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PLAYMIND’s ‘The Inner Friend’ is a Fantastic, Internalized Game of Horrors

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A broken, terrified man writhes on a filthy bed. He twists and turns and utters garbled cries of apparent mental anguish. The form of a childlike, not quite whole spirit approaches and stares down into the fiery glowing place where the man’s face should be and finds himself falling into his unconscious, damaged mind.

This is the genuinely chilling beginning of PLAYMIND’s brand new release, The Inner Friend, making it’s debut today on PC with the promise of a console release next year.

From the official synopsis:

Dive into an eerie subconscious universe to face childhood fears and nightmares in order to restore peace to the distressed mind. Led by a mysterious Shadow, players will collect memories while they journey always deeper through the subconscious, unraveling a rich but wordless story and eluding gruesome beings.

My first impression of the game was how gorgeous and surreal developer Emmanuel Sevigny’s world really is.

In order to access the deeper portions of the subconscious mind, you must take a leap of faith of sorts. Abandoning the safe space of a child’s bedroom inside the character’s mind, you leap into a void falling down and down until you reach the floating buildings below. Inside some, there are portals, and through those portals you will find the pieces needed to rebuild a broken mind.

Looking over a wasteland inside the mind in The Inner Friend from PLAYMIND

It’s a clever device that works to the game’s advantage, reminding us quickly that nothing is quite as it appears, but that’s really only the beginning.

The pieces you need aren’t easy to find, you see, and there are a whole host of genuinely creepy beings and scenes to work through in order to obtain them. A hallway that leads from one room to the next may go somewhere else entirely when you take it again. An object or character that is seemingly harmless, may be the most deadly you’ve faced.

The creative team left no stone un-turned in building their world, providing as much for the ears as for the eyes. The ambient sounds, intensified because I was using my headphones no less, constantly warn of horrors in your periphery while the heavily synthesized 80s-inspired soundtrack–with gentle nods to Netflix’s “Stranger Things”– keeps you constantly moving.

The more deeply you move into the subconscious, the more terrifying and challenging the game becomes, of course, echoing the idea that those things we bury deepest are the ones that hurt us most, and it serves as a reminder that healing can be almost as painful as the trauma that created one’s wounds.

Taking a step back to look at the big picture, however, sheds light on the question that is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the game.

How much does a human being have to go through for their mind to shatter so completely?

Game play in The Inner Friend is fairly straightforward and easy to master with simple controls. You’re often required to make lightning fast decisions on the fly, however, in order to solve the challenges of each level so be prepared to use your brain and also to pay the piper when your choice is the wrong one.

The Inner Friend is available September 6, 2018 on Steam, and at only $14.99 it’s a really great deal. Check out the trailer below, and prepare yourself to enter this amazing world.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Hugh Jackman & Jodie Comer Team Up for a New Dark Robin Hood Adaptation

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A report from Deadline details director Michal Sarnoski’s (A Quiet Place: Day One) newest project, The Death of Robin Hood. The film is set to feature Hugh Jackman (Logan) and Jodie Comer (The End We Start From).

Michael Sarnoski will write and direct the new Robin Hood adaptation. Jackman will be reunited with Aaron Ryder (The Prestige), who is producing the film. The Death of Robin Hood is expected to be a hot item at the upcoming Cannes film market.

Hugh Jackman, The Death of Robin Hood
Hugh Jackman

Deadline describes the films as the following. “The film is a darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale. Set of its time, the film will see the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman, who offers him a chance at salvation.”

Lyrical Media will be financing the film. Alexander Black will produce the film alongside Ryder and Andrew Sweet. Black gave Deadline the following information about the project. “We are thrilled to be part of this very special project and to be working with a visionary director in Michael, a phenomenal cast in Hugh and Jodie, and producing with our frequent collaborators, Ryder and Swett at RPC.”

“This is not the story of Robin Hood we’ve all come to know,” Ryder and Swett stated to Deadline “Instead, Michael has crafted something far more grounded and visceral. Thanks to Alexander Black and our friends at Lyrical along with Rama and Michael, the world is going to love seeing Hugh and Jodie together in this epic.”

Jodie Comer

Sarnoski seems to be excited by the project as well. He offered Deadline the following information about the film.

“It has been an incredible opportunity to reinvent and freshly innovate the story we all know of Robin Hood. Securing the perfect cast to transform the script to screen was essential. I could not be more thrilled and trusting in Hugh and Jodie to bring this story to life in a powerful and meaningful way.”

We are still a long way away from seeing this Robin Hood tale. Production is expected to begin in February of 2025. However, it does sound like it will be a fun entry into the Robin Hood canon.

That’s all the information we have at this time.

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