Starring Ivory Stone, John Hart, Joe De Sue

Directed by William A. Levey

Distributed by Severin Films

After the deserving success of Blacula (1972), the only surprise to filmgoers should have been that more Universal classic monsters weren’t “blackified” to ride those cash coattails. Where was “The Invisible Black Man”? That’s a premise just begging for institutional racism jokes. Aside from one other notable title, Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde (1975), no more minority monster features were produced save for one, Blackenstein (1973) – which, as the opening credits point out in Captain Obvious fashion, is short for “The Black Frankenstein”… which is also a bit incorrect since the scientist here is white, and named Dr. Stein, so “The Black Dr. Stein’s Monster” would have been more accurate. But forgive my pedantic digression. Combining elements of the still-fresh wounds of Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, and madcap science, Blackenstein is actually halfway (OK, quarterway) decent in spite of the amateurish production, across the board bad acting, and wildly inconsistent stock score.

Physicist Winifred Walker (Ivory Stone) pays a visit to her former mentor, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for “solving the DNA genetic code”, Dr. Stein (John Hart), on behalf of her boyfriend, Eddie (Joe De Sue). Back in Vietnam, Eddie stepped on a landmine and lost his arms and legs (despite the framing of some shots showing viewers otherwise…) and Winifred is hoping Dr. Stein’s radical new treatments may be able to help her doormat-with-a-brain boyfriend live out a normal life. A tour of Dr. Stein’s lavish castle home is where he shows off his success stories, like Eleanor (Andrea King), a ninety-year-old woman who doesn’t look a day over fifty, and Bruno (Nick Bolan), a man who had his lower legs re-attached thanks to “laser beam fusion”… although a problem with corrupted RNA caused one of his limbs to turn tiger-striped. Malcomb (Roosevelt Jackson), Dr. Stein’s assistant, takes a liking to Winifred but he turns sinister very quickly when she rebuffs his advances.

Dr. Stein receives Eddie’s permission to begin the procedure and within no time he has new limbs attached where his old ones once hung. But there’s a fly in the ointment: Malcomb, who sabotages the DNA solution with contaminated RNA, causing Eddie to devolve into a hulking brute with a diminished mental capacity. Eddie stumbles out of Dr. Stein’s castle and into town, where he first kills his old orderly, a nasty old white dude who got his rocks off tormenting Eddie during his stay in the hospital. Makes sense he’d want to ice the guy. Each night Eddie sets out to claim fresh victims, but he returns to the castle in time for his morning injections of DNA solution. Dr. Stein is none the wiser, assuming Eddie is just another patient recovering in gallery of success stories. Eventually the cops deduce the killer must be linked to Dr. Stein – because of logistics – and before long Eddie’s secret is revealed and his anger sends him on a frenzy of dismemberment and death.

The first time I saw Blackenstein was at a friend’s apartment in Brooklyn around 2004. As bad as the film looked on the shelves, the sole reason it was rented is because my friend’s mother, Dale E. Bach, plays the blonde in a dune buggy that gets her throat torn out. Getting to that point, which is near the end of the film, was an endurance test I failed. Pretty sure I was woken up when the scene finally occurred because my recollection of everything preceding it is foggy. Although that just as easily could have been all the weed we were smoking, which is an enjoyment factor I’m going to suggest because Blackenstein works best when viewers can lose themselves in the haze of sheer absurdity. The film never embraces one genre, jumping between horror, blaxploitation, comedy, and drama; taking viewers on a slow, strange trip that will leave brains as melted as Eddie’s.

As easy as it might be to rag on the film there are some appreciable touches throughout that prevent director William A. Levey’s film from being complete trash. Racism is present and dealt with in gruesome fashion, providing some potential catharsis for viewers. Dr. Stein is presented as altruistic and not quite the mad doctor of James Whale’s 1931 feature. Seeing some of Dr. Stein’s experiments harkened back to Dr. Pretorius’ work in Bride of Frankenstein (1935), albeit far less weird than tiny people on jars. In fact, some of the laboratory equipment seen here was used in the original Frankenstein. Cinematographer Robert Caramico pulls off a handful of inventive shots that add some production value to the picture, too. All of these positives may still not outweigh the campiness, bad acting, questionable FX, and poor editing but I can honestly say even if Blackenstein isn’t a great time at the movies it is, at the very least, a fun one.

There are two cuts of the film included here: the 78-minute theatrical release and an 87-minute home video version. Additions made to the home video release have survived via 1” tape and, as a helpful text card from Severin that precedes the film explains, the scenes added in are of rough quality and do not match the look of the theatrical cut. They also slow the film to a Frankenstein-like crawl, padding out scenes and causing the feature to drag on with needless chatter and useless exposition. Mostly. A few of the extra beats add some value to the film but overall, for this movie, you’re better off sticking with the tighter cut.

The 1.78:1 1080p image does, as explained above, vary wildly depending on which version is chosen. The theatrical cut is the most consistent, with stable colors, moderate fine detail in close-ups, and a heavy but fitting grain structure. Black levels are very dark – almost too much so because detail is easily obscured under the cloak of night. You can barely make out Blackenstein as he stalks the L.A. streets. There are no notes as to the restoration that took place for this release though it is clear Severin has put forth some effort into polishing this turd. The home video release inserts are very rough and look akin to VHS more than anything. This is not a massive effort to restore a longer cut, a la Scream Factory’s Nightbreed (1990); think of it more like Scream Factory’s The Exorcist III (1990) director’s cut. Its inclusion is a very nice addition by Severin, though unless you are a hardcore fan the better-looking theatrical cut should suffice.

Audio fares a bit better with an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track on both versions. Dialogue often comes through clear and with few audible issues, although the clear ADR work does stand out a bit, too. The soulful soundtrack, or at least the few moments of soul, ground the picture firmly in its intended genre, while the library source cues sound cobbled together with little regard for their flow within the feature. Dialogue and score take a quality dip on the home video version, being sourced from a rough tape and all. There is no set-up menu but some toggling of the audio button will reveal an English Dolby Digital 2.0 track with English subtitles.

“Monster Kid – Interview with Writer/Producer Frank R. Saletri’s Sister, June Kirk” – The life of Saletri was an interesting one, but not so much as his death, a murder that is still unsolved to this day. Here, his sister fondly remembers her brother and speaks at length about his life.

“Archive News Broadcast on the Murder of Frank R. Saletri” is a fascinating 1982 piece that looks at the murder of Saletri and subsequent investigation. And man, compared to today’s “journalism” this piece is award winning. Very informative.

“Producers/Directors/Actors Ken Osbourne & Robert Dix Remember Frank R. Saletri” features a couple of the late producers colleagues, in two separate interviews, talking about their friend and his work.

“Bill Created Blackenstein – Interview with Creature Designer Bill Munns” is a phoned-in discussion with the film’s FX artist, featuring behind-the-scenes photos as he talks at length about his work.

A theatrical trailer is also included.

Special Features:

• Theatrical Release Version (78 Mins.) and Video Release Version (87 Mins.)
• Monster Kid: Interview with Writer / Producer Frank R. Saletri’s Sister, June Kirk
• Archive News Broadcast On The Murder Of Writer / Producer Frank R. Saletri
• Producers / Directors / Actors Ken Osborne And Robert Dix Remember Writer / Producer Frank R. Saletri
• Bill Created Blackenstein: Interview With Creature Designer Bill Munns
• Original Theatrical Trailer

BUY IT NOW!

The post Blackenstein (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Pat Mills, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison

Directed by Paul Goodwin

Distributed by Severin Films

Despite being an avid comic book collector in my youth, I won’t even begin to pretend to be any sort of expert on the field. Even back then, my interests veered toward horror & sci-fi titles, anything esoteric, with little consideration for the mainstream offerings. It was less about being a contrarian than simply a feeling of being overwhelmed; by then, in the mid-90s, top sellers like “X-Men” and “Spider-Man” had a seemingly endless number of issues, spin-offs, one-offs, etc. Getting up to speed, frankly, would’ve been exhausting. Point being, my focus was a bit myopic. “2000 AD” is a title that was on my radar, mainly because I’d often spy a sweet cover or two while browsing, but it was never on my purchase list. Judge Dredd always seemed like a badass character but my introduction to him came via Sly Stallone’s much-maligned 1995 box office bomb. What I didn’t now was that the influence on “2000 AD” could be seen in so many places, within other comic books and feature films. The style and tone set forth by creative mastermind Pat Mills and his staff of alternative pioneers shaped a generation of comic books to come, all of which is acutely detailed in Future Shock! The Story of 2000 AD (2014).

As told via an array of interviews from the top talent behind “2000 AD” and those it inspired, this documentary begins with the state of in England during the ‘70s, which was in turmoil. Comic books had gotten boring and stale, with few innovators to capture the zeitgeist of conflict and rebellion. Enter Pat Mills, who helped usher in a ripper of a title, “Action!”, that would eventually be banned for its frank depictions of violence. Undeterred, Mills continued to pursue his dreams of creating a comic that championed the violence and subversion he felt was lacking, which eventually led to the creation of “2000 AD”. Mills, along with writers such as Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman discuss every step of the process that brought their vision to life. The creation of Judge Dredd, employing women and making a greater effort to write for them with titles like “Halo Jones”, the genius and unpredictability of Alan Moore, failed attempts to work with Hollywood, losing creative control, operating under DC, stagnation, rebirth, influence, and legacy.

This is an exhaustive documentary, covering nearly all the history behind “2000 AD”, which is both appreciable and laborious. Things kick off with a punk-rock explosion, with Mills and his cohorts tearing into the archaic establishment and scorching the comic book scene with their vivid portrayals of the brutality and sexuality readers were craving. This momentum isn’t kept up, though, and there is a clear drop-off in excitement as the film passes the halfway point. Maybe this was my reaction as a non-fan, as I have no personal connection to many of these creatives and their characters. But I also got a bit turned off by the hubris emanating from a few of the interviewees. I understand “2000 AD” was influential in its depictions of sci-fi and dystopian futures, but some of the parallels being drawn between what their comics had done and what others did in the feature film world seemed tenuous. Although I will concede RoboCop (1987) does share many similarities with Judge Dredd. Mills and his contemporaries did indeed start a comic revolution; how much of an effect it had on every facet of entertainment can be debated.

There aren’t a lot of pointed anecdotes included, either. The story of “2000 AD” is told in mostly broad strokes – understandable given the wealth of information to cover – but there is an awful lot of back-patting and redundant information being spewed out. One of the film’s highlights comes during the section covering their rebirth, when Mills and his “antiquated” ways were out and new editor David Bishop sent out a company-wide directive explaining how things were going to go from there on out. Mills is clearly still chuffed by Bishop’s handling of the reins, though it sounds like a change was needed at that time if the company was to be seen as innovative once more.

Serious aficionados of “2000 AD”, and perhaps comic books in general, should find the rise of this alternative brigade fascinating, while the casuals among viewers will likely appreciate the story but find themselves missing a deeper connection without knowing the material intimately.

Although this documentary covers a lengthy period of time, the bulk of the feature is comprised of contemporary interviews, shot using high-quality cameras, and as a result the 1.78:1 1080p image is clearly proficient. The picture is clean and well lit, with each interviewee perfectly framed and seated in an ideal location. Aside from some archival footage shown during the opening, this is the look of the entire film. No complaints.

In terms of audio, expect a similarly simple result out of the English LPCM 2.0 stereo track. This is a documentary filled with talking heads and little more. All of their words come through clean and clear with no problems. Segues between each segment are done with abrasive punk/metal blaring through the speakers, providing an audible jolt to an otherwise benign soundtrack.

The bonus features are plentiful and exhaustive here. “Extended Sequences” include “2000 AD vs. The U.S.A.”, “Dredd 2012 – True in Spirit”, “Judge Dredd Extended Sequence”, and “Cheap Entertainment – The Appeal of Comics”.

A number of “Production Extras” are included, featuring “Art Blast – Jock & Henry Flint”, “Blooper Reel”, “Pat Mills Visits Kings Reach Tower”, “Soundtrack – Behind-the-Scenes”, Festival Teaser Trailer”, and “U.K. Release Trailer”.

“Behind the Strips” goes into greater detail on a handful of titles, with “Bad Company – Peter Milligan”, “Future Shocks”, “Rogue Troops – Dave Gibbons & Cam Kennedy”, “Slaine – Pat Mills”, and “Strontium Dog – Carlos Ezquerra”.

Finally, there are “Extended Interviews” with Grant Morrison, Karen Berger, Pat Mills, Neil Gaiman, and Dave Gibbons.

Special Features:

Extended Sequences:

• 2000AD vs the USA
• Dredd 2012 – True In Spirit
• Judge Dredd Extended sequence
• Cheap Entertainment – The appeal of comics
• Behind the Strips
• Bad Company – Peter Milligan
• Future Shocks
• Rogue Trooper – Dave Gibbons & Cam Kennedy
• Slaine – Pat Mills
• Strontium Dog – Carlos Ezquerra

Production Extras:

• Art Blast – Jock & Henry Flint
• Blooper Reel
• Pat Mills Visits Kings Reach Tower
• Soundtrack – Behind the Scenes

Extended Interviews:

• Grant Morrison
• Karen Berger
• Pat Mills
• Neil Gaiman
• Dave Gibbons

Promotional Materials:

• UK Release Trailer
• Festival Teaser Trailer

BUY IT NOW!

The post Future Shock! The Story of 2000AD (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

A few days ahead of the event, Focus Home Interactive has released the E3 trailer for Vampyr online, and it sure doesn’t shy away from the bloodshed. Interestingly, the three-minute cinematic video seems to contain only one continuous shot, giving it the illusion of live-action footage filmed in a long take.

The trailer focuses on doctor-turned-vampire Jonathan Reid as he swoops through the streets of London, encountering a number of adversaries in the process. Although no in-game footage is shown, you probably already know what to expect in terms of gameplay if you played developer Dontknod’s Remember Me.

We learn from the video’s description that Vampyr will be released this November on PC and consoles. The game’s official website is now accepting pre-orders.

From the Press Release:
Fly through the streets as imagined by DONTNOD Entertainment in the bumper E3 trailer for their upcoming narrative-driven action-RPG Vampyr. Witness deep into the heart of a flu-stricken London, where secret societies operate in the shadows.

Accompanied by the rock song “Devil” by DA MARIA, set out on an exciting journey with an uncut sequence shot throughout the city’s dark alleys, deadly underground passages, and corrupt neighborhoods; and get a first glimpse at The Ascalon Club, a society formed from the richest vampires, unbeknownst to the mortals.

You are Dr. Jonathan Reid, a famous surgeon home from the Great War and recently turned into a vampire against your own will. As a doctor, you have taken an oath to save lives and take care of the sick. As a vampire, you are cursed to hunt those you vowed to heal.

To survive against deadly foes roaming the streets – vampire hunters, undead Skal, and other monstrosities – you will need to choose which civilians to feed on, so you can grow stronger and evolve your vampiric abilities. Use your unholy powers to manipulate and delve into the lives of those around you – but be prepared to live with the consequences of your actions. A web of interconnected citizens with unique lives and relationships react to your decisions, and killing just one may cause the downfall of an entire city district. Your actions will save or doom London.

Preorder now: http://www.vampyr-game.com/shop
Website: http://www.vampyr-game.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VampyrGame
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VampyrGame
Song: “Devil” by Ida Maria https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/katla/id440058625
Facebook page of Ida Maria: https://www.facebook.com/IdaMaria

The post E3 2017: Vampyr Cinematic Trailer Goes for the Throat appeared first on Dread Central.

Just before it hits consoles ion June 20, Dead by Daylight has received even more DLC in the form of the Headcase add-on, which lets you dress up the survivors in a variety of fashionable outfits. If you’re gonna be brutality murdered, you might as well look good while you’re doing it.

Dead by Daylight – Headcase
Summer is coming… or so they say. For in the eternal dusk of The Realm of the Entity, temperatures drop very fast as you wander the Fog pursued by cold-minded killers. Still, there’s no reason to drop your style. Even the most fashionable outfit isn’t complete without the perfect hairstyle or accessory. However as fabulous as you look, your stylish new looks are unlikely to protect you. Well-groomed survivors make for well-groomed corpses. After all, who wouldn’t want to look their best for this very special day?

Turn your favorite Survivor into a fashion victim with trendy hairstyles and accessories! The Headcase includes:

– For Dwight: The Preppy Flatcap and the Millennial Dwight
A beige cap fit for high class golf tournaments and deadly runs around the MacMillan Estate. A snazzy haircut or extremely powerful upward winds? Who knows!

– For Meg: The Tier III Braids and the Jogging Headband
Masterfully knotted braids, not for the feeble minds. A modern and stylish headband meant for autumn’s cold morning jogs.

– For Nea: The Night Out Nea and the Melonade
A bold makeup and duo-tone hairstyle that will leave no-one indifferent. A casual and comfortable yet affirming a strong and unique identity.

– For Ace: The White Panama and the Tomstache
A handsome hat for a handsome chap and a glorious mustache of unthinkable thickness.

– For Claudette: The Myopian Frohawk and the Colorful Headscarf
A warrior’s hairstyle to fight in the finals. A colorful scarf twisted and tied around a messy bun.

– For Jake: The Modern Explorer Beanie and the Jakebun
It’s not because you’re deep in the woods that you shouldn’t look good. Jake’s always been creatively laid back. Look at him transform a lazy haircut into a fabulous hairstyle.

The post Get Killed in Style With Dead by Daylight’s Headcase DLC appeared first on Dread Central.

When James Wan’s film The Conjuring premiered in 2013, it shined an intense and frightening spotlight on some of the real life events surrounding what has become known as the Perron haunting. For Episode 49 of Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio, we’ll be welcoming none other than one of the actual experiencers of said haunting, Andrea Perron.

How close did the film come to covering the actual events? Is reality scarier than fiction? How long will it be until Joe makes a penis reference? Join us this coming Wednesday, June 14th, at 8:00PM PT/11:00PM ET for all the shenanigans fit to be had!

It’s radio without a safety net, kids. It’s Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio.

Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio is available to subscribe to on iTunes. Not an iTunes user?  You can also listen right here on the site.

Spooky, funny, touching, honest, offensive, and at times completely random, Brainwaves airs live every Wednesday evening beginning at 8:00 PM Pacific Time (11:00 midnight Eastern Time) and runs about 3 hours per episode.

Knetter and Creepy will be taking your calls LIVE and unscreened via Skype, so let your freak flags fly! Feel free to add BrainWavesTalk to your Skype account so you can reach us, or call in from a landline or cellphone – 858 480 7789. The duo also take questions via Twitter; you can reach us at @BrainwavesRadio or @UncleCreepy, @JoeKnetter, or @MrDarkDC and @JonathanBarkan using the hashtag #BrainWaves.

Have a ghost story or a paranormal story but can’t call in? Feel free to email it to me directly at UncleCreepy@dreadcentral.com with “Brainwaves Story” in your subject line. You can now become a fan of the show via the official… BRAINWAVES FACEBOOK PAGE!

Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio is hosted live (with shows to be archived as they progress) right here on Dread Central. You can tune in and listen via the FREE TuneIn Radio app or listen to TuneIn right through the website!

For more information and to listen live independent of TuneIn, visit the Deep Talk Radio Network website, “like” Deep Talk Radio on Facebook, and follow Deep Talk Radio on Twitter. And don’t forget to subscribe to Brainwaves on iTunes.

The post #Brainwaves Episode 49 Guest Announcement: Andrea Perron and the REAL Story Behind The Conjuring appeared first on Dread Central.

We have some sad news to share today as word has just arrived that Adam West, star of the classic 1960’s “Batman” TV series, has passed away at the age of 88.  According to a family spokesperson, West died Friday night, June 9th, in Los Angeles after a short battle with leukemia.

Per THR, West died peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Marcelle; six children; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

“Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero,” his family said in a statement.

Although he’s now much beloved by fans for his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the caped crusader, after the series ended, West struggled to find work. “The people who were hiring, the people who were running the studios, running the shows, were dinosaurs,” the actor said in the 2013 documentary Starring Adam West. “They thought Batman was a big accident, that there was no real creative thought, expertise, or art behind it. They were wrong.”

His fortunes changed when he accepted an offer to voice the mayor of Quahog (named Adam West) on Seth MacFarlane’s long-running Fox animated hit “Family Guy,” thereby finding a whole new audience to appreciate his talents.

When “Batman” was canceled, “The only thing I thought is that it would be the end of me, and it was for a bit,” he told an audience at Comic-Con in 2014. “But then I realized … we created this zany, lovable world. I look around, and I see the adults — I see you grew up with me, and you believe in the adventure. I never believed this would happen, that I would be up here with illustrious people like yourselves. I’m so grateful! I’m the luckiest actor in the world, folks, to have you still hanging around.”

Adam graced the horror genre with his presence numerous times over his career, appearing in such iconic shows as “Tales from the Crypt,” “Night Gallery,” “Goosebumps,” and “The Outer Limits”; and on the big screen he was seen in Zombie Nightmare, One Dark Night, An American Vampire Story, and Seance.

We here at Dread Central send Adam’s family members and friends our deepest condolences. Thanks for the memories, sir… we’ll see you in the Bat Cave!

The post Rest in Peace: Adam West; Small-Screen Batman Dies at Age 88 appeared first on Dread Central.

Yesterday, I posted a question on my Twitter where I asked my followers to quote reply me with their favorite horror performance. Little did I know that I would be inundated with responses for hours upon hours from people I’d never interacted with before. It was a flurry of horror love, a time for fans to show their appreciation to the actors and actresses that fill them with terror, passion, and emotion.

To let the responses simply fade away into Twitter history seems like such a waste, so I’ve gathered several responses that I want to share with you here. Then, after you see what people are writing, I ask that you leave a comment below with your own answer. Let’s share our love of the incredible performances that keep us returning to horror!

The post Here Are Some of Your Favorite Horror Performances appeared first on Dread Central.

For the most part, I give the EA E3 press conference a pass. Generally dominated by sports games and the next installment of some shooter franchise, it’s been a few years since the company really got me excited. I always keep an ear out and some fingers crossed for the revival of Dead Space, but instead I got something a bit different. Right after an impressive trailer for a new co-op game A Way Out, we got a brief look into a new Bioware title, “Anthem.” Check it out:

What makes <i>Anthem</i>’s announcement interesting is that it tail-ended a speech about the evolving technology in games and EA’s “SEED” division. Hinting at new tech that would change the face of gaming, there was an overt focus on Microsoft’s “Project Scorpio.” If you’re out of the loop, Scorpio is a new piece of tech coming from Microsoft that is supposed to be the next step for the Xbox lineup. Originally marketed as a PS4 Pro style resolution and processing upgrade, rumors abound that this might be a whole new console. We’ll learn more tomorrow, so check out the Microsoft E3 show tomorrow at 2 pm PDT, or check back here for my report.

The post EA Announces New Bioware Title Anthem at E3 Press Conference appeared first on Dread Central.

Because the world can never have enough zombie games, a new trailer was showcased for State of Decay 2 at Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Developed by Undead Labs and published by Microsoft, State of Decay 2 will be released on PC and Xbox One next spring.

State of Decay 2 – E3 2017 – 4K Trailer
Xbox One and Windows 10 Exclusive. 18 months after the zombie apocalypse, the military abandons a refugee camp in small-town America. Those left behind must band together to survive the fall of civilization and the rise of the undead. In State of Decay 2, it’s up to you to gather survivors, build a community, and redefine what it means to survive.

How will you survive?
Official gameplay trailer for State of Decay 2. Coming spring 2018. Visit xbox.com/games/state-of-decay-2 for more information. State of Decay 2 is a 4K UHD, HDR, Xbox One X Enhanced, Xbox Play Anywhere title.

The post E3 2017: State of Decay 2 Redefines What It Means to Survive appeared first on Dread Central.

With the official June 13th start of E3 just around the corner, publisher 505 Games has released the event’s trailer for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night in addition to a decent amount of gameplay footage.

Bloodstained serves as a spiritual successor to the Castlevania franchise, with longtime series producer Koji Igarashi on board. It raised an incredible $5,545,991 on Kickstarter, although we still don’t have news of a release date. True to its name, the new gameplay footage shows off a decent amount of the blood of the game’s enemy-staining environments, in addition to giving us a look at both the boss fights and the RPG-style inventory system.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will be released on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and PC sometime next year. The planned Wii U version has been cancelled, although it will now be coming to the Nintendo Switch.

The post E3 2017: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Footage Continues to Impress appeared first on Dread Central.

The fact that the next installment in the Assassin’s Creed series would head to Egypt had been leaked about a million times, so the official reveal of Assassin’s Creed Origins at the Microsoft E3 press conference didn’t exactly surprise anyone.

In terms of chronologically, this is the furthest back the series has ever gone, making it a prequel in every sense of the word. The new protagonist will go by the name Bayek, with the plot finding him returning to his hometown to assassinate a fake oracle called Medunamun. It looks like your primary weapon will be a Khopesh (an ancient Egyptian curved-sword), and the fact that we see a dude having his internal organs being removed at 0:32 in the first video below in order for his corpse to be mummified indicates that Origins will not shirk away from the more horrific aspects of life at the time.

Assassin’s Creed Origins will be released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on October 27. During the conference, we were treated to a trailer, gameplay footage, and a behind-the-scenes video, all of which can be viewed below.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: E3 2017 Official World Premiere Gameplay Trailer | Ubisoft [US]
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Assassin’s Creed Origins, as UbiBlog’s Chris Watters sits down with different members of the development team to discuss its new setting, combat, and the origins of the Brotherhood. Available October 27.

Available for pre-order now.

#AssassinsCreed
https://AssassinsCreed.com
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ABOUT Assassin’s Creed Origins :
Journey into Ancient Egypt, the most mysterious place in history, during a crucial period that will shape the world. Discover the secrets behind the Great Pyramids, forgotten myths, the last pharaohs, and – engraved in long-lost hieroglyphics – the origin story of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

For the last four years, the team behind the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag® has been focused on crafting a new beginning for the franchise. Fight in a completely new way where you transition seamlessly between unique ranged and melee weapons, and take on multiple enemies at once. Choose your Assassin skills while exploring the full country of Ancient Egypt, engaging in multiple quests and gripping stories along a journey that will change civilization.

FEATURES:
Experience the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt – Uncover lost tombs, explore the Great Pyramids, and discover the secrets of mummies, the gods, and the last pharaohs.

An Origin Story – Start here, at the very beginning, with the never-before-told origin story of Assassin’s Creed. You are Bayek, protector of Egypt, whose personal story will lead to the creation of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

Embrace Action-RPG – Experience a completely new way to fight as you loot and use a variety of weapons with different characteristics and rarities. Enjoy deep RPG progression mechanics, choose your preferred abilities, and challenge your skills against unique and powerful bosses.

Each Quest is a Memorable Adventure – Pick and tackle quests at your own pace: each of them tells an intense and emotional story full of colorful characters and meaningful objectives.

Explore a Full Country – From deserts to lush oases, from the Mediterranean Sea to the tombs of Giza, fight your way against dangerous factions and wild beasts as you explore this gigantic and unpredictable land.

The post E3 2017: Assassin’s Creed Origins Heads to Ancient Egypt appeared first on Dread Central.

A new video that goes into Oats Studios, the home of District 9 and Chappie director Neill Blomkamp, has been released and can be seen below. We’re introduced to various people who work at the studio as well as given a chance to see scenes and images from upcoming shorts. It’s a cool chance to see how a studio operates behind-the-scenes, behind all the production and sets.

Oats Studios will be releasing short films for purchase through Steam. Additionally, Blomkamp has stated that the shorts will come with the option of getting extra files that will allow users to play around with models, 3D print designs to make their own toys, and more. Now all we have to do is wait to see what the films will be like!

The post Go Behind-the-Scenes Into Neill Blomkamp’s Oats Studios appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by Zoetrope Interactive

Published by Iceberg Interactive

Available on PC

Rated E for Everyone

You know the problem with depicting mind shattering eldritch horrors from beyond the grasp of human knowledge? They are always the manufacturings of human knowledge. You know, the exact thing they are supposed to be beyond the grasp of. This is the category that all things Lovecraft always fall into for me. I enjoyed the bizarre shooter Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth for treading this fine line and introducing innovative and interesting mechanics for a shooter of the time. But the moment I beat Dagon by shooting a cannon in his face a few times… the otherworldly horrors lost their mojo.

Reality folding in on itself is only so spooky when it makes a nice little walkway for me.

The whole appeal of Lovecraft is to pique the corners of your imagination. Knowledge meant to be unknown is just that. As soon as you try to put it in words, it either A) makes your head explode, or B) lets you down. Column B is the sad reality for most Lovecraft inspired games. There’s a certain level of vague you can be with books that just doesn’t exist in an interactive medium. No matter how grotesque in description, there is only so scared I can be when the shambling horrors are foiled by hiding behind a barrel.

Good thing it also gives you plenty to read!

So I roundly applaud Conarium for being an adult and just doing away with this for a majority of the game. Many recent horror games try to straddle the line between hide-and-seek simulator and walking simulator, but Conarium is truly best described as a puzzle game. And no, not one of those, “Listen to all of the prompted dialogues and continue” affairs. The puzzles in Conarium are tough, and I only found 3/7 of the secret areas in two playthroughs. It’s a phenomenal amount of challenge for any first person game that isn’t Portal.

Although it does do that bullshit static effect to mask the fact that tentacles just aren’t really that creepy

In Conarium, you play as Frank Gilman, a… person, with… powers? You wake up in an arctic base alone, unaware of how you got there or the nature of the glowing device attached to your hand. As you go about the facility and open up new rooms and text logs, you find out that your purpose here is far from normal. It’s basically impossible to describe without spoilers. Or even with spoilers. Conarium takes the darkly whimsical aspect of Lovecraft to full effect, pushing the limits of logic almost to their breaking point. For any Lovecraft fans, it will be a pleasantly familiar path through the grey area of sanity. For anyone else, it is confusing. Even spelled out to you, this game will not make sense. If you want some kind of clear picture. be prepared to play through a few times.

Why does this dude have a talking head in his office? Uh… elder gods?

The puzzles in the game are sufficiently complex without being hindered by commonly cumbersome mechanics. There were a few times where I had to backtrack to while figuring out a difficult puzzle, and was wondering if I might get ticketed by the fun police for how fast I was zipping around. Pay attention, because this is how you do sprint speed, puzzle games! I’m sick of your weak limping through levels. What’s best is that the puzzles can be legitimately challenging without descending into the level of bullshit. Throughout the entire game, I never spent more than 30 minutes on a puzzle, and felt satisfied in my cleverness after each.

Though you’d think an ancient advanced civilization would think of an easier way to open a door than inserting a crystal into a star map to make glyph that you draw into some black goo…

Conarium is exactly what I want when I boot up a horror game without shotgun decapitations. Minimal bullshitm, maximum intrigue. it delivers on the promise of Lovecraft by keeping things vague. The game is at its weakest when trying to visually depict the monstrous nightmares beyond our realm of comprehension. But it does so so infrequently, that most of the otherworldly machinations are left up to your own design. If you want a great puzzle/adventure game with good payoff, definitely give Conarium a look. For Lovecraft fans looking for an experience beyond, “OMG look how creepy that squidface is,” Conarium is a must. It’s a truly cerebral experience that should please any horror fan.

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If you have yet to play Metro: 2033 or its sequel Metro: Last Light, you’d better get stuck into both of them right away. Because they’re two of the finest games the survival horror genre has to offer, which is why the announcement of a third installment in the series during Microsoft’s E3 press conference was all the more welcome.

Developer 4A Games will return for Metro Exodus, which will once again take place in the post-apocalyptic Russian wasteland created by writer Dmitry Glukhovsky and inhabited by mutants and monsters. Unlike the previous installments, Exodus will be set in an open-world environment, with the plot spanning an entire year. And whilst the world in which it exists may be ugly and horrendous, the game itself certainly isn’t, with some of the most crisp 4K visuals we’ve seen on the Xbox One to date. It will also arrive on PS4 and PC next year.

Metro Exodus – E3 2017 Announce Gameplay Trailer [US]
Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created.

Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet.

Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.

Metro Exodus will be departing 2018 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC!

Song: ‘In The House In A Heartbeat (Exodus Mix)’, Written & Composed by John Murphy, Cover by Feel For Music, Published by Sony ATV. If you’d like to see this track released, let us know in the comments!

Web: http://www.MetroTheGame.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MetroVideoGame
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MetroVideoGame
Instagram: http://instagram.com/MetroVideoGame

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Man, I’m still recovering from how awesome the Microsoft E3 2017 was. I haven’t been a fan of the show in the past, but this year they delivered up exclusive after exclusive of gaming goodness. While we were all in awe of just how pretty things looked on the newly revealed Xbox One X, it’s the unique artistic style of Ashen that truly caught my eye.

With faceless characters and a rounded visual style reminiscent of a watercolor, the muted tone and horrifying specters are evocative of the dark oppression of the Dark Souls franchise. Unlike the solitary Souls games, Ashen isn’t about exploring these desolate and unforgiving lands alone. Forging alliances with other players, only together can you overcome the dark and find the light. From what we saw, I can already see dozens of hours of my life being spent. Check it out:

Ashen on Xbox One – 4K Trailer:
Xbox One console launch exclusive. Ashen is an action role-playing game is about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. There is no sun, and the only natural light comes from eruptions that cover the land in ash. This is a world where nothing lasts, no matter how tightly you cling to it. At its core, Ashen is about forging relationships. Players can guide those they trust to their camp — together, you might just stand a chance.

A release date for Ashen has yet to be announced, but will be released exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10.

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Following its official reveal, we’ve now been treated to lengthy gameplay video of BioWare’s Anthem at E3, which gives us a look at the vast open-world of the sci-fi adventure. Though first revealed at the Xbox E3 Briefing for the Xbox One X, Anthem is slated to release also on PC and PS4 in the Fall of 2018.

Anthem Official Gameplay Reveal
In Anthem™, a new shared-world action-RPG from EA’s BioWare studio, team up with friends as Freelancers—the bold few with the courage to leave civilization behind and explore a landscape of primeval beauty.

Wield an arsenal of Javelin exosuits, each equipped with unique weapons and abilities. Band together with friends, confront the dangers you find, and grow in power with every step.

Discover more: http://x.ea.com/32090

The post E3 2017: Anthem Looks like Iron Man Meets Mass Effect appeared first on Dread Central.

The low quantity of Xbox exclusive games has often been a point of contention for Microsoft over the years, so fans should be pleased to see one of the few Xbox-only franchises making a comeback. I’m talking about Crackdown 3, which is set to be released on November 7. Terry Crews stars as Commander Jaxon in the E3 trailer below.

Crackdown 3 – E3 2017 – Official 4K Trailer
Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusive. CRACKDOWN 3 OFFICIAL E3 2017 TRAILER. Step up your BOOM! Suit up and throw down as a superpowered agent on a mission to take back the city. Terry Crews as Commander Jaxon wants you to join in on the open world mayhem, dropping November 7, 2017.

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If you’re a PC gamer or have a favorite Twitch streamer, chances are you’ve already played plenty battle royale survival games. There are a ton out there, ranging from massive open worlds like H1Z1 and DayZ to more contained affairs like The Culling. For the past few months, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has slowly risen to the top, evolving with community help into the master of the genre. And in late 2017, Xbox One gamers will be able to experience the 100 player survival deathmatch as well.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds on Xbox One – 4K Trailer:
Xbox One console launch exclusive. PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is a tactical, last-man-standing shooter being developed with community feedback where players must fight to locate weapons and supplies in a massive 8×8 km island to be the lone survivor. Not Just a Game. This is BATTLE ROYALE.

But the news that Battlegrounds would be coming to Xbox One wasn’t the only battle royale news Microsoft had up their sleeve. Soon after, we got the world reveal for The Darwin Project from Scavengers Studio. Don’t let the cartoonish looks fool you, this looks to be just as brutal as the most cutthroat survival deathmatches. The official word at this point is that it will launch in Spring 2018 on Xbox One and PC, with no word yet on other consoles.

The Darwin Project on Xbox One and Windows 10 – 4K Trailer:
The Darwin Project is reinventing the battle royale sub-genre. It challenges players to survive the cold and fight to the death in a treacherous, snow-covered arena. In the Darwin Project the environment is as dangerous as the players themselves.

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It won’t be easy for me to talk about Sea of Thieves without tearing up a little bit. That’s because Rare had such a huge impact on my childhood that the second I look at anything created by them, I start to feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. They’re the folks behind masterpieces such as Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and my personal favorite, Conker’s Bad Fur Day.

And while I’ll never forgive the developer for abandoning Nintendo and allowing themselves to be purchased by Microsoft, I still have to admit that Sea of Thieves is looking like one hell of a return to form. I always felt that Microsoft undervalued Rare and designated them to making low-key titles like Grabbed by the Ghoulies and Viva Piñata. Sea of Thieves will be their first big story driven adventure in quite some time, and I couldn’t be happier for it.

Nine minutes of gameplay from the open-world pirate adventure were showcased at E3, showing us everything from navel combat to swashbuckling with undead skeleton warriors. We’ll know for sure if Sea of Thieves really does end up being the return to form from Rare that we’ve all been waiting for when it sails onto PC and Xbox One next year.

Sea of Thieves – E3 2017 – 4K Gameplay Walkthrough
Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusive. Shipwrecks and skirmishes, skeletons and storms: join us on this voyage across the Sea of Thieves for a taste of the treasure hunting adventures that lie ahead!

For a chance to play in the Sea of Thieves Technical Alpha, give feedback and help steer the course of Rare’s exhilarating shared world game, sign up for the Insider Programme now: seaofthieves.com/insider

Official gameplay walkthrough for Sea of Thieves. Coming early 2018. Sea of Thieves is a 4K UHD, HDR, Xbox One X Enhanced, Xbox Play Anywhere title.

The post E3 2017: It’s A Pirate’s Life In Sea Of Thieves Gameplay Footage appeared first on Dread Central.

We won’t be getting anymore Lord of the Rings movies anytime soon, but Monolith Productions’ Middle-earth: Shadow of War should help to keep the franchise alive for the time being. The new footage shown at E3 shows us how they’ve expanded the acclaimed Nemesis System from 2014’s Shadow of Mordor, with a great focus on RPG elements. Troy Baker will reprise his role as the Ranger Captain Talion, the combat once again looks as brutal as ever.

As much as I loved the first game, I found the open-world aspect to be severly lacking, but from what we’ve seen so far Shadow of War will also be greatly improved in that particular area. I want to explore the land of Middle-earth, goddamit!

Originally set to be released in August, Middle-earth: Shadow of War will now arrive on October 10, 2017 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC courtesy of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Official Shadow of War Story Trailer | 4K
Forge your army. Become the Bright Lord. Watch the official story trailer for Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

Pre-order now: http://www.shadowofwar.com

Available beginning October 10, 2017 on Xbox One, Project Scorpio, Windows 10 PC (Windows Store and Steam), PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®4 Pro.

ABOUT THE GAME
Middle-earth: Shadow of War™ is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor™, winner of more than 50 industry awards—including the 2015 Game Developers Choice Awards’ Game of the Year, Outstanding Innovation in Gaming at the 2015 D.I.C.E. Awards and the BAFTA for Game Design. Developed by Monolith Productions, Middle-earth: Shadow of War features an original story with the return of Talion and Celebrimbor, who must go behind enemy lines to forge an army and turn all of Mordor against the Dark Lord, Sauron.

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