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OBSERVER: Pure Trippy Cyberpunk Horror

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Observer

If you say anything regarding cyberpunk, you have my attention. If you say something about Rutger Hauer in the same context as cyberpunk, you have my strict focus. I’m one of those kids that grew up with Philip K. Dick books on my shelf and a VHS collection that ran the gamut with tons of cyberpunk-centric films. From the more polished and widely praised BLADE RUNNER, to cult films like HARDWARE and FREEJACK. I was all about the cyberpunk aesthetic. So, when Bloober Team devs and Aspyr publishers released a game called OBSERVER, that is set in a cyberpunk world and stars Rutger Hauer, it quickly shot to one of my most anticipated games of the year and for great reason, you guys.

If you are like me, the Rutger Hauer and cyberpunk combo might be enough for you to immediately stop reading and go seek out this game. If combination of those things isn’t enough though, a look at the elements that go into this game damn well better.

In the not too distant future, humans have taken to upgrading their body with technological enhancements. At the height of that modification popularity, a digital plague called the necrophage spreads like wildfire. That plague sends humans into an intense war that leaves the Fifth Polish Republic as one of the last bastions of humanity. Still, most of the survivors have turned to drugs and virtual reality as a way of escape. You play as Daniel Lazarski, an Observer by trade. Lazarski’s certain set of skills includes hacking people’s minds with the assistance of a device called a Dream Eater. Observers are used to collect info during tough interrogations and can even grab info that you may have forgotten.

When a scrambled communique comes through from Lazarski’s estranged son asking for help. Lazarski rushes off to a dilapidated tenement to find out what kind of trouble his son was in. Upon arrival, he discovers a headless corpse moments before the tenement goes into lockdown. He is then tasked with finding his son and uncovering the reasons behind the tenement lockdown.

The aesthetics of this game are uniquely derived from a cyberpunk world. Neon’s litter a dark and polluted city. Everything is covered in sheen from the never-ending downpour of rain. The people that inhabit this world are isolationist, and have mostly lost their minds, making every encounter something that borders on the bizarre, the disturbing and even the hilarious. OBSERVER creates an immersive and claustrophobic world that rewards you with tonality and a creeping feeling of dread.

I’ve been telling everyone that this would be what would have happened if David Lynch had directed BLADE RUNNER. Dialogue is delivered in strange dreamlike cadence making everything feel slightly off. The game is heady and has roots dipped in horror. Using your Dream Eater to infiltrated someone’s mind takes you to the landscape of a very bad LSD trip, where someone’s psyche is revealed through different visions you venture through. As you traverse these mind fields, that subjects story is unraveled through your play through. You are able to find out who that person was and what lead them to the moment you find them in. Ultimately, Lazarski, uses the device to collect info but there are times he uses it to go further, each time he delves into someone’s mind, he comes out frazzled and disorientated, he has to self-administer drugs in order to keep from losing his mind or even death.

Visuals are represented extremely well. Without medication Lazarski’s vision becomes pixelated, as sound becomes distorted and muffled. The degradation of his sanity is something that messes with your head as a player. And that is just one of the many ways the game extends its trippy tendrils out to the player. Amazing care had to have been taken to create this world, the pixilation and distortion is straight out of some of our favorite cult cyberpunk films.

I was able to review OBSERVER on PS4 by a code that was provided. At times the game was unable to keep up with its own frame rate and choked a bit when I tried sprinting as opposed to walking. From what I last read the devs have ironed out some of that glitchiness in updates. Outside of that issue, the games mechanics are deeply embedded in simple puzzle solving and the investigation of different areas in order to gather clues. Lazarski is equipped with both Bio Vision and Electromagnetic Vision. These two scan abilities help to explore crime scenes more precisely. Once an area is scanned other areas of the tenement will open up as your objectives are updated to take your further down the rabbit hole.

Like I mentioned before, Rutger Hauer voices and lends likeness to Daniel Lazarski. At different moments in the game mirrors will remind you that you are indeed playing as Mr. BLIND FURY himself. Knowing and being reminded of that, constantly reinvigorates the cinematic feeling that this game is full of. The devs also wink at the audience a bit. Throughout there are moments that pay homage to BLADE RUNNER. Rather its pigeons flying about or a constant cascade of rain, you will feel yourself called back to his portrayal of his role as a replicant crying (or not crying) in the rain. Hauer, has strange vocal ques at times and comes off as a bit of a grump. I’m not sure if this was an issue they had with him during production but it definitely lends itself to his grizzled, grumpy character. You can get the sense that he would do one take and just announce that he was okay with just doing one. The happy accident of that possible scenario is that Hauer’s cadence fits the strangeness of the game.

You come to OBSERVER for its cinematic experience. Not so much for what it does better than other first-person games as far as gameplay goes. While gameplay does sail along and each dive into someone’s subconscious is exciting eye candy, there are moments, albeit not many, where things can feel like a chore. There is a “creature” that you have to hide from at certain points that took me out of the game experience momentarily, the interaction between said creature and Lazarski didn’t feel scary or organic. It was something I couldn’t wait to get through to further the story. Thankfully, OBSERVER knows what kind of game it is and moments like those are very scarce. It tells a satisfying and embodied story, that connects from its beginning to its cliffhanger ending. The strange side missions and characters assist the game in its singular take on traditional cyberpunk and, once you see the whole picture, you can see a neon lit, smog filled cyberkpunk game deserving of praises.

OBSERVER is out now on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

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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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