“You must control… you almost killed your daughter.” IFC Midnight has debuted the first official trailer for an indie possession horror titled Welcome to Mercy, from filmmaker Tommy Bertelsen. The story follows a single mother named Madaline who begins to experience symptoms of the stigmata, so she seeks the help of a local priest and nun to help her understand what is seen and unseen, and hopefully avoid becoming the new antichrist. She ends up at a remote covenant. Kristen Ruhlin stars and wrote the screenplay for this indie horror. It also features Lily Newmark, Eva Ariel Binder, Eileen Davies, Victoria Sokolova, Danis Grube, Toms Liepajnieks, Sophia Massa, and Ieva Seglina. Possession films are getting more and more redundant, but this looks like it gets super intense once she meets up with these relentless nuns. ›››
“Sometimes friendship can’t be explained.” Film Mode Entertainment has debuted the first official trailer for a fun sci-fi indie comedy titled Mail Order Monster, which is the feature debut of producer-filmmaker Paulina Lagudi. The film is about a precocious young girl named Sam who is being bullied at school, and on top of that, her single father has just found a new girlfriend. To cope with her situation, she orders a a robot monster through the mail that promises to solve her problems. Hilarity ensues, and everyone learns some good lessons. Madison Horcher stars as Sam, and the cast includes Charisma Carpenter, Josh Hopkins, Emma Rayne Lyle, and Bill Billions. This looks like an amusing, good-for-all-ages fun time, and the robot monster looks so funky and goofy I can’t help but smile whenever I see it. Check it out below. ›››
With the release of Venom finally upon us, the reviews are in. The movie is the first of Sony’s planned Spider-Man spin-offs based on heroes and villains from Spidey’s Marvel comic books. While a deal between Sony and Marvel allows the wallcrawler to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony still holds the big screen rights to Spider-Man and associated characters, so if Venom is a hit, we can expect plenty more movies in a new connected Spidey universe.
The film stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a reporter who is taken over by a dangerous alien symbiote, and the cast also features Riz Ahmed, Michelle Williams, and Woody Harrelson. It’s directed by Ruben Fleischer, who previously helmed the hit horror comedy Zombieland. Venom‘s current Rotten Tomatoes score stands at 27%, while Metacritic has the movie at 33%, neither of which are exactly high. But as we’ve seen many times before–most notably with the DC universe–a poor critical response doesn’t mean a commercial failure, and box office predictions for Venom are good. So let’s take a look at the reviews…
GameSpot — no score
“Venom has all the ingredients of a decent superhero movie–10 or 15 years ago. With spotty CGI, poorly drawn characters, tonal inconsistency including forced “edginess” and awkward humor, sidelined female characters, and even cringeworthy licensed musical cues, it feels like a relic from the distant, pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe past. That may in part be attributed to the fact that it’s been in production in one form or another since at least 2008. But its problems go way past simply being “old school,” and ultimately, Venom lacks the charm, clarity, and ambition superhero fans have come to expect.” — Michael Rougeau [Full review]
ScreenCrush — 4/10
“This is epically, fantastically weird stuff. The only thing stopping this movie from becoming an immediate cult classic is that it takes nearly an hour for Tom Hardy to go full Venom. If they’d trimmed 15 minutes out of this thing, cut right to the chase, and just piled on the Hardy, Venom would be unmissable. Once Tom Hardy bonds with this alien “symbiote,” and this goo begins to talk to him as a gravelly voice in his head (also performed by Hardy), Venom suddenly becomes hilarious.” — Matt Singer [Full review]
Digital Spy — 2/5
“The tragedy of Venom is that there are not infrequent flashes of a better film beneath. Inconsistent characterisation aside (is the alien a ruthless killer or Eddie’s ally?), the interplay between the symbiote and its host is sometimes incredibly funny, delivering some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. But the movie refuses to choose a tone and stick to it, flip-flopping instead from serious to silly throughout. Had Fleischer committed to the horror-comedy elements of his film, Venom might have been a solidly enjoyable superhero flick.” — Hugh Armitage [Full review]
Mashable — no score
“The first act of Venom suggests we’re in for one of the worst films of 2018. Not in a fun way, mind you, but in that dull, dispiriting way where the lack of effort starts to feel like disrespect. Then Venom gets his man and a movie that initially seemed just-plain-bad becomes so-bad-it’s-good. Or maybe it’s just plain good. It’s been a full day since I’ve seen it, and honestly, I’m still not sure. Either way, I laughed a lot.” — Angie Han [Full review]
Indiewire — B
“As much a body-horror thriller as it is a comic-book movie, Venom is also akin to a buddy comedy in which one of the buddies has to prevent the other from wantonly biting people’s heads off. If that sounds ridiculous, it is–but Venom both knows it and leans into it, playing up the dark humor until it’s pitch black. Not all of Eddie and Venom’s exchanges land as intended, but those that do are genuinely funny; over time, their relationship even becomes endearing in its own way, which comes as such a pleasant surprise it’s almost enough to recommend the movie on its own.” — Matthew Nordine [Full review]
The Guardian — 1/5
“Can Tom Hardy play comedy–intentionally? The question remains worryingly unanswered in this clumsy, monolithic and fantastically boring superhero movie-slash-entertainment-franchise-iteration. The supposedly massive final showdown is so anticlimactic and pointless that it was only when it was followed by Hardy ruminatively sipping coffee on a stoop and chatting that I realised… that was it. That was the big finish.” — Peter Bradshaw [Full review]
The Hollywood Reporter — no score
“The pervasive lack imagination of this film under the auspices of director Ruben Fleischer, in his first feature outing since the dreadful Gangster Squad in 2013, makes one appreciate the thought and care that Marvel has lavished not only on the likes of Black Panther and Captain America but even on more minor-league entries such as the amusing Ant-Man titles. Everything here seems by-the-book, without amusement or surprise, save for Stan Lee’s more extensive-than-usual last-minute cameo.” — Todd McCarthy [Full review]
Collider — C+
“Venom almost gets away with its nonsensical plot in the end thanks to that Eddie and Venom bromance, but then you’re reminded of the major missed opportunity here–more than once, actually. Venom should have been a quality start to Sony’s own Marvel franchise. This, however, is a film that doesn’t earn it and the multiple reminders from the studio saying, “Hey, don’t forget we want to make more of these,” only makes it worse.” — Perri Nemiroff [Full review]
Although fans will have to wait until next July for the next dose of live-action Spider-Man, his animated counterpart hits theaters much sooner–this December. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is a feature-length animated movie in which Spidey encounters many different versions of himself and has to save reality against the evil Kingpin.
While the previous trailer showed us three Spideys–Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacey–the latest reveals that there are no fewer than six within the Multiverse of the title. There’s also the 1940s hero Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker (aka SP//dr), and, er Spider-Ham. It’s fast-moving, funny, spectacularly animated, and looks like a must-see this Christmas. Check it out above.
Into The Spider-Verse is produced by The Lego Movie‘s Phil Lord and Chris Miller, with a screenplay by Lord. The voice cast includes Shameik Moore (The Get Down) as Miles, Jake Johnson (Jurassic World) as Peter, Hailee Steinfeld (Bumblebee) as Gwen, plus Nicolas Cage (Mandy), Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), and Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage).
In a recent interview, Miller spoke about the movie’s distinctive visuals. “This is a new, unique experience, and we are pushing the medium,” he said, via Indiewire. “We’re getting away with so much with this movie. It’s a pretty wild style.” Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse hits theaters on December 14.
In related news, the first images of the villain in next year’s live-action Marvel sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home were revealed this week. Jake Gyllenhall will play Mysterio, and new pictures show him on set in the Czech Republic.
The Red Dead Redemption 2 reveals are coming in thick and fast in the lead up to release. In September we finally got hands-on with the game, learned more about Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode, and received confirmation that the game is going to require a healthy portion of your hard drive space. Now, developer Rockstar Games has released another gameplay trailer to keep the train rolling.
The video, which is being referred to as “Gameplay Video Part 2” shows how the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 throws players into adventures in a way that feels natural. These range from the grand events such as robbing trains and getting up to no good, to having smaller personal moments with members of your gang or random inhabitants of the world. In the video we’re also shown more of how the new Dead Eye system works. Interestingly, the special ability now progresses in stages and allows players to paint targets and see critical points, as well as slow time down to aim. We also get a look at some first-person gameplay.
There’s also a look at customization and the various smaller activities you can engage in, whether that’s dressing up, eating, keeping facial hair in check, bathing, or playing games. Of course, you can also duel, go bounty hunting–but through all this, your behavior is being tracked and will have consequences. Check out the gameplay trailer above, as well as our discussion of the opening hours of the game.
The first gameplay trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 made its debut in August and it delivered an in-depth look at the game. We got a little more acquainted with the harsh American landscape Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in, with peeks at the untamed swamplands, sweeping deserts, livestock towns, and cities in the midst of transformation. According to Rockstar, players will be able to travel around these distinct areas seamlessly, and each will serve up a plethora of missions and activities to engage with.
Other key aspects of the game it showed off included your relationship with other members of the Van der Linde gang, how players will be able to interact with characters outside of the gang, and horses, which now have personalities and, depending on their breed, will behave differently.
We have in-depth coverage Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay from our hands-on time with the game, which allowed us to dig into some of the many gameplay systems and explore some of the depth that the world provides us. We came away pretty impressed with the level of detail in the world and discussed this in our preview video. Since playing the game, Rockstar has released more screenshots and details on gameplay mechanics such as hunting and fishing.
Red Dead Redemption 2 launches on October 26 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It will be available in a number of special editions, and get the details on all of them in our Red Dead Redemption pre-order guide. A PS4 Pro bundle will also be available.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode, meanwhile, will launch as a beta in November. As with all betas, Rockstar has warned players to expect “teething problems” as the mode may not roll out as smoothly as it intends it to.
From all that we’ve seen of Red Dead Redemption 2 thus far, it’s evident Rockstar Games has crafted a detailed and reactive world to explore in its much anticipated western sequel. Not only will the non-playable characters you encounter snitch on your crimes if they see you engaging in some shady activities, you’ll be able to interact with strangers you come across in various other ways, which can have some unexpected consequences.
During our most recent hands-on session with Red Dead Redemption 2, we were traveling leisurely down a dirt path that led to a crossroads. There, we encountered an older gentleman on the side of the road affixing a horseshoe to his horse. As we passed him, the game presented several different interaction prompts, giving us the option to Callout or Antagonize him. We chose to greet him, and in return, he stopped what he was doing and greeted us back.
However, our casual interaction had a completely unintended result. As he was returning our greeting, his horse was suddenly spooked and kicked the old man in the head, killing him instantly. The horse then ran away down the path as we went over to inspect the man’s body. Even when Arthur Morgan has the best of intentions, it seems interacting with strangers can turn deadly.
Later in the demo, we encountered a Mexican gunslinger shooting bottles off of a railroad bridge. We approached him, and he revealed that he crossed the border to find the “best marksman in America.” The man then challenged us to see who could shoot the most bottles off of the bridge in half a minute, with each of us wagering $5 or $10. We agreed to wager $5, and when the challenge ended, we saw that he has shot one more bottle than we were able to.
The man then asked if we’d like to double down on the wager. We declined, and just as we were about to leave, he reminded us that we had yet to pay him. It seems the game doesn’t automatically deduct the money from your wallet when you accept these kinds of challenges; rather, you have to manually interact with the man to give him the money. We were then presented with the option to either pay him or refuse. Naturally, we chose the latter, and the man responded by firing at us.
There are numerous other ways the world in Red Dead Redemption 2 will react to you. As previously mentioned, characters who witness your misdeeds will be able to rat you out to the law unless you’re able to intimidate them otherwise, and some characters will even begin avoiding you if you don’t keep up with Arthur’s personal hygiene.
Red Dead Redemption 2 releases for PS4 and Xbox One later this month, on October 26. The game will be available in various editions; you can learn more about what each one contains in our Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order guide. Later in November, Rockstar will release Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode as a beta for those who’ve purchased the game, much like it released GTA Online one month after Grand Theft Auto V launched.
The follow-up to Rockstar Games’ classic western game Red Dead Redemption is fast approaching. Set 12 years before the events of the original game, Red Dead Redemption 2 will explore an expansive region of the American wilderness, with Dutch Van der Linde’s gang on the run from lawmen during the last years of the wild west. Experiencing Rockstar’s take on the open-world western from a new perspective, you’ll uncover the history of the Van Der Linde gang, which has a young John Marston in its thralls.
We got the opportunity to play Red Dead Redemption 2, and suffice to say, it’s shaping up to be one of the most detailed open world games we’ve ever played. You can find out more in our preview below where you can read about our experiences completing story missions and exploring the game’s world. There’s also plenty of details below on the game’s narrative and all of its trailers. With its release date of October 26 approaching, we’re beginning to learn a lot more about the base game, as well as its Red Dead Online mode.
Set 12 years before the main events of the original game, the prequel focuses on the outlaw life of the Van der Linde gang, led by Red Dead Redemption’s main antagonists. After a robbery in Blackwater (one of the original game’s major towns) goes bad–the gang finds themselves on the run. Dutch, his right-hand man Arthur Morgan, and several members of the gang have to contend with a life on-the-run while confrontations with rival gangs and the law make their situation grow more desperate.
Rockstar also released a description of the plot:
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him.
The First Reveal
Debuting on October 20, 2016, the first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 was a bit of a mood piece that showcased many locales in the game, while also portraying the somber tone of the main narrative. In this trailer, we saw several towns and locales, many of which are teeming with life and activity–such as ranchers rustling up some cattle, huntsmen bringing back their haul, and a group of citizens hanging out in the general store.
Who Are You Playing As?
Though the central character of Red Dead Redemption, John Marston, plays some role in the story–the main protagonist of the prequel is Arthur Morgan. As Dutch’s right-hand man and enforcer for the gang, he’ll handle much of the daily duties of keeping the gang in-check–which includes a young and less-experienced John Marston. When it comes to keeping the gang and its community afloat, Morgan is quite handy with picking up various jobs to ensure everyone is well fed and in good spirits. But as the story progresses, he’ll begin to question his own resolve for Dutch’s way of life, and whether he still has a place in the gang.
The Second Trailer
On September 28, 2017, the second trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted. In the new footage, we got to see more of Arthur Morgan and how ruthless he can be while on the job. During some of the story cutscenes, Morgan will use coercion and physical threats to collect money and information, all for the “benefit” of the community. For more info on this particular trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
Who’s In Dutch’s Gang?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, we’ll see Dutch’s gang and its key players in their prime. While the original game had John hunt down and kill the remaining members of the gang, we’ll see many of the familiar faces in relatively happier times. From the most recent trailer, we see Dutch Van der Linde, Arthur Morgan, Bill Williamson, Javier Esquela, Sadie Adler, Charles Smith, Micah Bell, Hosea Matthews, and of course John Marston in the roster. We’ll also interact with other characters who would have a key role in the gang and in the lives of both Arthur Morgan and John Marston.
The Third Trailer
In the new footage released on May 2, we saw a deeper look into the game’s narrative and how the gang functions. Along with the familiar activities like hunting, heists, and side-quests with the region’s citizens, rob trains and banks, and take in shows at theaters. For the most part, the trailer focuses on the many connections you’ll have with the members of the gang, as well as how your choices will affect them. For more info on the third trailer, check out our detailed breakdown.
First Gameplay Trailer
On August 9, Rockstar unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2’s first gameplay trailer. The new footage revealed that the core mechanics from the original game were still intact, but almost everything had received a facelift. Wildlife is smarter and lives within its own ecosystem. Arthur Morgan can interact with the people around him in ways John Marston never could.
Second Gameplay Trailer
On October 2, Rockstar finally showcased the second round of gameplay footage it promised. It dives more deeply into the game’s side-activities, as well as the nature of the world and its varying systems. In addition, there’s an in-depth look at how the sequel’s dead eye system works.
What’s New In Red Dead Redemption 2?
While the sequel is largely in the same vein as its predecessor, focusing on exploration, hunting, shoot-outs, heists, and other side-activities where you’ll interact with a number of unique characters–Red Dead Redemption 2 features a far more expansive world to dive into. There are a ton of new mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2. Below you can find a bulleted list of many of the new features in the game, but for all the details on everything new, check out our comprehensive list of all the new features we’ve discovered so far.
You can play the whole game in first-person
You can disable the HUD
A new cinematic camera is utilized during missions where you’re traveling across the world during missions
You can inspect nearly all items in the world
Your weapons are always visible on your person
There’s a killcam that changes depending on your honor
You can break enemy weapons
Dead Eye has five levels now
Your guns can degrade and jam
You need to maintain and clean Arthur or else you’ll get dirty and disgust people around you
You can gain and lose weight
How It Plays: Our In-Depth Preview
We recently got a hands-on with a near final-build of Red Dead Redemption 2. It plays much like its predecessor, but with a bevy of new features and systems that enhance its storytelling, combat, and overall progression. We got to experience two story missions, as well as a chance to goof around freely in the open world. There’s a lot to unpack about how the upcoming sequel looks and feels, so be sure to read our in-depth preview detailing our impressions about how it plays.
How Will Online Multiplayer Work?
Currently, Rockstar hasn’t shared any info on how the online play will function. The original Red Dead Redemption featured online free-for-all and team deathmatch style gameplay in the open world, along with several co-op themed missions. While it’s safe to assume that these sorts of missions will return, another long-lingering rumor is the appearance of a battle royale mode. Rockstar has recently confirmed that a public beta for the online mode is scheduled for a month after the game’s launch.
How Can I Play RDR2? When Is Its Release Date?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is set for release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. There are also plans for a collector’s edition of the game called the Special Edition. Priced at $80, the package includes a copy of the game along with special missions, weapons and a physical map of the game world for players to own. There are also two additional packs for Red Dead Redemption 2 for premium prices, The Ultimate Edition and The Collector’s Box–both priced at $100. While The Ultimate Edition has all items from the special edition–including additional DLC items to acquire–The Collector’s Box does not include any digital items. Instead, it offers special playing cards, artwork, a bandit’s bandana, a physical map of the game world, and a collector’s coin in the set.
It’s worth noting that the PS4 version will have special content that’s exclusive to that version for 30 days. There is still no word as to what the PlayStation-exclusive content is, but now we know it’s for Red Dead Online and that Xbox One owners will have to wait to check it out.
Though the original Red Dead Redemption never found its way to the PC, there’s been some rumors that its sequel might. A mention of Red Dead Redemption 2’s appearance on PC found its way online, but it has since been scrubbed.
PS4 Pro Bundle
Although the system itself doesn’t sport a unique design, there will be a Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro bundle. Priced at $400 in the US, you’re essentially getting a copy of the game for free. However, this doesn’t include any of the aforementioned special editions; it’s just a standard edition version of the game. The bundle is available for pre-order now.
“Maybe it’s time to consider getting some help.” Freestyle Digital Media has released the first official trailer for an indie film titled Reach, from first-time filmmaker Leif Rokesh. The honest high school drama is about a social awkward kid named Steven, played by Garrett Clayton (from Hairspray Live! and “The Fosters”), who is planning on killing himself. A new kid in school befriends him and provides some comfort to help him step back. Steven’s new friends try to find creative ways to pull him out of his depression. The cast includes Corbin Bernsen, Jordan Doww, Joey Bragg, Johnny James Fiore, Kevin Sizemore, and Concetta Tomei. This looks alright, a bit dour and depressing, perhaps with some positivity to offer. ›››
“You must see the opportunity this case represents! For men and women, both.” Entertainment One UK has revealed an international trailer for On the Basis of Sex, the gripping film about the early days of iconic Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Felicity Jones plays RBG, and Armie Hammer plays her husband Marty, in a new film by director Mimi Leder (of The Peacemaker, Deep Impact, Pay It Forward). This film is a compliment to the documentary about her, titled simply RBG now playing in theaters. The full cast also features Justin Theroux, Cailee Spaeny, Kathy Bates, Stephen Root, Jack Reynor, Sam Waterston, and Francis X. McCarthy. Focus will be releasing On the Basis of Sex in theaters nationwide on Christmas Day, a strong reminder of how important equality and a female voice is in the Supreme Court. ›››
“So you want to learn to be Spider-Man?” Yessss! Sony Pictures has revealed another fantastic new trailer for their animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which seriously looks outstanding. Phil Lord & Chris Miller wrote the script and are producing this film, and they keep promising groundbreaking animation work in this. It really looks like it has that potential. Shameik Moore (from Dope) provides the voice of Miles Morales, and the cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Jake Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and Lily Tomlin, along with surprise guests. This looks like so much crazy fun, and I’m so happy they’re going full-Spidey by bringing in all the different version of the character. How crazy is that?! I’m so so excited to see this movie, only a few more months to go. Suit up! ›››
