Starring Abbi Chally, Mellisa Chally, Strange Dave

Directed by A.J. Briones

The opportunity to give someone nightmares using the simplest of visuals is something that should be commended on a grand level, and director A.J. Briones pulls it off in exquisite fashion with his 7-minute short The Smiling Man. Straightforward and infinitely chilling to the bone, this one simply must be seen.

The lure of balloons and dolls brings an adorable little girl (Abbi Chally) out of her room to investigate, and once she reaches the kitchen area, she’s face-to-face with what could loosely be described as the scariest damn thing this guy has seen on film in quite some time. He’s only known as The Smiling Man (Strange Dave), and his ashy gray skin – coupled with the nastiest set of choppers to ever reside in someone’s yap-trap – adds up to one seriously creepy canteen invader.

While the interaction between the two is brief, the residual effect will linger in my mind for some time to come. I highly implore anyone who wants to impede their restful sleep to give this one a look when available.

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Square Enix has dropped a ton of Deus Ex news ahead of E3, including new trailers and footage for Human Revolution, and the announcement of spin-off puzzle game Deus Ex Go, in the style of the similar titles Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go.

Be prepared to question your humanity when Deus Ex: Mankind Divided arrives on August 23.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Breach – Reveal Trailer
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Breach is an innovative game mode, included for free with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. This new take on the game offers, for the very first time, an arcade approach on the gameplay of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, providing players with a connected puzzle shooter experience. As a Ripper, a hacker in the year 2029, your objective is to obtain and sell highly classified corporate data by infiltrating some of the world’s most secure servers, using the funds you acquire to upgrade both your skills and arsenal.

As you play, the rewards you earn, including XP, credits, and booster packs, will allow you to face the increasing difficulty of the game. Challenge yourself, your friends, and people from around the world in the ultimate Deus Ex arcade twist. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Breach is a live game mode, introducing new challenges and features by rolling out updates on a regular basis.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is coming August 23rd, 2016 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. #CantKillProgress

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – City-Hub Gameplay Demo

Get your first glimpse at the city-hub of Prague in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, an expansive and dense location which will allow players to meet a variety of characters, take on side-quests, and explore indoor and outdoor areas. For the purpose of this demo, we activated infinite life, energy, and ammo.

In this section of the game, set in the poor district of the city, Adam Jensen wakes up after being caught in a devastating attack, allegedly perpetrated by augmented extremists, which is causing his augs to malfunction. He needs to see Vaclav Koller, an underground augmentation specialist, so that he can have a look at them and help him get back into shape.

Augmented Future – Open Bionics × Deus Ex × Razer

Open Bionics, Eidos-Montréal, and Razer are working together to bring Deus Ex-inspired augmentations to life. The three companies will partner up to help bridge the gap between fiction and reality, working together to design, 3D print, scan, power, and create affordable bionic hands.

This “Augmented Future” initiative will combine the expertise of each company, with the ultimate goal being to make fashionable robotic prosthesis accessible to a larger audience.

Deus Ex Go – Reveal Trailer

Deus Ex GO is a turn-based infiltration puzzle game set in a stylized interpretation of the Deus Ex Universe. As double agent Adam Jensen, you’ll use hacking, combat, and augmentations to solve the most challenging puzzles of the entire GO series. Work alongside your allies in TF29 and the Juggernaut Collective as you infiltrate locations to unravel the conspiracy behind a terrorist plot.

Deus Ex GO is coming this summer on phones and tablets.

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Last month we gave you the early word on Wild Eye Releasing’s upcoming Sharkenstein, and now with summer fast approaching, the film’s official trailer has been churned up.

Sharkenstein is written by J.K. Farlew, produced and directed by Mark Polonia, and executive produced by Rob Hauschild with special effects by Brett Piper and Anthony Polonia.

Look for Sharkenstein on DVD/VOD in August of this year. And if this is the type of movie that floats your boat, swing by Wild Eye’s YouTube channel to see what else they’ll be releasing soon.

Synopsis:
In the final days of World War II, a secret experiment to weaponize sharks is shut down and destroyed by the Third Reich. But now, 60 years later, a small ocean town is plagued by a bloodthirsty, mysterious creature, one built and reanimated using parts of the greatest killers to ever inhabit the sea – the Sharkenstein monster!

The post Official Sharkenstein Trailer Now Stitched Together! appeared first on Dread Central.

One of the main criticisms of the original Titanfall was the lack of a single-player campaign, and publisher EA clearly didn’t learn from its mistakes as last year’s Star Wars Battlefront suffered from the same issue.

Thankfully, they are finally rectifying the issue because they confirmed that Titanfall 2 will indeed feature a much coveted single-player campaign, and all I can say is hallelujah! There is still hope for gamers who appreciate rich narrative experiences. Now let’s just hope that they also do the same with the next Star Wars Battlefront…

Have a look at the trailer below, which offers a glimpse at the story mode. Developer Respawn Entertainment promise that the game will “explores the unique bond between man and machine,” whatever that means. I guess we’ll find out when it hits consoles and PC on October 28.

Synopsis:
Pilot and Titan unite as never before in Respawn Entertainment’s highly anticipated Titanfall 2. Featuring a crafted single-player campaign that explores the unique bond between man and machine, players will step on to The Frontier as a Militia rifleman with aspirations of becoming a Pilot. Stranded behind IMC enemy lines, and against overwhelming odds, you must team up with a veteran Vanguard-class Titan and uphold a mission you were never meant to carry out.

In multiplayer, Titanfall 2 delivers best-in-class shooter gameplay backed by more depth and variety including new Titans – each with their own unique abilities, a deeper set of Pilot abilities, an expanded arsenal of weapons, more customization options, and a robust progression system.

The post E3 2016: Mechs Go to War in Titanfall 2 Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

Forget Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare! Mass Effect: Andromeda is the only sci-fi action game that you need to play.

This latest entry in EA and Bioware’s sci-fi RPG series takes place long after the first trilogy of games, deep in the Andromeda Galaxy. The E3 trailer is light on gameplay but still packs one hell of a punch. The narrator promises “a whole new galaxy to explore,” and if that really is the case, then count me in.

Synopsis:
A whole new galaxy awaits for you to explore. Mass Effect: Andromeda pushes the boundaries of known space into the next generation, delivering distant star systems with remote and hostile planets ripe for discovery.

Mass Effect: Andromeda – Coming early 2017 to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

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Telltale sure is busy these days. In addition to The Walking Dead Season Three, they’re also hard at work on a brand new Batman game, which will be the Caped Crusader’s second M-rated outing after Arkham Knight.

Simply called Batman – The Telltale Series, the first bunch of screens from the game reveal a beautiful cel-shaded art style that sure stays true to the comic book source material. In pure Telltale fashion, there will be multiple dialogue options and decisions that the player can make which will decide the course of the game.

The Dark Knight himself will be voiced by fan favorite Troy Baker. Other confirmed characters are Two-Face (Travis Willingham), Vicki Vale (Erin Yvette), James Gordon (Murphy Guyer), Carmine Falcone (Richard McGonagle), and Laura Bailey as Catwoman. Enn Reitel will voice Batman’s loyal butler, Alfred.

This is by no means Telltale’s first DC adaptation, as they were also responsible for The Wolf Among Us, based on the Fables series published by DC’s adults-only Vertigo imprint. That game was nothing short of fantastic, so were counting on Batman to carry on the legacy.

Prepare to become the night when Batman arrives in episodic installments starting later this year.

Synopsis:
The Telltale crew is down in Los Angeles for the annual E3 Gaming Expo… now we can share the very first screens and cast details for the upcoming BATMAN – The Telltale Series ahead of its worldwide debut this summer!

The episodic series will premiere digitally on home consoles, PC/Mac, and mobile devices; and we’ll be showing it privately to guests at E3 this coming week. The series will also be available on game consoles as a special ‘Season Pass Disc,’ which will be available at retailers across North America, Latin America, and Europe later this summer, granting access to the five-episode season as it becomes available for download.

Our CEO and Co-Founder Kevin Bruner had this to say about the upcoming series: “We’ve been hard at work at Telltale creating an all-new iteration of the iconic Batman story that puts players in the suit of billionaire Bruce Wayne, just as much as it will put them behind the mask, deciding how to carefully navigate a complex drama, rich with action, crime, corruption, and villainy lurking around every corner of Gotham City. The complex life and fractured psyche of Bruce Wayne has lent itself to becoming a bold evolution of the signature ‘Telltale’ role-playing experience, and we couldn’t be more excited as we prepare to debut the series to players across the world this summer.”

Rendered to look like a living, breathing comic book, Telltale’s vision of Batman will feature an award-winning cast of talent, including Troy Baker in the role of Bruce Wayne, Travis Willingham as Harvey Dent, Erin Yvette as Vicki Vale, Enn Reitel as Alfred Pennyworth, Murphy Guyer as Lieutenant James Gordon, Richard McGonagle as Carmine Falcone, and Laura Bailey as Selina Kyle. We’ll be able to reveal additional cast and characters as the season progresses.

Look to Telltale’s channels on Facebook and Twitter for more news from E3 as it happens!

The post E3 2016: Become the Night in Batman – The Telltale Series appeared first on Dread Central.

After the incredible first two games plus the Michonne spin-off, we’ve finally got our first look at Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 3, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Set several years after Season 2, the game features an older and wiser Clementine alongside a new character named Javier. The brief reveal teaser doesn’t say a whole lot about what we can expect from the game, but it does feature the tense cinematic atmosphere that makes Telltale’s work so memorable.

We certainly can’t wait for The Walking Dead: Season 3, so we’ll be keeping you updated as more details come to light.

The post E3 2016: The Walking Dead: Season 3 Reveal Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

The first level of DOOM will be available to play for free this week on PC via Steam, PS4, and Xbox One. Bethesda Softworks announced this free demo at their pre-E3 press conference tonight.

So if you’ve been dying for a chance to slaughter some demons, check out DOOM this week only for free.

We gave DOOM a perfect score—5/5—check our review here! And keep your peepers glued to Dread Central for all the horror-themed E3 news you can handle!

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Tonight at their pre-E3 press conference, Bethesda announced that they are officially entering the virtual reality rat race next year. In 2017 Fallout 4 will be available to play on the HTC Vive.

At their event in LA currently, Bethesda has Fallout 4 as well as DOOM for attendees to play on the Vive.

Are you excited by the opportunity to play Fallout 4 in virtual reality? What games would you love to see available in vr? Let us know in the comments below, and keep watching us for more E3 2016 news!

The post E3 2016: Fallout 4 Falls Into Virtual Reality in 2017 appeared first on Dread Central.

Bethesda announced a lot tonight at their pre-E3 press conference, but Dishonored 2 took the main stage on many occasions.

One of the most exciting things revealed that we want to share is Dishonored 2: Collector’s edition. This will be available in limited numbers. It will include Corvo Attano’s mask with stand, Emily Kaldwin’s ring with display box, a propaganda poster, the game in a collectible metal case, a digital pack with additional game goods, and last but not least, a digital copy of Dishonored: Definitive Edition. This package retails for $99.99.

If collector’s editions aren’t really your thing, or are out of your budget, there’s still hope. If you pre-order Dishonored 2 at participating retailers, you will also receive a digital copy of Dishonored: Definitive Edition.

No matter which version you buy, Dishonored 2 is releasing November 11th, 2016 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Are you excited to play?! Keep your peepers glued on Dread Central for more E3 news throughout the week!

The post E3 2016: Dishonored 2: Collector’s Edition Announced appeared first on Dread Central.

Writer/director Travis Zariwny’s home invasion shocker Intruder is heading our way June 24th on VOD with a limited theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles kicking off at the same time, and finally today IFC Midnight has unveiled the film’s official release trailer.

Starring Louise Linton (Cabin Fever), John Robinson (Lords of Dogtown), and singer-songwriter, musician, DJ, and photographer Moby, the film sees Linton playing Elizabeth, a young cellist who seeks solitude in the safety of her apartment for a few days as a violent storm brews outside. But no matter how hard she tries to chill in the comfort of her own home, it becomes impossible to shake off the creepy feeling that someone has their eye on her.

Her instincts are spot-on, but the question remains: Who is stalking her? Is it her creepy head of orchestra (Moby), the next-door neighbor who knows way too much about her personal life, or John (Robinson), the attractive man from the coffee shop?

All will be revealed later this month!

Synopsis:
A young woman’s quiet night in becomes a free-fall into fear in this disturbing home invasion thriller. After she lands her dream job, a young cellist (Linton) settles in for a relaxing few days holed up in her apartment—but as a violent storm rages outside, she can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her every move. Cleverly toying with the rules of suspense, director Travis Zariwny wrings maximum terror from everyone’s worst nightmare: You may not be alone.

The post IFC Intrudes Upon Your Monday with the Intruder Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

After devouring the competition at the box office with The Conjuring 2, a new James Wan project has been announced… THR is reporting that San Andreas helmer Brad Peyton has come aboard to direct Malignant Man.

Malignant Man is set up at Fox and based on a Boom! Studios comic that Wan co-created. Boom!’s Ross Richie and Stephen Christy are producing with Wan, who is working via his Atomic Monster label. Peyton also will produce.

The story focuses on Alex Gates, a patient dying of a terminal disease who is resigned to his fate… until he discovers that his malignant tumor is actually a mysterious alien parasite. Now with some incredible powers and a renewed purpose, Gates is tasked with fighting a secret army lurking behind the veils of society while also peeling back his own secrets.

Zak Olkewicz wrote a draft of the adaptation. Adam Yoelin of Boom! is co-producing. Jeff Fierson, Peyton’s partner at their Factory Backwards shingle, will executive produce. Matt Reilly and Ryan Jones are overseeing for Fox.

More as we get it!

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More distro news has come our way as Artsploitation Films has announced that they’ve acquired the new flick Counter Clockwise. Read on for the skinny!

From the Press Release:
Currently enjoying an extensive festival run (and recent winner of “Best Science Fiction Film” at both the Eugene International and Action on Film Festivals), Counter Clockwise, a hyperventilating blend of science fiction, horror, and dark comedy directed by Atlanta-native George Moïse, has been acquired by Artsploitation Films.

A scientist, while working on inventing teleportation, instead accidentally invents time travel and zaps himself 6 months into the future. But that future is a sinister, confusing, and violent one as he finds himself being chased by gun-toting hitmen as well as being the prime suspect in the murders of his wife and sister. He attempts to change history and save his loved ones by traveling back in time to uncover the mysteries.

The film, which stars Michael Kopelow, Devon Ogden, and Kerry Knuppe, is set for DVD and VOD release October 4, 2016.

Artsploitation president Ray Murray said, “Totally inventive, fun, and complex. I immediately watched it a second time just to fully understand all the wild happenings! We do not release many American-made films, but this film marks an acquisitions exception. We hope audiences will enjoy and be confounded as much as I was. We release a lot of difficult and challenging titles, but with Counter Clockwise, we have an entertaining, fast-paced sci-fi murder/mystery treat.”

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The retro-futuristic Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon was a high point for the series, so it’s great so see that it still lives on. In a loose way, that is.

The next entry in Ubisoft’s Trials motorbike racing game takes place in the Blood Dragon universe. So yeah, Blood Dragon 2 would have been great, but this is the next best thing.

Trials of the Blood Dragon is available right now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Synopsis:
Trials of the Blood Dragon is an explosive single-player experience with a wicked combination of renowned, competitive, physics-based Trials gameplay and unique, neon-drenched Blood Dragon attitude.

Journey through a colorful story with warzones in Vietnam, settling scores in Miami, confronting TV heroes in Tokyo, and the odd detour into Space. You’re gonna go to Hell and back.

The post Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon/Trials Crossover Trials of the Blood Dragon Available Now appeared first on Dread Central.

The Friday the 13th game might still be some time away, but in the meantime we’ve got the similar Dead by Daylight, which has just launched on Steam.

Play as either a deranged serial killer and hunt your victims across the woods or as one of the hapless victims as they try to escape.

Synopsis:
Dead by Daylight is both an asymmetrical and survival horror multiplayer game in which one crazed, unstoppable killer hunts four survivors through a terrifying nightmarish world in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

As a survivor, you can look after number one or cooperate with the others against an unknown threat. Use equipment at hand, unlocked abilities, and environmental objects to outwit the monster and escape from his killing ground.

Sent into a procedurally-generated world, you’ll never know what to expect, what you’re facing, and how to get away. You will have to make stressful choices under desperate circumstances. Every decision impacts your chances of survival.

Killers aren’t limited to a single horror genre, and our roster will grow after launch. Master these monsters’ unique powers and exploit the knowledge of your “home” to track, hunt down, break, and sacrifice your victims before they get a chance to run to safety.

The asymmetry, procedural factors, and unique thinking of human minds make each Dead by Daylight match an unexpected scenario where the combined behavior of each player creates a truly terrifying and thrilling narrative.

Dead by Daylight characters have deep progressions and unlockables which can be customized into your own personal strategy. Use your experience, skills, and loadout to climb up the competitive ladder; and you might eventually discover the truth beyond the fog.

The post Dead by Daylight Launch Trailer Lurks in the Woods appeared first on Dread Central.

So much gets announced at E3 every year, it can be incredibly hard to keep up with everything. I had my moment of pure overload when it came to the PC Gaming Show this year. I was in attendance, so I saw all of the awesomeness first-hand. Even still, there were some announcements that slipped through the cracks of my brain somehow.

When fellow video game writer Ted Hentschke brought up The Surge to me, I had a moment of pure blankness. This moment I deeply regret.

The reason for that regret is of course because The Surge should have been damn near front and center in my mind! Remember Lords of the Fallen? The Deck13 guys? Yeah, they’re the team behind The Surge. We were treated to a teaser trailer of The Surge at the PC Gaming Show, and I’ve gotta say after watching it again a few more times, it’s pretty damn cool.

The Surge has a dark and gritty feel to it. It’s an action-RPG set on an Earth that is slowly dying. You’ll fight using an exo-suit, and according to the trailer, there will be some giant mechs to battle!

Past that, there’s honestly nothing that we presently know about The Surge. There’s a teaser site up online, and there are social medias to follow. But only the next few months will be able to tell us what The Surge is all about.

What did you think of the trailer? How about the paltry few screenshots we have to show? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments below!

The post E3 2016: The Surge Brings Exo-Suits, Giant Mechs, and Action… Oh My! appeared first on Dread Central.

Sony began its 2016 E3 press conference with a bang by announcing that one of the company’s biggest IP’s is making a comeback.

The latest God of War game (which appears to just be called God of War) abandons the series’ Greek roots in favor of Norse mythology, and it also seems to abandon the ultra fast-paced hack and slash combat that made the series famous in favor of a slightly slower and more realistic approach, although thankfully, the brutality is still intact. It’s even hard to watch at some points.

From what I gathered, it’s set some years after the last game, and Kratos is now a father. It’s strange to see someone who literally rips the eyeballs of Cyclopses out of their sockets and crushes people’s heads with his bare hands caring so deeply for the kid, so I guess that everyone has an affectionate side. Who knew, eh? The Ghost of Sparta is a big softie after all.

And, in true series style, the game looks absolutely beautiful. You could take a still from this game and hang it on your wall. I really cannot wait to see more. This could easily be the best game at E3 so far.

Oh, and did I mention that there are dragons?

The post E3 2016: New God of War Game Will Take Your Breath Away appeared first on Dread Central.

Yes, you read that title right. No, this is not a drill. Resident Evil 7 has been announced. It’s happening. It’s real. The biggest horror game series of all time is finally making a comeback. And don’t worry about having to wait years either, because we’ve got a release date: January 24, 2017.

Other than the creepy trailer below, we don’t know much about the game yet except that yes, it WILL include PlayStation VR support!

It also appears to be embracing the horror routes of the earlier games as opposed to the more action-oriented approach of the more recent titles. And that’s just the way we like it! Resident Evil VII, here we come!

Don’t want to wait until next year? Download the exclusive PlayStation Plus demo now!

The post E3 2016: Resident Evil 7 Announced with PlayStation VR Support appeared first on Dread Central.

Here’s a name you’re sure to have heard before, Killing Floor 2. We’ve got some brand new information on the game from the PC Gaming Show today in LA.  Killing Floor 2 is currently in early access but will release in full sometime this fall.

Killing Floor 2 will release on not only Steam for PC players, but also on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Let’s start this Killing Floor 2 fest off with our first bit of information. Live as of today, Killing Floor 2 has a brand new pack of stuff, dubbed the Bulls-Eye pack, available for players. This includes a bunch of new weapons, a new perk, and the chance to play as zombies! What’s not to like, right?! All of this extra content will be a part of the full release, but as we’ve said, it’s also available for players to enjoy right now.

Another surprising bit of news from Tripwire: This year they’ve teamed up with Oculus to bring the Killing Floor franchise to virtual reality fans.  Killing Floor: Incursion will be the series’ first venture into the realm of VR and is being developed to take advantage of the Oculus Touch. Take a look at the trailer, and feel the VR hype!

Last but not least in this kill-o-rama, Killing Floor 2 will be available for Steam users to try for free this Thursday through Monday. So boot up your PC and check it out!

What about this news excites you the most? Are you a Killing Floor 2 fan already? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments! And keep your peepers glued on Dread Central for more E3 news all week!

The post E3 2016: Tons of Bloody Good Killing Floor 2 Info appeared first on Dread Central.

There’s a new open-world zombie survival game on the docket, and it’s called Days Gone. During the Sony press conference today in LA, the self-proclaimed action-adventure game was announced.

Brought to us by Bend Studio, Days Gone takes place two years after a global pandemic that killed off nearly the entire world’s population. There are millions of other people that were not killed, but rather transformed into what Days Gone calls “Freakers.” The lucky humans who survived this pandemic must fight constantly to stay alive.

In Days Gone, players will take on the role of Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter that prefers to travel the road solo rather than settling somewhere “safer.” Back when the world was all still in one piece, Deacon was an outlaw biker. His criminal ways are treating him well in the land overrun by freakers, as he has skills that help keep him alive.

Today during the Sony press conference we were treated to the reveal of two different kinds of freakers, newts and a horde. Hordes are just like they sound, gigantic groups of zombies that roam as one unit. They’re made up of hundreds of individual freakers which eat, move, and attack together. Some of these hordes roam the highways at night, while still others choose to settle in one place if they have a steady food source. The other kind of freaker, newts, were actually adolescents when they were transformed. They’re much sneakier than the hordes, and prefer to dart in and out of the shadows to attack their prey.

Days Gone will take place in the Pacific Northwest. And it will have other traditional sandbox features to enjoy when you’re not mowing down freaker hordes. Unfortunately there’s no release date right now for Days Gone, but we do have the reveal trailer to share! Sony and PlayStation have announced that they will upload their Days Gone gameplay video in the next few days. Within the next few months, they’ll reveal even more about the new game.

Let us know in the comments section what you think of Days Gone! Are you excited to play as Deacon, biker badass extraordinaire? How creepy do you think it will be to fight off giant hordes of freakers? We’d love to know!

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