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Tag: Zombies

  • Lily James Talks “Pride + Prejudice + Zombies”

    Lily James Talks “Pride + Prejudice + Zombies”

    Lilly James has been out and about promoting her surprising new movie, Pride + Prejudice + Zombies.

    The role is surprising since Lily James, well, we haven’t ever really pictured her as the zombie fighting type. Especially after her turn as Cinderella last year.

    But, it will be so fun to see sweet Lily James kicking some zombie butt in period garb.

    Lily James clearly enjoyed it filming it as much as we will love watching it.

    A “bloody proper zombie film” is not for the faint of heart. Go see #PPZmovie this Friday if you dare.

    A video posted by Pride + Prejudice + Zombies (@ppzmovie) on

    Lily James recently said of her character, the beloved Elizabeth Bennet, “I think that Liz Bennet is the most wonderful, forward-thinking independent character anyway, so having her in this world where she can fight and beat up Darcy was really liberating and fun.”

    She added, “I love her for all her flaws, for her not understanding her feelings and not being able to connect to Darcy—all those things that are really lovable.”

    Experience the thrill on February 5. #PPZmovie

    A photo posted by Pride + Prejudice + Zombies (@ppzmovie) on

    Speaking of the dashing Mr. Darcy, he is played by none other than Sam Riley, who obviously has Lily James’ approval.

    Lily James said of Riley, “Sam is so deep and vulnerable and arrogant—and sexy! I think he’s such a great Darcy and I had so much fun working with him and he brought so many unexpected things to the role.”

    She added, “I didn’t know he would be that good at fighting and he was so good and really kind when I punched him. He was very patient.”

    What do you think? Are you excited to see what Lily James can do with Elizabeth Bennet in this new and crazy adaptation?

  • The Walking Dead Continues To Take World By Storm As Season 6 Approaches

    The Walking Dead Continues To Take World By Storm As Season 6 Approaches

    The Walking Dead is about to return to AMC as Season 6 makes its debut on Sunday at 9/8c. Fans have had a spinoff called Fear the Walking Dead to tide them over, but that recently wrapped up, and the original will soon grace the television screens in living rooms across the nation.

    But if that weren’t enough, there’s also a web series in progress. The first episode of Fear the Walking Dead Flight 462 went live on the AMC YouTube channel last weekend. You can watch that here:

    There’s no denying that The Walking Dead has become a major part of American pop culture. There’s even a convention inspired by The Walking Dead called Walker Stalker Con with 8 separate events across the world. It’s not solely dedicated to the series, but The Walking Dead is clearly its main focus. The con hits Atlanta later this month, where fans can meet many stars and people associated with the show including: Greg Nicotero, Andrew Lincoln, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Michael Rooker, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Emily Kinney, Steven Yeun, David Morrissey, Michael Cudlitz, Scott Wilson, and many more (seriously, MANY more).

    Screen Shot 2015-10-09 at 2.04.46 PM

    Dates in New York/New Jersey, London, Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Chicago, and even a cruise from Miami to The Bahamas follow.

    As for the The Walking Dead itself, it will be interesting to see if the opening of Season 6 is as grisly as that of Season 5, which recently became available on Netflix. The onscreen bloodshed has always been a staple of the show, but somehow seems to keep outdoing itself as it progresses.

    If you’re caught up on the series, and the spinoff, and you just can’t wait to sink your teeth into more of The Walking Dead, you can check out the iPhone game The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land.

    Available now on iOS, download The Walking Dead: No Man's Land: http://getnomansland.com

    A photo posted by The Walking Dead (@amcthewalkingdead) on

    There’s also plenty of bonus content on AMC.com.

    Image via WalkerStalkerCon.com

  • Google Talk Deals With Zombies And Neuroscience

    On Halloween, Google hosted a talk with neuroscientists Timothy Verstynen and Bradley Voytek about neuroscience and zombies. Now as the holidays draw near, Google has made the talk available for our viewing pleasure (and in Night of the Living Dead black and white).

    The talk is mainly about Verstynen’s book “Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep?”

    Google says:

    In this groundbreaking study, the fearless duo dissect the puzzle of what has happened to the zombie brain to make the undead act differently than their human prey. Each chapter draws on zombie popular culture and identifies a characteristic zombie behavior that can be explained using neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and brain-behavior relationships. Through this exploration they shed light on fundamental neuroscientific questions such as: How does the brain function during sleeping and waking? What neural systems control movement? What is the nature of sensory perception?

    The authors are members of the Zombie Research Society and are preparing grant applications to research the coming zombie apocalypse.

    Happy holidays!

    Image via YouTube

  • Dying Light System Requirements, Season Pass Revealed

    Dying Light will continue the time honored zombie game tradition in 2015. Unlike other zombie games, however, Dying Light will mix some first-person parkour platforming into the mix. The game will hit PS4, Xbox One and PC, but how powerful of a PC will you need to play it.

    Techland revealed the PC system requirements for Dying Light this past week. Fortunately, the requirements aren’t that taxing especially when compared to other cross platform games released this year. Without further ado, here’s the system requirements:

    Minimum requirements:
    OS: Windows® 7 64-bit / Windows® 8 64-bit / Windows® 8.1 64-bit
    Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2500 @3.3 GHz / AMD FX-8320 @3.5 GHz
    Memory: 4 GB RAM DDR3
    Hard Drive: 40 GB available space
    Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560 / AMD Radeon™ HD 6870 (1GB VRAM)
    Direct X®: Version 11
    Sound: DirectX® compatible

    Recommended requirements:
    OS: Windows® 7 64-bit / Windows® 8 64-bit / Windows® 8.1 64-bit
    Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-4670K @3.4 GHz / AMD FX-8350 @4.0 GHz
    Memory: 8 GB RAM DDR3
    Hard Drive: 40 GB available space
    Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 780 / AMD Radeon™ R9 290 (2GB VRAM)
    Direct X: Version 11
    Sound: DirectX® compatible

    If you meet the recommended requirements, you’re going to have a pretty good looking game. If you only meet the minimum requirements, you’re still going to have a great time. I played games with a GTX 560 for a few years, and games looked great even on medium settings. If you must have the ultimate in visual fidelity, you might want to check out the PS4 or Xbox One versions if the PC requirements are too steep for you.

    As for the Season Pass, Dying Light will charge the now standard $20 for a number of DLC packs that are to be offered throughout the life of the game. The first DLC pack – Cuisine and Cargo – will challenge players to sneak through buildings that were sealed off at the start of the zombie apocalypse. The second DLC pack – the Ultimate Survivor Bundle – will give players three new outfits and four weapon blueprints. The final DLC pack – the Bozak Horde – will introduce an area where players can take down hordes of zombies by themselves or with a friend.

    To top it all off, Techland shared a new trailer for Dying Light at Friday night’s Game Awards:

  • Zombie Apocalypse: Kansas Is Prepared, Are You?

    Most people laugh at the idea of a zombie apocalypse, but others take the idea seriously and are preparing for such a scenario. The entire state of Kansas is hopping onboard the zombie apocalypse wagon and has declared the entire month of October “Zombie Preparedness Month.”

    The state of Kansas is encouraging residents to prepare for disasters and such scenarios as blizzards or floods. Since a zombie apocalypse would be a worse case scenario, officials believe that if residents are prepared for something as extreme and unlikely as the zombie apocalypse, they would be ready for anything, including more plausible disasters and scenarios.

    “If you’re prepared for zombies, you’re prepared for anything,” the state noted in preparing for the zombie apocalypse.

    The state doesn’t necessarily believe a zombie apocalypse will happen, but said the idea of planning for such a scenario can seem fun to some people, especially families with children. They believe the name of the event will help motivate more people to prepare for all different types of disasters and allow them to have some fun doing it.

    “If you’re equipped to handle the zombie apocalypse then you’re prepared for tornadoes, severe storms, fire and any other natural disaster Kansas usually faces,” said a Kansas state official. “This is a fun and low-stress way to get families involved, and past turnouts have proven it to be effective.”

    Some people believe that a zombie apocalypse is much more likely to happen than what many people think and Kansas is not the first government or agency that is preparing for such extreme situations and scenarios.

    Just a few years ago the CDC shocked and even scared some people when they released a plan for surviving the zombie apocalypse.

    “There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example,” the CDC said in a statement. “That’s right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency.”

    How would you prepare for such a scenario and do you believe such a thing could ever really happen?

  • The Walking Dead: Season 4 Gets Netflix Release Date

    The Walking Dead: Season 4 Gets Netflix Release Date

    Many Netflix subscribers are no doubt anxiously awaiting the addition of The Walking Dead: Season 4, especially as Season 5’s premiere gets closer. You can rest easy now knowing that it should appear on the service on September 28 (Sunday).

    As you may know, we get weekly lists of upcoming title additions from Netflix PR, and while these dates are always subject to change, this week’s has The Walking Dead: Season 4 pegged for that day.

    The description (via Netflix):

    In the wake of a zombie apocalypse that desolates the world as we know it, a group of survivors led by police officer Rick Grimes holds on to the hope of humanity by banding together to wage a never-ending fight for their own survival.

    I guess that describes the show itself more than the season, but oh well. Here’s a trailer for the season:

    We’re finding out about it later this year, but the season is being added earlier compared to Season 3 in 2013, which was added on October 13.

    Season 5 debuts on October 12 on AMC.

    Image via Netflix

  • H1Z1 Is The Latest MMO To Take Zombies For A Spin

    Since its inception as an Arma 2 mod, DayZ has been one of the most popular zombie games around. What makes the game so popular, however, isn’t because of zombies, but rather the interactions players have with others. After all, you have more to fear from the living than the dead in a zombie apocalypse, or something like that. Now Sony wants to try its hand at a similar game with an even stupider name.

    Sony Online Entertainment announced this week that it’s working on a new free-to-play MMO called H1Z1. The game will be coming to the PC and PS4 with an Early Access version hitting Steam in the coming weeks. Here’s how SOE described it in the game’s newly minted subreddit:

    Our vision for this game is very simple but ambitious. We are starting with what I would call “Middle America” – an “anywhere and everywhere” town. The world is massive as you’ve come to expect from our games. Over time we will grow the world until we have our own version of the U.S. after the death and destruction brought on during the H1Z1 epidemic. It will be our own version of America. We’ll have urban cities and desolate wide open places. All connected seamlessly. Our focus is building a sandbox style of gameplay where players can build shelters out of resources in the world. They can even work together to make amazing fortresses complete with weaponry to help defend against both the Infected and other players. Players also have access to a very deep crafting system that can let players make a huge variety of awesome stuff, including weapons (I made a 1911 the other day) and things like Molotov cocktails, explosives.. and other fun surprises.

    It certainly sounds promising, but it also sounds like pretty much every other zombie MMO out there right now. SOE anticipated that reaction and says that H1Z1 will set itself apart from the pack:

    First off, it’s a persistent MMO that can hold thousands of players on servers we host (yes there will be multiple servers with very different rule sets). Why is that a good thing? It means a thriving economy (oh yes… there’s trading). It also means you have potential allies in the all-out war on the Infected… and many an enemy as well. … The main thing that differentiates H1Z1 from the other great games in the genre is the emphasis we are putting on player ownership and building. We want you to be able to form roving gangs that are headquartered out of an abandoned warehouse that you’ve taken over… or a house you’ve built from scratch after having cut trees down and secured the resources to make it. We are giving players the tools to make their own towns, camps and defenses, and they can decide how to set up their base

    While its hard to compete with DayZ these days when it comes to open world zombie games, SOE seems to at least have an interesting concept on its hands with H1Z1. The idea that players can build up the world as they see fit is certainly enticing and may just bring some people over out of curiosity alone. That may not be enough, however, if H1Z1 lacks the emergent gameplay found in experiences like DayZ. Sony is going to have to take a hands off approach with this title and let the player community run rampant if they want it to become as popular as DayZ.

    SOE says they’ll be showing off gameplay from H1Z1 next week during a live playtest. The details haven’t been announced yet, but you can keep checking back at the game’s official subreddit to find out more.

    [h/t: Kotaku]
    Image via H1Z1.com

  • ‘Walking Dead’: Andrew Lincoln Thinks Season Finale May Have Gone Too Far [Spoiler]

    The season 4 finale of The Walking Dead has just aired and several questions on viewers’ minds were answered. The finale episode was full of gore, as expected. Aside from having some issues resolved, the finale also raised more questions that will keep fans hanging at the edge of their seats.

    Last week’s episode was emotionally packed, as Carol had to kill Lizzie, and then admitted to killing the girlfriend of Tyreese, which happened in the earlier part of the fourth season.

    In an interview with Yahoo TV, Andrew Lincoln, who plays the shows protagonist, Rick Grimes, said that the writers for the show might have gone too far on the finale. “You will see a side of Rick that you haven’t seen before or in a place that he goes to that he’s never been before,” he said.

    The finale showed Michonne, Carl, and Rick as they continue their travel to Terminus, but Joe’s group captures them. Daryl, who soon realizes who Joe is, tries his hand at helping Rick to no avail. One of the men in Joe’s group then attempts to rape Carl, causing Rick to get mad and bite Joe on his neck, which allows Michonne and Rick to kill off the rest of Joe’s men.

    The next day, Rick is still in shock of the events that happened and Daryl says his apologies for following Joe. Rick accepts Daryl’s apology. The group then continues toward Terminus. Carl also confides in Michonne and tells him that he still has thoughts about murder.

    Finally, Rick’s group finds their way to Terminus, a shipment-type structure with three levels that are surrounded by flowers and a fence, where they are warmly greeted. However, Rick soon notices that the people in Terminus have items that only his group could have. They attempt to escape, but are not successful, and the Terminus citizens lock them up in a rail car. With that, Rick’s group is then reunited with Maggie and Glenn’s group. Rick then says that the Terminus citizens are “screwing with the wrong people.”

    The rumors of someone trying to sexually assault Carl came true, and Rick biting Joe on the neck is a real shocker. Did the season finale really go too far? You decide. Meanwhile, fans will just have to wait for what’s to come in the season 5 premiere of The Walking Dead, which will air in October.

    Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Walking Dead’

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Family Friendly’ Walking Dead Will Re-Air on Fox Syndicate This Fall

    If you love AMC’s hit zombie show The Walking Dead but hate all off the things that make The Walking Dead a zombie show–mainly the graphic depictions of exploding zombie heads–then you’re in luck.

    AMC and MyNetworkTV (a Fox-owned network) have reached an exclusive deal to air “family friendly” edits of the popular series, two at a time, one night a week.

    “This agreement extends the reach of the number one show on television among adults 18-49 by giving viewers Primetime access to ‘The Walking Dead’ with back-to-back episodes on broadcast television one night a week,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. ‘The Walking Dead’ has grown in each of its first four seasons on AMC, and we look forward to exposing this compelling story and these unforgettable characters to new fans on MyNetworkTV.”

    …But without all the fun stuff. Come to think about it, I’m not even sure how MyNet is going to air the most recent episode when they get around to it. I’m 28 and it f-cked me up. Sheesh.

    According to Entertainment Weekly, The edited Walking Dead will hit MyNet with a TV-14 rating. You may remember that early episodes of TWD ran on AMC with that rating, but the network changed it to TV-MA after a bunch of parents organizations flipped out.

    If you’re unfamiliar with MyNetworkTV, they’re responsible for reruns of House, Monk, and various Law & Orders.

    It’ll be interesting to see what these edited episodes of TWD look like in their final form. While it probably won’t be as painful as trying to watch The Sopranos in syndication on A&E, one can’t imagine a scenario where this is a good thing.

    It’s not like TWD on AMC is even that bad. I mean, have you read the actual comics?

    Oh well, I guess families need a new show to watch together now that One Tree Hill is off the air. The reruns will hit MyNet this fall.

    Image via The Walking Dead, Facebook

  • Walking Dead’s McBride Speaks About Plot Twists

    Fans of The Walking Dead witnessed some unforeseeable plot twists during a recent episode where Carol was forced into making some difficult decisions that put into question the very definition of humanity. Melissa McBride, who portrays the tough, but well-liked character, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the shocking events that unfolded.

    [Spoiler Alert] Carol recently confessed to killing Tyreese’s girlfriend. McBride explained the anticipation and inner turmoil that led to the revelation.

    “They’ve been through so much. I loved that scene, how quiet it was finally. Just the two of them with little Judith over in her crib. It was exhausting, it was an exhausting time. Unbelievable what the two had just been through. Unbelievable to them. And all the stuff going through Carol’s mind, there was a great deal of “I have to tell him, I have to tell him now.” For one, if we’re going to keep going together, there needs to be trust. Even more important than that, he needs to know what happened because Carol remembers not knowing what happened to Sophia. And she says, “That was the worst part. The worst part is not knowing.” And she can only imagine what was going on in Tyreese’s mind, imagining what might have gone down with Karen, and how it happened, and who did it eating away with him,” McBride said.

    McBride addressed the unique situation characters of the popular television show face where the level of daily horror is that typically relegated to nightmares.

    “And with that going on in his mind she knows they can’t keep moving if he’s continuously thinking about what may have happened. That needs to be done. She also needs to hand him the truth because even in her own mind, it’s like I need somebody to tell me I am doing okay here. I have done horrible, horrible things, and I need him to tell me it’s okay in some way. To at least know that he accepts what needs to be done, or let me go,” McBride said.

    Carol is no stranger to gut-wrenching killings and intense drama.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  • The Walking Dead: Carol’s Devastating Decision

    [SPOILER ALERT]

    Many fans of the hit AMC series The Walking Dead have been barking that the second half of Season Four has been a bit slow. The group was torn apart after the fall of the prison and each subsequent episode has focused on a different band of survivors and their fight to figure out what they should do next in the days of the Zombie Apocalypse. However, after last night’s episode, The Grove, fans of the show are lighting up social media in total disbelief.

    Yes, the show went there.

    Like so many devastating episodes of The Walking Dead, there were moments when things were looking up. Carol, Tyrese, little Lizzie, her sister Mika, and baby Judith stumbled upon a Pecan Grove. There was plenty of water to drink from the well, there was food to eat, and they even had a working gas stove. Tyrese and Carol thought they were safe and made the decision not to trek out to the unknown of The Termimus. They figured they could stay at the grove, plant some food, and make a life that wasn’t filled with fear.

    Then, Lizzie took a turn. Yes, in hindsight we should have known that something was coming. The girl was off. She didn’t get that the zombies were not play toys but killers who were no longer human. She herself almost offered her hand to the zombie on the tracks because the idea of turning into one didn’t seem that bad to the disillusioned little girl.

    But the nightmarish horror that occurred at the end of the episode, even the most perverse mind couldn’t have seen coming. Tyrese and Carol had a nice talk while getting water out in the grove. Yes, they would stay there, raise the kids, trust each other, feel safe. However, when they returned to the house to find Lizzie’s hands covered in blood and poor sweet Mika stabbed to death lying on the ground, that life disappeared. But what was worse was that Lizzie didn’t get it. She didn’t understand what she’d done. She thought that Mika would turn into a zombie and become her friend. She told Tyrese and Carol that Mika would come back, that she didn’t hurt her head.

    There would be no happy ending. There would be no more nights shelling pecans and toasting them in the oven while safely tucked away in a house that used to be a home. Carol ominously tells Tyrese, “We can’t sleep with her and Judith under the same roof.”

    Instinctively, Carol knew what had to be done.

    If anyone ever says to you when you have your back turned “look at the flowers,” you should run. In a twisted spin on Of Mice and Men, Carol shoots young Lizzie. It is brutally devastating, shocking, numbing, nightmarish and jaw dropping. But there was no other way. Carol has proven time and time again that humanity and conscience must be swept aside in order to survive. Anyone without that instinct gets devoured.

    Melissa McBride, who plays Carol, sat for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She talked about the necessity of Lizzie’s execution. “It was something that had to be done in that world and under those circumstances; Lizzie in that world seemed inevitable. It would be impossible for Tyreese and Carol to move forward with Judith, who doesn’t have any experience of the world before the apocalypse. It was so devastating for Carol to have to do that.”

    It can’t be argued that one of the reasons why The Walking Dead is so popular is because it doesn’t follow a set of narrative rules. It’s not a story about zombies. It’s a story about how people change when there are only two options: die or survive. It’s messy, ugly, and gut-wrenching. In many episodes, spectator expectations get shattered. If you try and take a breath, if you think you know how things are going to turn out…you don’t. The Grove proved that last night. It was a warning to viewers not to become too comfortable. There’s more danger to come, no one is safe.

    Image via Walking Dead, Twitter

  • ‘The Evil Within’ Launches on August 26

    ‘The Evil Within’ Launches on August 26

    Though the indie market has propped up the survival horror genre in recent years, large publishers have all but abandoned scares in favor of action. Survival horror will get another shot at the mainstream this year, though, through Bethesda’s The Evil Within.

    Bethesda today announced that The Evil Within will hit stores in North America on August 26 (August 29 in Europe). The game will be released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

    The Evil Within is being developed under the leadership of Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series. As one might expect, The Evil Within is closer in tone to the early Resident Evil games than the series’ more modern incarnation. Judging from the long gameplay preview released late last year, players may be spending just as much time running from horrible things as they will be shooting them in the face:

  • New ‘Dead Rising 3’ DLC Released Today

    Less than one month ago Capcom released the first DLC pack for Dead Rising 3. The add-on contained new weapons, a new vehicle, and a new short campaign story involving a “Spec Ops” commander trying to locate the President of the United States. That DLC, titled Broken Eagle, was the first in what Capcom is calling the “Untold Stories of Los Perdidos.”

    Today Capcom both announced and released the second DLC for Dead Rising 3. Titled Fallen Angel, the new add-on provides content very similar to that seen in Broken Eagle.

    The story in Fallen Angel involves a character named Angel battling both zombies and government forces. In addition to the new character story, Fallen Angel includes new weapons, a new vehicle, a new character outfit, and new achievements.

    Capcom has announced that at least two more DLC packs will be coming in the future. Players can probably expect those add-ons to provide content similar to that seen in Broken Eagle and Fallen Angel.

    Image via Capcom

  • Dying Light Details Its Setting In New Trailer

    Since its reveal last year, we’ve become very well acquainted with Dying Light. The new game from Dead Island developers Techland looks to combine the zombie hordes of Dead Island with the free-running found in Mirror’s Edge. The developers want you to know it’s more than that though.

    In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Dying Light producer Tymon Smektala says that Dying Light is more than just killing zombies. It’s a game that wants to explore how humanity copes after an epidemic brings an entire city to its knees. He stresses that zombies are just humans who have succumbed to an infection. They’re not monsters and the game will hammer this point home as players will most likely be faced with various moral dilemmas.

    It’s in that sense that the latest trailer for Dying Light is very similar to the first trailer for Dead Island. In that trailer, we get to see the last moments of a family trying to save their daughter after she’s bitten by a zombie. It was absolutely heartbreaking and something the actual game never lived up to. Let’s hope Dying Light is up to the task this time around.

    Dying Light will launch later this year for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

    Image via PlayStation/YouTube

  • Walking Dead Prank Should Make You Trust Sidewalk Grates Even Less

    I wouldn’t call it a phobia, but I really hate walking on top of sidewalk grates. It’s not that I ever imagine a horde of zombies walkers busting through, grabbing my feet, and pulling me down to entrails town – you know, it’s just not solid ground. Creepy.

    Anyway, speaking of hordes of zombies walkers hiding under grates, AMC recently decided to promote the return of The Walking Dead by scaring the absolute shit out of a bunch of New Yorkers. Fun!

    Check out all the reactions below which, unsurprisingly, include people freaking out, people trying to look cool while freaking out, and one freaked out cop. I approve of this style of marketing.

    Speaking of this style of marketing, the “prank ad” is becoming more of a thing. They did it for last year’s Carrie remake, and unfortunately the prank ad was probably more enjoyable than the actual film. To promote the recent horror film Devil’s Due, promoters orchestrated a devil baby attack featuring a truly unsettling little animatronic baby. Say what you will, but at least it’s better than being forced to watch the same trailer/promo for the 400th time.

    The Walking Dead returns from its mid-season hiatus this Sunday.

    Image via AMC, YouTube

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days.

    It’s been a big week for Netflix, which released its earnings report for the fourth quarter. Company executives held a quite entertaining (as these things go) discussion about it, in which CEO Reed Hastings implied with a joke that HBO is Netflix’s bitch. The company also indicated that a larger piece of its content acquisition money pie will be going to original content as time goes on.

    Also worth noting is that the company is not currently considering adding ads to its content, but is considering making theatrical movies that would simultaneously appear on Netflix.

    On this week’s list is the Netflix original documentary Mitt. There’s a little more to work with on this list than the past couple weeks. It also includes the recent Keanu Reeves flick Man of Tai Chi and the Oscar-nominated The Croods. But as you’ll see, the real gem here is George Romero’s classic Day of the Dead.

    Available on 1/23:

    A True Story (2013)

    Cameron Fife, Tyler McGee, Katrina Bowden, Jon Gries, Malcolm Goodwin, Keith Loneker

    This comedic show-biz fable begins with a pair of down-and-out writers trying to sell their co-written screenplay to climb out of poverty. But as soon as success seems close at hand, the writers’ lives and friendship become much more complicated.

    Nantucket Film Festival’s 2nd Comedy Roundtable (2012)

    Ben Stiller, Mike Myers, Seth Meyers and Michael Ian Black comprise the panel in Nantucket Film Festival’s roundtable discussion, which finds the comedians offering candid insights into their comedic writing, directing and acting projects.

    John Mulaney: New in Town (2012)

    Stand-up comedian John Mulaney tackles such red-hot topics as quicksand, Motown singers and an elderly man he once met in a bathroom. Through his stories, you’ll watch Mulaney age from a nervous, dishonest child to a still-nervous, dishonest adult.

    Available on 1/24:

    Mitt (2013) – A Netflix Original

    From his first effort to win the 2008 Republican nomination to his presidential campaign in 2012, this documentary’s unprecedented access reveals an unseen side of Mitt Romney as the candidate makes his challenging bid for the White House.

    Available on 1/25:

    Man of Tai Chi (2013)

    Keanu Reeves, Tiger Hu Chen, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Qing Ye, Yu Hai, Sam Lee, Iko Uwais

    Keanu Reeves makes his directorial debut with this action-packed kung fu tale set in Beijing, where a young man armed with incomparable martial arts skills gets embroiled in the world of underground fight clubs.

    Dallas: Season 2

    More than 20 years after their final curtain call, the Ewings return with both new and familiar faces — and all the treachery that made the original series a classic. This time around, J.R. and Bobby watch as their sons carry on the Ewing legacy.

    Available on 1/26:

    Adventures in the Sin Bin (2012)

    Michael Seater, Bo Burnham, Gillian Jacobs, Tim Blake Nelson, Jeff Garlin, Brian Petsos, Ben McKenzie

    After routinely lending his vintage van to classmates for their amorous escapades, a sexually inexperienced teenager ends up in the midst of an awkward love triangle that includes his dream girl and a big man on campus.

    Available on 1/27:

    Cash Crop (2010)

    This feature-length documentary and California road movie explores America’s largest cash crop: marijuana. Take an epic West Coast adventure into the heart of the Emerald Triangle and America’s most valuable crop.

    Available on 1/28:

    Question One (2012)

    Filmmakers Joseph Fox and James Nubile chronicle both sides of the battle over same-sex marriage in Maine, which granted gay couples the right in 2009, only to reverse the decision seven months later.

    Day of the Dead (1985)

    Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato, Jarlath Conroy, Anthony Dileo Jr., Richard Liberty

    The third chapter in writer-director George Romero’s zombie saga finds scientists and soldiers hiding in a bunker to escape a world overrun by the undead. The two groups butt heads, but infighting takes a backseat when zombies invade the facility.

    WWE: Triple H: Thy Kingdom Come (2013)

    A 13-time WWE world champion, Triple H continues to build upon his enduring legacy. This comprehensive documentary profiles the wrestler’s entire career, as well as his executive role with the WWE.

    Argento’s Dracula (2012)

    Thomas Kretschmann, Marta Gastini, Asia Argento, Unax Ugalde, Rutger Hauer, Maria Cristina Heller

    When Englishman Jonathan Harker visits the exotic castle of Count Dracula, he is entranced by the mysterious aristocrat. But upon learning that the count has sinister designs on his wife, Mina, Harker seeks help from vampire slayer Van Helsing

    Dark Touch (2013)

    Missy Keating , Marcella Plunkett, Padraic Delaney, Charlotte Flyvhom, Stephen Wall, Robert Donnelly

    After a remote country house takes on a malevolent persona and kills 11-year-old Neve’s family, no one believes her claim that her home is to blame. As cops look for human killers and friends take care of Neve, a hidden violence continues to build

    Nightmare Factory (2011)

    Using the career of makeup effects guru Greg Nicotero as a case study, this documentary gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the crucial role Hollywood makeup departments play in bringing horror movies to life on the silver screen.

    Revelation Road 2 (2013)

    David A.R. White, Brian Bosworth, Logan White, Steve Borden, Roberta Bassin, Noell Coet, Jen Lilley

    This action-rich sequel follows Josh McManus through a broken landscape back to his home, with a vicious gang of vengeful killers in hot pursuit. Passed over by the rapture prophesied in the Bible, Josh must choose between violence and faith.

    Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007)

    Melonie Diaz, Nicole Vicius, Bruce Cronander, Colette Divine, Leslie Grossman, Melanie Mayron

    Set in Los Angeles, this sardonic indie comedy helmed by Jamie Babbit follows the exploits of Anna (Melonie Diaz), a lesbian and plastic surgeon’s receptionist who embarks on a wild ride when she joins a cadre of ultraradical feminists. But things get complicated when she falls in love with the group’s leader (Nicole Vicius), who’s already involved with someone (Melanie Mayron). Carly Pope and Lauren Mollica also star.

    Pageant (2008)

    In this fascinating and fabulous documentary, go behind the scenes as 52 men don makeup, wigs, gowns, heels and perfectly placed padding to vie for one crown. They all may be masters at the art of illusion, but only one will be Miss Gay America.

    Available on 1/29:

    The Croods (2013)

    Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke

    When an earthquake obliterates their cave, an unworldly prehistoric family is forced to journey through unfamiliar terrain in search of a new home. But things for pessimistic dad Grug go from bad to worse when his daughter meets a clever cave boy.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube

  • New ‘Dead Rising 3’ DLC Previewed

    Dead Rising 3 was one of the best-reviewed exclusive launch titles for the Xbox One, and is currently the third highest-selling game for Microsoft’s new console. Now Capcom is expanding the game with new DLC content. The game’s Operation Broken Eagle DLC launches tomorrow, and Capcom today provided a new preview of what Xbox One owners can expect.

    Broken Eagle will be the first in a series of episodic DLC content gathered under the heading of “Untold Stories of Los Perdidos.” Players will take on the role of a “Spec Ops” commander as he tries to locate the President of the United States.

    In addition to the new story missions, Broken Eagle will also contain five new weapons, a new combo weapon, a new vehicle, a new character outfit, and new achievements. Much of this is previewed in a new trailer for the DLC:

    Broken Eagle will be coming as part of today’s huge title update for Dead Rising 3, meaning players will have the content on their consoles even if they don’t purchase it. The update also includes various stability improvements and glitch fixes for the game.

  • ‘The Walking Dead’ Creator Frank Darabont Is Suing AMC

    Frank Darabont, the creator of ‘The Walking Dead’ has sued AMC for supposedly trying to cheat him out of tens of millions of dollars in profits from the hit zombie series.

    “Despite four seasons of unprecedented programming success and profitability for defendants, Darabont has not received and may never receive one dollar in profits for developing the series,” the suit said.

    Darabont is a well known Oscar-nominated screenwriter and film director,  famous for his work in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999). He worked for several years to develop and write ‘The Walking Dead’ TV series based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book about zombies. Darabont now believes that his licensing agreement with AMC was a sham that aimed at making profit for the parent company while denying its participants their rightful share. In the suit, Darabont also complains that AMC fired him without cause during the second season in order to dodge renegotiating his deal.

    AMC did not immediately respond to the suit which also alleges that AMC decided to develop the series in-house and awarded itself a low airing license fee thus engaging  in “self-dealing”.

    Darabont’s complaint says that the licensing fee is being manipulated because the broadcasting company and the licensing company are one in the same – AMC. “For instance, the ‘Mad Men’ licensing company gets $3 million from AMC per episode whereas AMC pays just $1.45 million to itself  per ‘Walking Dead’ episode. According to the lawsuit, ‘Mad Men’ only draws about 25% the number of viewers that ‘The Walking Dead’ does.

    As of December 2012, AMC’s statements showed that “The Walking Dead” had to overcome $49 million deficit before its creator could see the first dollar. Darabont now accuses AMC of manipulating the figures so that the “plaintiffs never see that first dollar.”

    The suit says that the company claims a $55 million deficit after a production cost totaled $104.5 million and AMC paid itself $49 million dollars in license fees. Therefore, as long as AMC continues to run a deficit the plaintiffs won’t get paid.

    http://youtu.be/yh3ZdMzKgdo

    Image via YouTube

  • Here’s 9 Minutes Of Dying Light Gameplay Footage

    One of the most anticipated games of next year is Dying Light – a free-running zombie game from the guys that brought us Dead Island. One of its most interesting mechanics is a day/night cycle that affects the gameplay in a significant way. While most of the gameplay shown thus far has taken place during the day, we’re now starting to see more of its night gameplay.

    As previously noted, the zombies transform at night. They cease being the simple slow-moving zombies that you’ve come to expect from zombie games and become effective fast-moving hunters. It’s one of the many reasons why the game encourages players to take care of their business during the day to avoid being caught out at night.

    Interestingly enough, the latest gameplay trailer introduces a special infected that can spit what appears to be bile at the player. This type of zombie has been seen in both Dead Island and Left 4 Dead, but it’s nice to know that there will be some variety among the daytime zombies as well.

    Dying Light is scheduled to launch at some point in 2014 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

    Image via GamersPrey

  • Gifts for Men: 7 Top Picks for Him

    Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the guy in your life? Then look no further; your gift-giving guide awaits.  From young to old, tech savvy to sports guru, fashionistas and outdoorsmen, these gifts are sure to please even the pickiest of men on your list.

    Everyone has a camera on their phone these days. But not all of them can safely be used underwater.  Put your bags of rice away and check out the rugged Polaroid XS100 sports action video camera – useful for both photography buffs, wedding videographers, and everyday functionality. Plus, did I mention it’s waterproof? Your techie will love it, and you’ll enjoy not having to replace it.

    Next up is a gift every man can use. Can you still hear your grandfather reminiscing about the old-time barber shop where Barber Bill had the closest straight razor shave in three counties? Minus the striped pole, the Man Can serves up a healthy portion of pampering with a side of male humor.  What man doesn’t need an extra paint can?

    If you have a sports fan on your list, you’ll score a home run with this gift.  No matter their age, boys from 8 to 80 will be telling their friends about your gifting genius for years to come. A classic ballpark  blueprint, beautifully framed to match any decor, is the perfect addition to a child’s room or man cave. They’re available in several different stadiums and make a great conversation starter.

    Does the special guy in your life have a musical side? Whether he plays guitar, piano or just sings in the shower, this guitar pick punch is as creative a gift as they come.  He can make his own or matching ones for his garage band buddies with just about any hard plastic object.  The guitar pick punch can use anything from an old credit card to that employee name badge you accidentally washed – making the possibilities to personalize virtually endless.

    If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach then he’ll be head over heels for you after his taste buds get a hold of these simple sweets.  Chocolate almond clusters that call for just two ingredients are not only better on your wallet than special order designer chocolates, he will ask you over and over to make these – usually garnering a favor from him in the process.

    Ringing in at number six is for your closet comedian and will come in handy at all the right times.  Check out the Zombie Survival Crate from Man Crates, one of many crate options that range from oddly entertaining to downright useful.  Your zombie-fighting soldier will not only be prepared with first aid supplies and survival guide, he’ll have plenty of energy and strength from eating the included Spam and Twinkies.

    Last but certainly not least is a gift for the man who TRULY has everything.  Picture him out on the links in his designer polo and custom fitted clubs.  You come rolling – no –  gliding in on this futuristic find.  A Golf Cart Hovercraft is not only a creative gift idea, its extremely functional.  While he’s waving off George Jetson jokes he’s also avoiding water hazards, sand traps, and keeping from damaging the well manicured greens and fairways of his favorite courses.  It’s price tag is not for the faint of heart, but is definitely for the Fortune 500 company man with money to spend on gadgets that most of us only dream about.

    So, whether your guy is packing around a fishing pole in his truck or a laptop on the subway, he’ll definitely know that you put forth a lot of thought and effort into figuring out his ideal Christmas present this year. And when all else fails…..you can always give him a gift card to your favorite store – claiming that your happiness is all the gift he’ll ever need. Hey, you never know. It could work.

    Image via Man Crates  

  • ‘DayZ’ Standalone Alpha Released

    It has now been well over one year since Dean “Rocket” Hall announced that DayZ will be released as a standalone title. Since that time, fans of the ARMA 2 Mod have been impatiently pouring over regular updates about the game’s development.

    Today Bohemia Interactive officially released DayZ in an alpha state. That means that players can experience the game as-is while it is still being developed. The game can be purchased for $30 (30€) via the Bohemia website or via Steam as an Early Access title.

    DayZ is the game that helped to kick off the recent trend in zombie survival games. Originally an ambitious mod for military simulator ARMA 2, the game caught on during the summer of 2012 for its sandbox gameplay, persistent character progression, and permanent character death. Gamers were pitted against zombie hordes and each other in an attempt to survive a bleak zombie apocalypse.

    The standalone version of the game promises many upgrades from the mod, most notably improved animations and a more robust server architecture. Players will now be able to a more in-depth crafting system to upgrade weapons and clothing. The complex inventory system from ARMA 2 has been replaced with a more streamlined menu and inventory bar system.

    Most of these new features can be seen in the launch trailer for the game, which was posted today by Hall. In addition to the new DayZ standalone features the trailer does show off the extreme violence of the game and is probably NSFW:

    According tot the game’s Steam page, Hall and his fellow developers believe it will take more than one year for the game to even reach the beta stage. Fans with $30 and an eagerness to dive into the unfinished game, however, can now do so.