The man himself, played by Simu Liu. Shang-Chi debuted in the comics back in the 1970s as the “Master of Kung Fu,” was a human boy trained from birth by his father, Fu Manchu, in martial arts. In the MCU, however, Shang-Chi is actually the son of a man named Wenwu, who is the true Mandarin–a character we last saw played by an “actor” in Iron Man 3.
In the movie, Shang-Chi has attempted to leave his father’s legacy behind and is living in San Francisco, working as a valet. He’s still got all his training to fall back on, though–and he’s definitely going to need to use it when his father’s army comes looking for him.
Bernard Rose’s 1992 supernatural Clive Barker adaptation Candyman was not a huge commercial success, and while it inspired two sequels that decade, they were mediocre low-budget films that felt more like quick cash-ins than any meaningful attempt to extend its legacy. But in the 30 years since Rose’s film hit theaters, the masterful, haunting mix of social criticism and gory scares has helped the film retain its power in a way that many other horror movies of the ’90s have not. Director Nia DaCosta and producer/co-writer Jordan Peele have now gone back to the source to make a sequel that attempts to both honor the original and apply the mythology of Candyman to modern America.
The movie’s setting is Calibri, the Chicago community that stands in the same location as the original film’s Calibri Green. Back in the ’90s, this notorious housing project provided a compelling backdrop for the movie’s dissection of class and race, as white student Helen Lyle ventured into the poor Black neighborhood to investigate the legend of Candyman, a former slave turned vengeful hook-handed, bee-conjuring spirit. Today, Calibri is a wealthy and gentrified area, with expensive townhouses in place of the dilapidated apartments. It’s here that the movie’s main character, artist Anthony (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), now lives with his girlfriend, art curator Brianna (Teyonah Parris).
Anthony is struggling to find a subject for an upcoming show, but when he starts investigating the history of Calibri, and in particular the legend of Candyman, he finds new inspiration. Unfortunately, that also means doing the one thing any horror fan will tell you never to do–say Candyman’s name five times into a mirror–and soon people around him are dropping dead in gruesome ways.
With his two directorial credits to date–Get Out and Us–Peele has shown himself to be skilled at exploring issues of social justice through the conventions of horror. DaCosta is new to the genre, but her acclaimed 2018 debut Little Woods proved her ability as a sensitive, character-focused filmmaker. Aptly, their take on Candyman holds up a mirror to the first movie. That was the work of a white British filmmaker exploring racial injustice and social divide from the point of view of an outsider. Conversely, DaCosta and Peele take us further inside the experience of Calibri’s residents–both middle-class newcomers such as Anthony and old-timers like William (Colman Domingo), who grew up in the old housing project.
Candyman is not exactly subtle in the way it establishes its themes, and some of the early scenes feel a little heavy-handed in the discussion of gentrification or Anthony’s struggle to represent the Black experience through his art. But the efficiency and ambition of the film are impressive–it only runs 91 minutes, but for the most part, DaCosta, Peele, and co-writer Win Rosenfeld find the right balance between the social and the scary. Political and topical horror movies–from Night of the Living Dead to Invasion of the Body Snatchers–rarely have time for subtle satire, preferring instead to keep the messages surface level and have the horror add to the overall impact. Candyman is no exception.
DaCosta brings a distinct visual style to the movie. Throughout the film, she plays with the motifs of glass and reflections–some of the opening credits are even mirrored–and the way she shoots and frames the horror set-pieces, as Candyman picks off his victims, is often highly inventive. One stunningly realized sequence is filmed at a distance through the windows of a luxury apartment block, while another is glimpsed in the reflection of a dropped hand-mirror. She also uses the striking shadowy puppetry of Kara Walker to explain the backstory of various characters. One of the movie’s main themes is the nature of storytelling, particularly the way urban legends morph and shift over time, and using shadow puppets is an ingenious way to both represent this and avoid clichéd exposition and flashback scenes.
Abdul-Mateen II is superb as the artist who finds recognition and inspiration only when people around him start dying. Anthony’s frightening decline–both mentally and physically–is well handled, and there are standout supporting performances from WandaVision star Parris (who DaCosta will next direct in the MCU movie The Marvels), Domingo, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Brianna’s brother Troy. There are also appearances from Vanessa Estelle Williams, reprising her role as Anne-Marie McCoy from the first film, and, of course, Tony Todd as Candyman himself (briefly).
The film, unfortunately, stumbles toward the end. The last 15 minutes are packed with dark revelations, surprise villains, and baffling character decisions which seemingly only occur to move the plot forward rather than make any logical sense. For the first time, the blend of biting topical commentary and traditional horror feels confused and awkward, diminishing the movie’s overall effect. While a brisk running time is often a good thing for a horror movie to maintain tension, a slower build towards the climax might have helped deliver an ending as effective as the rest of the movie.
While iconic horror and slasher villains are often one-dimensional figures, Candyman remains one of horror’s most fascinating and complex characters, a tragic figure birthed through prejudice and rage. This latest movie shows that there’s plenty more that can be done with the character, and despite the fumbled climax, it does hint at where the subsequent films could take the series. Candyman 2021 might not hit the heights of the original movie, but it’s very likely we’ll be saying his name again soon.
The Xbox Mini-Fridge is still on track to release in Holiday 2021, according to Microsoft. In response to someone asking about the mini-fridge, the general manager of Xbox game marketing Aaron Greenberg confirmed that it is still set to release this holiday and the company will share more when they can.
People may have been concerned that the mini-fridge was going to miss its Holiday 2021 release window since it did not make an appearance during the Gamescom 2021 Xbox stream or during Gamescom Opening Night Live. Microsoft did announce other hardware coming this year to celebrate both the launch of Halo Infinite on December 8 and the 20th anniversary of Xbox. Microsoft announced the Halo Infinite Elite Controller and the Halo Infinite Xbox Series X, both of which are limited-edition items.
Blizzard has announced that it will change Overwatch character McCree’s name after its namesake, former Blizzard lead level designer Jesse McCree, was ousted from the company amid the Activision Blizzard sexual harassment and discrimination case.
“We built the Overwatch universe around the idea that inclusivity, equity, and hope are the building blocks of a better future,” Blizzard said in an update posted to Twitter. “They are central to the game and to the Overwatch team. As we continue to discuss how we best live up to our values and to demonstrate our commitment to creating a game world that reflects them, we believe it’s necessary to change the name of the hero currently known as McCree to something that better represents what Overwatch stands for.”
Blizzard said the change “will take time to roll out correctly,” and the company promised to share additional updates on this as it progresses. The developer also shared that it had planned to begin a new narrative arc for Overwatch in September, with McCree expected to play a key role.
As a result of the forthcoming changes to McCree, Blizzard is delaying the new arc until later this year. In the place of this, Blizzard will release a new FFA map for Overwatch in September.
Looking ahead, Blizzard said it will no longer name Overwatch characters after real employees. The company also vowed to “be more thoughtful and discerning about adding real-world references in future Overwatch content.”
“We know that actions speak louder than words, and we hope to show you our commitment to making Overwatch a better experience in-game and continue to make our team the best it can be.”
Jesse McCree was among the Blizzard developers pictured in the infamous “Cosby Suite” photo. While all of this is happening, Blizzard continues to work on updates to Overwatch and the sequel, Overwatch 2, which is scheduled to release in 2022 at the soonest.
During a Dying 2 Know presentation at this year’s Gamescom, Techland confirmed previous rumors that Dying Light would be heading to the Switch. While it was revealed that Switch players will be getting the game’s Platinum Edition, a specific release date for Dying Light was not announced.
It doesn’t seem that players will be able to choose between a regular version of Dying Light and the game’s Platinum Edition. The latter comes with all of the game’s DLC and expansions, including Hellraid, which was originally going to release as its own game. However, the game’s price varies depending on what platform it’s being purchased on. On Steam, Dying Light Platinum Edition is currently on sale for $103, while the PlayStation Store lists the game at just $50. As such, the price of the game on Switch is impossible to predict.
Dying Light Platinum Edition will also be getting a physical release on the Switch, complete with some extra collectibles. The game will include a survival guide, a two-sided map, and a sticker pack.
Dying Light is still being supported by Techland, even with Dying Light 2 Stay Human’s release date just months away. The game’s most recent update added a low gravity event in which the game’s city experiences a gravitational anomaly, letting players jump higher and use the grappling hook to zip over to zombies. An Astronaut DLC bundle was also released for the game that added space-age costumes and weapons.
Dying Light 2, meanwhile, is set to release on December 7 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Along with revealing that Dying Light is coming to the Switch, Techland’s latest Dying 2 Know episode detailed some of Dying Light 2’s parkour and combat mechanics.
Possibly one of the biggest surprises of the game, Aliens: Fireteam Elite doesn’t just reference the prequel film Prometheus; it actually uses it as a springboard to introduce a small number of dangerous enemies. From acidic Poppers to human settlers exposed to the deadly Engineer virus, here’s a breakdown of the enemies you’ll find lurking about the game. For more guides, be sure to check out our Aliens: Fireteam Elite guide roundup.
Similar to Facehuggers, Pathogen Poppers are small obstacles that can easily be dealt with, provided that you have enough ammo in your weapons to do so. These proto-Facehuggers usually swarm a player with numbers, and like Runners, they’ll climb over walls and ceilings to attack you. They may be easy to deal with, but their relentless leap attacks still make Poppers a force to be reckoned with.
Pathogen Husk
Pathogen Husk
Ever wondered what happened to all the settlers on LV-895? It turns out they were scooped up and taken to the Engineer ship and exposed to mutating effects of the pathogen virus. Like Runners, Pathogen Husks rely on numbers to overwhelm players, biting and clawing as soon as they get in close. Unlike their Xenomorph counterparts, though, Husks have no acid blood to worry about, lack the agility of their more dangerous counterparts, and their aggressive nature makes them easy to take down when they’re funneled into a chokepoint.
Pathogen Stalker
Like Prowlers, Pathogen Stalkers prefer to strike when you’re unaware of their presence, and they can take plenty of damage before they finally fall. The big difference here, though, is that Stalkers can escape by activating their evolved camouflage ability, warping light around them, and becoming instantly invisible as they retreat. If your eyes are sharp, you can still spot them making a disturbance in the environment as they run off, but it’s also hard to keep track of them when you’re under siege.
Unlike other enemies in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Synthetic androids require a very different approach when encountered. Armed to the teeth and completely fearless, here’s a rundown of the blue-skinned Weyland-Yutani soldiers that you’ll need to fight with actual tactics and intelligence. For more guides, be sure to check out our Aliens: Fireteam Elite guide roundup.
“Brilliantly simple and simply brilliant” as they were described in Alien: Isolation, Working Joes aren’t too much of a threat. Android cannon fodder, these working units are armed with a wrench and can easily be taken down. If they do get close, though, they’re a disruptive presence that can do moderate damage.
Synth Guards and Troopers
They might be fragile, but these more advanced Synthetic troopers are still a force to be reckoned with and necessitate the use of cover-based tactics to deal with. Headshots are always effective, but Synth Guards are adept at also taking cover, have impressive levels of marksmanship, and they won’t hesitate to focus all of their attention on a single target that hasn’t yet found a safe barrier to hunker behind.
Containment Synth
Armed with a bulletproof shield, Containment Synths will slowly push forward while absorbing gunfire. There is a small gap in their shield to fire through if you’re skilled enough, but your best option when dealing with these troops is to let one player draw their attention and then circle behind them to take advantage of their exposed weak point. Electric rounds also work well, as being hit with this ammo-type will cause the Synths to drop their shields momentarily.
Synth Warden
Synth Warden
Stronger, more durable, and able to issue commands, the Synth Warden is also easily identified by its cutting-edge baseball cap and its habit of throwing grenades at your position. When driven into a corner, it can activate its own Overclock ability to fire off rounds more quickly.
Synth Detonators
Even the Synthetic troops have a kamikaze unit, which happens to take the shape of a headless automaton that can somehow see you and won’t waste time rushing your position. Once they reach their mark, Synth Detonators will automatically self-destruct, damaging you and any equipment caught in their blast radius.
Synth Sniper
Not only do these Synthetics boast the best accuracy in the game, they’re also positioned well across the map, and they’ll easily shave huge chunks of health off of players caught in their crosshairs. Stick to cover, quickly close the gap when they stop aiming, and take out the ultimate marksman up close and personal if you’re wielding weapons that don’t work too well from long distances.
Synth Incinerator And Synth Heavy
Synth Heavy
The ultimate Synthetic combat unit, these combat androids are heavily armored and come equipped either with a flamethrower or a minigun. Essentially Demolishers, the heavy Synths will walk through whatever you throw at them and the best tactic for dealing with them is to once again focus fire, make ample use of your special abilities, and pop a consumable such as an electrified landmine.
Unlike past entries in the main series, Halo Infinite is coming to PC at launch. Now, the game’s system requirements appear to have been revealed, detailing what kind of rig you’ll need to run the game.
According to Steam, the minimum requirements call for an AMD FX-8370 or Intel i5-4400 processor better, 8 GB of RAM, and an AMD RX 570 or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti card. The recommended specs, meanwhile, ask for an AMC Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel i7-9700k processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a Radeon RX 5700 XT or Nvidia RTX 2070 card. This applies to both the campaign and the multiplayer, both of which will also require about 50 GB of space to install, according to the Steam page.
We have followed up with Microsoft in an attempt to find out if these system requirements are the real deal or are placeholders.
According to Microsoft, Halo Infinite was “built from the ground up for PC.” It will have “advanced graphics settings” and support for ultrawide and super ultrawide monitors, along with triple-key binds and features like dynamic scaling and variable frame rates.
After a big delay, Halo Infinite is now slated to launch on December 8 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The campaign mode is included with Game Pass, while the multiplayer is completely free-to-play. The December 8 release date is the latest into the year that Microsoft will have ever released a new mainline Halo game, but analysts have said the specific timing maybe doesn’t matter so much because Halo Infinite is a live service game that will grow and evolve over time.
In other news, the next Halo Infinite beta test will be bigger in scope than the first one, introducing Big Team Battle and 4v4 Slayer. Microsoft also plans to invite more players to this test, so if you missed out on the first one, you might have a better chance of getting into the next one. The only way to get in is to sign up for Halo Insider.
Halo Infinite PC System Requirements
(According to Steam’s product page for the game, not confirmed by Microsoft)
The original double-jaw killing machine, there’s no shortage of Xenomorphs roaming the corridors, air vents, and ancient alien ruins of Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Here’s a look at just how many variants you’ll face throughout the game. For more guides, be sure to check out our Aliens: Fireteam Elite guide roundup.
The original 1979 nightmare fuel, Facehuggers may be fleshy obstacles that can be taken down with just a few rounds, but they make up for their fragility with speed and guile. They can usually be found in eggs in the later levels, where it’s always a good idea to destroy them before they can hatch. Should Facehuggers get loose, though, they’ll quickly move towards you and attempt to violate your social space, so keep an eye open for them as even a single one can disrupt a well-organized defense.
Runners
The rank and file variant of the iconic Xenomorph species, Runners are simple-minded cannon fodder that can easily be taken out with a precise burst from a pulse rifle. What the Runners lack in fortitude, they more than make up for in terms of numbers that can easily overwhelm a strike team and a cunning nature that allows them to use their environment to their full advantage. They’ll crawl over ceilings, climb walls, and run through your offense to get one last swipe in, while their corpses leave behind an acidic reminder once they expire.
Prowlers
Xenomorph Prowler
For a Xenomorph species that features a distinct red carapace, Prowlers are adept at hiding in the shadows. They’ll often lurk in the quieter corridors of a level, and if you don’t spot one in time, they’ll pounce on you and deliver some quick damage. With a chunky health bar, you’ll need a full clip of ammo to take one of these predators down, and in combat, they’ll use the Runner as cover to close the gap and use a leap attack to finish you off.
Bursters
Every Xenomorph is a ticking time bomb thanks to the acidic blood that pumps through their veins, but Bursters take this idea to a whole new level. With more pressurized bodily fluids, Bursters operate similarly to Runners but explode upon death, leaving a longer-lasting and more damaging puddle of acid behind. Acidic blood from Runners result in minor damage, but Bursters will eat through your health points in no time at all if you’re caught in their deathly blast radius.
Drone
A blast from the past, Drones come out of the airlocks and other nearby entry points to stalk your team and hunt them down. While they don’t have too much armor, they do have a fairly substantial amount of health points. And once a Drone takes damage, they’ll scamper off to an exit point, biding their time until they can strike again. Drones aren’t much of a threat for a fireteam that sees them coming, but for any straggling members, they can be an instant death sentence.
Warrior
Xenomorph Warrior
The Warrior essentially acts like a Drone that doesn’t care too much about self-preservation or finding a hiding spot when it has soaked up a few hundred bullets, as it’ll instead charge towards a player and grab them. At this point, you’ll have to quickly engage in a mini-game of avoiding its secondary set of jaws or hope that the rest of your team can take it out before it does too much damage.
Spitters
Unlike the majority of Xenomorphs that have a head-first strategy when dealing with hive intruders, Spitters will stick to a distance and fire lethal globs of their acidic fluids at players. Able to take a significant amount of damage, Spitters also make good use of cove,r and if one of their acid bombs connects, it’ll leave you in a stumbled state. If the projectile misses, it’ll still leave its mark on the ground around you as a temporary trap, so avoid, take cover, and force the Spitter out of hiding with some precise headshots.
Crusher
Big, heavy, and equipped with an armored head crest, Crushers are the tanks of the Xenomorph horde and won’t hesitate to rush in and knock players down. Most of their armor is situated around their head, so when this charger appears, distract it with one of your teammates and attack from the rear to quickly burn through its defenses before it smashes yours.
Praetorian
Xenomorph Praetorian
The pinnacle of the Xenomorph species, Praetorians serve multiple roles in a hive that range from royal guard to army commander. In Aliens: Fireteam Elite, that role is to utterly smash through any resistance, a job that they’re frighteningly well-equipped for. Praetorians have the thickest armor, do incredible amounts of damage, and will shrug off any attacks until they’re close enough to lunge towards you. The only way to halt them is with special attacks from certain Marine classes, incendiary ammo, and drones that highlight weak points, allowing for a fireteam to concentrate fire and cut these deadly giants down to size.
Alien Queen
Don’t gawk, don’t engage, and save your ammo. You’ll only encounter a Queen once in the game, as the end of the campaign will unleash the Xenomorph matriarch towards you. Don’t try to fight it, as the Queen is invulnerable and will knock you down with a single swipe. There’s no power-loader suit nearby, so all you can do is run. Remember, you don’t have to be faster than the queen, but you do have to be faster than the rest of your team.
Netflix has signed Victoria Mahoney to direct its The Old Guard sequel, the superhero action-adventure led by Charlize Theron, Variety reports. Mahoney, who most recently directed episodes for HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Netflix’s You, takes over from Gina Prince-Bythewood who chose not to return for the follow-up due to her filling schedule.
Prince-Bythwood was more than happy to pass the reins to Mahoney, saying in a statement that the “franchise is in good hands.”
“I love The Old Guard and the story and characters I was honored to put into the world,” Prince-Bythewood said. “It was exciting to disrupt the genre. I have decided not to direct the sequel but will stay on as a producer.”
The Old Guard, based on the comic book series by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, tells the story of a group of Immortals, led by Charlize Theron’s Andromache (“Andy”), which faces off against a nefarious pharma druglord who wants to use them as lab rats and profit off any and all findings. It proved to be a hit with around 78 million views in the first month on the streaming service last year.
“Genuinely blown backward by the collective levels of talent, skill, and savvy that went into carving The Old Guard,” Mahoney said in a statement. “I must’ve watched it over a hundred times, and as such, cannot communicate the true measure of my excitement–being invited on The Old Guard journey alongside ferocious badasses.”
Theron will be returning for the sequel, along with KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
