![]() Ultimately, gamers should nab this unexpectedly cohesive and compelling release without hesitation, while non-gamers and adult animation aficionados alike should give it a rent before sinking cash into what’s essentially a companion piece to another story. In fact, most of the criticism that has been leveled against the film (its focus on dismemberment, the underdeveloped religious war that nearly erupts on the ship, and minor elements like the status indicator on the engineers’ suits) perfectly tie into the videogame and will be a real treat for anyone who’s already explored every virtual inch of the Ishimura. I imagine my score would probably be a half to full star lower if the animated film didn’t fill in the blanks, so to speak, of one of my favorite videogames of 2008. Don’t get me wrong, I still think it’s a decent standalone flick, but its story may feel truncated and slightly clichéd to anyone who hasn’t dug through its source material. Granted, had the visuals been cloaked in deeper shadows, it would have increased the film’s scare factor but, like the game, the film prioritizes action and gore over chills and shivers.īias alert! Before you get excited by my praise and give any serious consideration to ‘Dead Space: Downfall,’ you should be aware that those who’ve played the ‘Dead Space’ videogame (like myself) will enjoy this animated project far more than anyone approaching it blind. The voice acting is solid (minus the brief work from a few supporting actors), the animation is much better than I thought it would be (especially once you get past the first five minutes which, admittedly, are choppy and problematic), and the overall tone and atmosphere is genuinely twisted. ![]() With plenty of nods to films like ‘Alien,’ ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ ‘Event Horizon,’ and ‘The Thing,’ ‘Dead Space: Downfall’ is a blast to watch. Not only has its creators crafted a convincing universe that doesn’t always follow the usual A-to-B conventions of its genre, but they’ve injected a bit of cultural and societal commentary into the mix as well. ![]() Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from ‘Dead Space: Downfall.’ I thought it would be the sort of paper-thin bore a company like EA would concoct just to nab extra cash from gamers. Now, a small band of survivors must attempt to stop the menace, retain their sanity, and decipher the origin and purpose of the Marker. As people soon begin to lose their minds, commit suicide, and murder their colleagues, a parasitic organism overruns the ship, converting corpses into lumbering beasts. Their arguments are short-lived, however. After a team of Ishimura scouts stumble upon an engraved monolith (dubbed the “Marker”), they return it to the ship and ignite debate amongst the crewmen - some believe it to be a mystical, religious artifact, while others believe it’s a product of an ancient alien culture. But can a low-budget cartoon effectively fill such a gaping high-def horror vacuum?įor the non-gamers among you wondering where this direct-to-video release even came from, ‘Dead Space: Downfall’ is a feature-length, animated prequel to EA’s latest Xbox 360 and PS3 hit, the uber-creepy survival-horror actioner ‘Dead Space.’ This tie-in project introduces the volatile crew of the USG Ishimura, a mining ship that extracts massive amounts of ore from uninhabited planets. By comparison, ‘Dead Space: Downfall’ is the only legitimate horror release hitting the market this week. Halloween is finally here, and what horror releases do gore-hounds have to look forward to this week? The aptly named ‘Cannibal Taboo,’ three Echo Bridge direct-to-video messes (‘Cruel World,’ ‘The Final Patient,’ and ‘Mysterious Island,’), ‘Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter’- a low-budget horror/comedy that tries way too hard - and ‘Hell Ride,’ a ridiculous exploitation flick whose only ties to horror lies in a misleading title.
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