperative to getting full enjoyment out of the game. Weapon and Praetor suit points are rewarded when you discover a secret location or when you complete a challenge. These power ups go a long way to enabling you with more ammo, weapon attachments, more health and more armor. They aren’t a necessary part of the game but seeking them out will help out in later missions, especially if you are aiming to finish the game on a harder difficulty setting.

Bethesda and id took everything that you loved about the original DOOM and did the wisest thing they could have done with it. They kept it all intact. All the hell spawn you remember are all accounted for. Yep, that one too. They updated it for the current gen and the results are jaw-dropping, Mars and Hellscapes are works of art. Looking out at a vista are all wallpaper worthy scenes. Taking the original game and not changing the core elements, enemies or DoomGuy already makes this game a blast. Add in the fact that you can upgrade weapons and armor and this give us the best DOOM single player campaign we have seen.

There is a forgotten art at work here too. With recent shooters gamers have become accustom to grabbing some cover popping up, shooting and ducking back behind cover while waiting to regain health. DOOM takes you back to the days of needing to pickup health in order to heal. It also encourages you to run around and use movement as an ally instead of cover. If you stand still you die. It creates a sense of constant urgency and white-knuckle, sweaty palm action.

The games score is a perfect match as well and gives us a hardcore, synth-driven ambience that adds a kick-ass sound for you to rip and tear demons apart to. It gets to the point later in that game that when you hear that music cue up you invite the hoards in a very “bring it on” fashion. The music helps you become invincible, or at least think you are until DOOM decides to throw hells kitchen sink and five Hell Baron’s at you.

I wasn’t sure if going back to this nostalgic place in my heart was possible, but I was wrong. DOOM is enough of a perfect mix of old and new to cater to hardcore DOOM fans and newcomers alike. The developers really stuck to their guns on this one. They could have easily gone for the pop and shoot ways of current first person shooters; by doing things in the classic vein they have managed to reinvent the wheel again. DOOM is brilliant, bloody and visceral, it takes you to the depths of hell and gives the most badass metal experience you are likely to have this year in an FPS.

Look for our review of DOOM’s multiplayer and SnapMap up soon.

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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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