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Let’s get this out the way: Nobody titles their film “Eel” if they don’t want critics to reach for the adjective “slippery,” and Chu Chun-Teng’s woozily gorgeous first feature invites it from the off. Its story, slender but charged, is in a constant state of retreat, repeatedly darting into psychological and existential alleys just out of view. Its images, too, are often as elusive as they are beautiful, symbolically layered but accommodating of uncertain, Rorschach-style intuition. The chase is the thrill in “Eel,” an open-ended love story in which an atmosphere of suspended summertime yearning is sometimes cut through with gestures of brazen, unambiguous, horny human need — like a head-clearing pang, or pain, amid lapping waves of more inchoate feeling.

Arguably the most esoteric selection in the inaugural, debut-focused Perspectives competition at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, “Eel” also announces one of its most emphatically confident...

It’s been months since the first reveal of Gears of War: E-Day and gamers can’t wait to get their hands on the title. The long-awaited glimpse into the events that ended up setting the franchise in motion has made fans excited and itching to know more.

Gears of War: E-Day will help the franchise gain relevance again. (Image via The Coalition)

There are a lot of expectations for The Coalition to meet as it’s one of the most important games in the history of the series, and if it isn’t handled properly, Gears of War might not be a thing going forward. Thankfully, it seems the developers have cracked the code as they’re planning to bring back one of the most beloved parts of the franchise.

Gears of War: E-Day is learning from the franchise’s past success

In an interview with IGN, Brand Director...

The gaming world is abuzz with excitement as The Coalition prepares to take players back to the pivotal moment that sparked the epic Gears of War saga. Announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, Gears of War: E-Day promises to be a groundbreaking prequel that will explore the harrowing events of Emergence Day, set 14 years before the original Gears of War game.

E-Day, as fans of the series know, marks the catastrophic emergence of the Locust Horde from beneath the surface of Sera, an event that decimated the planet’s population and plunged humanity into a desperate fight for survival. This new installment aims to capture the raw intensity and horror of that fateful day through the eyes of a younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, with John Dimaggio and Carlos Ferro reprising their iconic roles.

The reveal trailer, showcased at the Xbox event, immediately set the tone for what players can expect.

In the gory, viscera-soaked world of Gears of War, players have grown accustomed to dispatching Locust in the most brutal ways imaginable. But even for a series known for its over-the-top violence, a recently discovered glitch has managed to catch players off guard with its sheer, unadulterated savagery.

A Reddit post showcasing this hidden gem has left the Gears community equal parts shocked and delighted, with many rushing to their consoles (or PCs) to recreate the grisly scene for themselves.

A Snatcher’s Shocking Demise

The post in question features a short clip from Gears 5‘s Horde mode in which the player bravely approaches a Snatcher—one of the game’s larger, more formidable enemies—and revs up their chainsaw.

RELATEDFrom Gears of War To The Walking Dead, These Are 5 Video Game Deaths That We Still Haven’t Gotten Over

What follows is a glitchy, janky animation that culminates in...

Despite its popularity, Gears of War is a video game series that failed to keep up and had a terrible downfall. This happened when The Coalition took charge as series developers with Gears of War 4 and introduced a new storyline involving Kait and Jd as central characters.

The storyline was interrupted by the recent announcement of Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel set 14 years before the first game. However, the third instalment in the Kait and Jd trilogy could hold something exciting for fans.

Enthusiastic Fan Asks a Question Which Might Very Make the Plot for Gears of War 6

While long-term fans were incredibly excited to see Marcus Phoenix and Dominic Santiago in the trailer for E-Day, some were also confused. That is because the series had already begun a revamp, eventually leading to the strange ending of Gears 5.

Related“Through the eyes of those encountering them for the first...

Gears of War: E-Day has set everyone’s expectations high by promising to explore Emergence Day’s chaos while potentially reshaping key elements of the Gears lore. While little is known about what players will experience in the storyline, there is certainly a buzz about who will be the main antagonist.

There are several possibilities regarding the potential villain of the upcoming game. Since the storyline will take place just at the beginning of E-Day, The Coalition has a blank canvas on their hands. However, it might be better to focus on the overwhelming threat of the Locust Horde itself rather than introducing a single primary antagonist.

Shaping the Villain Dynamics in Gears of War: E-Day

One of the key aspects of the original Gears of War lore is how the human race initially reacts to the Locust Horde’s emergence. In earlier games, much of this event is depicted through flashbacks,...

Fans on Reddit are imagining a scenario in Gears of War 3 where you had to choose between saving Cole or Baird. The community was equally divided on who they would pick, and both of these characters had great arguments presented by the fanbase.

Gears of War 5 did actually have this choice, forcing players to choose between the last game’s protagonist, James, or Kate’s new bestie, Del, in the third act of the game, barely an hour before the credits rolled.

The Hypothetical Choice Between Cole and Baird

This idea, posed by a user on the subreddit r/GearsofWar, led to some intense debate among fans. The user asked if the studio behind the game, The Coalition, had implemented this choice in Gears 5 instead of the one between James and Del, or if Epic Games had done so all the way back in Gears of War 3, whether or not...

From what we have seen so far of Gears of War: E-Day, The Coalition will take the game back to its defining qualities: grit and gore. But there is more to these games than simply pulling a trigger and watching things evaporate in a crimson mist.

The overarching story of all the games shows how humanity has been pushed to the brink. However, the oppressors changed in the series, with the first three games featuring the Locusts and the fourth and fifth featuring the Swarm. But this has caused a shift in player sentiment for the game too!

Gears of War 5 Changed the Course of the Series Away from Horror

The first three games in the series had some subtle and tasteful elements of horror that many fans of the franchise enjoyed. However, the last two major Gears of War titles didn’t focus so much on the horror elements,...

Gears of War: E-Day brings back Marcus and Dom for a prequel on Emergence Day, but risks further repeating old themes. Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 added interesting twists to the series, but ultimately retread old ground. E-Day is similarly stuck trying to recapture the heights of the original trilogy by bringing players back to the Locust War, which the series never really left in the first.

Gears of War: E-Day is one of my most anticipated upcoming games. I adored the series' original trilogy, but I'm just now getting around to playing its more recent entries after skipping the Xbox One generation. Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 haven't quite reached the same heights as the series-best Gears of War 2 for me, but roadie running around and chainsawing grubs has a sort of base appeal that hasn't ceased to be entertaining. Since The Coalition took stewardship of the series' development,...

Xbox announced The Coalition’s Gears of War: E-Day at its Summer Showcase and fans are excited to go back at the very beginning of the Locust War. Players will play as young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago.

After somewhat underwhelming experiences in Gears 4 and Gears 5, fans are expecting the game to take the franchise to its roots. But this is only possible if The Coalition is able to stay away from rookie mistakes made in these titles.

Gears of War: E-Day Needs to Avoid Mistakes of Last Two Titles

Gears of War fans have been discussing what they would like to see in the game and what would sit right, as the franchise is going back 14 years before the events of the original game with this title. Some things in the previous two installments didn’t sit quite right with the fans.

RELATEDGears of War’s Cutscene Made in...

The Coalition anticipates one of the most terrifying games in the franchise, promising that this prequel will bring back all the horror and fear that the first three titles of this saga delivered. Gears of War: E-Day will be a prequel that showcases, for the first time, the rise of the Locust and how they invaded humanity in the most unexpected way possible.

On platforms like Reddit, discussions about what this game should include are emerging every day, and now players want certain types of cinematics focused on horror, as the previous games did.

Gears of War: E-Day Will Have to Fully Commit to Horror, According to Fans

Since its announcement, this game has continuously generated excitement among fans who expect one of the best entries in the franchise with this prequel.

The studio intends to return to its roots and demonstrate the Locust threat like never before. In the midst of a human war,...

As the world eagerly awaits the release of Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel that promises to take us back to the harrowing origins of the Locust War, a tantalizing question has emerged: could this classic Xbox exclusive find its way to the PlayStation 5?

While the idea of a Gears of War PS5 release might seem like heresy to some, recent comments from Xbox head Phil Spencer suggest that the once-unthinkable could become a reality. And if it does, there are two compelling reasons why E-Day could be an even better experience on Sony’s console.

Sony’s DualSense in Microsoft’s Gears of War: E-Day

When a Gears fan recently discovered that Gears of War: E-Day is coming to Steam, they couldn’t contain their excitement:

Gears Of War E Day Coming To Steam????????...

With the unexpected announcement of Gears of War: E-Day during the Xbox Games Showcase on 9th June 2024, the players’ anticipation for the game has risen. Players are now expecting many innovative features that will redefine the franchise.

The community speculates various things about the game, from characters to narratives to weapons. One of the recent speculations highlights the player’s love for one of the races in the series and they even want them to be the main characters instead of Marcus and Dom.

Players Want Different Main Characters in Gears of War: E-Day

With no set release date for Gears of War: E-Day, players are looking for any small details to feed their excitement for the series. Even though there have been many titles in the series over the years, players still love and adore Gears of War 3. Players feel that the recent one doesn’t have that much...

Bad Genius director Baz Poonpiriya and Thailand’s Gdh 559 have partnered to form strategic creative house Bask for global productions, partnering with Justin Lin as executive producer and Anita Gou as producer.

The new venture aims to offer a fresh perspective on Thai and Asian culture for global audiences. “Our mission is to support Asian filmmakers, giving a voice to those who are often overlooked and making sure they are heard and seen both behind and in front of the camera,” Baz told Screen.

On its debut slate are a string of in-development projects with Thai filmmakers attached. The...

Ahead of the release of Gears of War: E-Day, fans are revisiting a debate. The portrayal of the Locust as super soldiers who were originally intended to be a strong force for the Cog has come under scrutiny.

Despite their supposed superiority, one fan argues that ordinary Gears and even civilians can defeat them with relative ease, calling into question their status as super soldiers. This perceived inconsistency has led some fans to label the idea as “kinda dumb.”

Is There Any Validity in This Gears of War Theory? What is The Coalition cooking with Gears of War: E-Day? | Image Credit: The Coalition.

In a recent discussion on the Gears of War subreddit, user AhhSlickerz pointed out that the Locust heavily relied on Hollow creatures and the guidance of leaders like Kantus and Ukkon. This raises doubts about their supposed superiority as soldiers, especially when they are often portrayed as...

Microsoft surprised fans when it revealed that Gears of War: E-Day would be a prequel to the franchise. It will cover the first emergence of the Locust, when humans were still unprepared to face these terrifying creatures. As a result, many fans have various theories and suggestions about what should happen in this title.

For instance, a discussion arose on Reddit about how good the main character Marcus Fenix is, as he has made quite questionable decisions in the past but always ends up in a favorable light, unlike his son in the last two games. Perhaps this prequel should emphasize even more that he is a character with many nuances.

Xbox Has a Unique Opportunity to Present the Protagonist Differently in Gears of War: E-Day Gears of War: E-Day should emphasize in how Marcus Fenix is a very complicated character. Image via The Coalition.

Although many fans were expecting...

Counting all the games in the Gears of War franchise, E-Day will be the seventh mainline entry in the series. Turning the clock back to the very first invasion of the Locust is an interesting narrative decision by The Coalition, and fans are eager to see what they accomplish.

With the game showcasing the first time humanity came into contact with the Locust hordes, we may see events that have only been referenced in the current games. Along with the campaign references, fans also want to see other features make it into the upcoming release.

Fans Demand Gears of War: E-Day Have One Beloved Multiplayer Inclusion We are going to see how the Gears of War franchise began! | Credits: Steam

As we progress through the generations of gaming, nostalgia has become an important factor for many players. There’s nothing quite like taking a trip down memory lane with maps we remember from previous titles.

The Gears of War: E-Day announcement has fans of the franchise wondering what The Coalition has planned for the newest entry into the series. Given that it’s being built using Unreal Engine 5, there are a lot of ways that the developer can push the series’ offerings.

Single-player campaigns are only one-half of the story when it comes to Gears of War, and people are expecting a robust online experience. Fans of the series are eager to see how the online component will play out, and some also have suggestions for what they would like to see!

Gears of War: E-Day Online Needs to Include Immersive and Dynamic Maps Gears of War: E-Day can do a lot with its online maps. | Credits: Steam

For a shooter’s online modes to be successful, they need to retain players’ attention with smooth gameplay and content updates. The Coalition will have a content...

After many rumors and speculations from fans, Xbox finally revealed the next game from one of its most well-known series. Gears of War: E-Day surprised fans by announcing that it would be a complete prequel to the entire franchise’s story.

Some players received this very positively, but others delved deeper into the prequel concept and suggested a different kind of game. A Reddit user made an entire post describing what they would like to see in a prequel, proposing an angle different from that of the famous COGs.

Gears of War: E-Day Fans Are Happy but Still Want More Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel, but some players want a different kind of story. Image via The Coalition.

After its first appearance on the popular Xbox 360, this franchise established itself as one of Microsoft’s most popular and successful. Now, The Coalition has officially presented Gears of War: E-Day,...

One of The Coalition’s promises when announcing the new Gears of War: E-Day was that horror elements would once again be the franchise’s primary focus. While not a main feature of the original trilogy, these games contained several horror segments that genuinely made players feel a different atmosphere.

However, the last two games in the saga lost this feature and had almost no notable horror moments. Some Reddit users claim that Gears 4 and 5 had parts inspired by Dead Space, a statement that many players disagreed with, sparking a debate.

With Gears of War: E-Day, the Coalition Intends to Reintroduce Horror Some fans think that Gears 4 and 5 inspired on Dead Space. Other fans thought that this game shave not horror a t all. Image via EA.

To the surprise of all players, Gears of War: E-Day will be a complete prequel to the entire story we know about this franchise.

With the release of the first official trailer for Gears of War: E-Day, fans are more than excited to see this game in action. That’s why they are constantly proposing new ideas to add to the title. The Coalition is working hard on the story and character development. Fans on Reddit suggest complicated but exciting multiplayer modes.

One user recommended a potential multiplayer mode that could accommodate more than 20 players on each team, akin to Battlefield’s capture the flag mode, which can accommodate up to 64 players.

Fans Are Very Excited About Everything That Gears of War: E-Day Could Bring Gears of War: E-Day should try experimental multiplayer modes. Image via The Coalition.

Xbox could regain its fans’ trust thanks to the numerous games they announced, one of the most prominent being Gears of War: E-Day. Developed by The Coalition, this title will take the saga back to its origins,...

Thanks to an amazing trailer, fans are more excited than ever about Microsoft’s exclusive saga. Gears of War: E-Day was a surprise for all followers of this franchise, as they were expecting a sixth installment.

However, the studio decided to go for a prequel to everything you’ve seen in the games so far, showing us the first appearance of the iconic Locust. This eagerly awaited title has the potential to unveil a significant mystery in the saga, hidden since the initial game. Who are the parents of the famous Carmine brothers? These enigmatic characters appear in all of the saga’s titles.

The Coalition Could Finally Reveal the Secret Behind the Origin of the Carmines in Gears of War: E-Day Gears of War: E-Day could finally reveal the origin of the Carmine brothers. Image via The Coalition.

Microsoft could finally achieve the popularity of the first games with Gears of War: E-Day.

Whether you’re an oldie wiping the dust off of your Lancer or a newbie, it’s a good day to be a Gears of War fan, as E-Day promises to take us back to where it all started.

There’s no doubt that while the series has had its fair share of highs and lows, each entry has tried to freshen things up and bring something new to the table. Keeping that in mind, we’ve ranked all the mainline entries in an attempt to provide insights into what made a particular entry beloved—or not—by the community. So, without any further ado, let’s dive in.

#6 Gears of War: Judgment In the past few years, people’s perception of Gears of War: Judgment has become a lot warmer – Image Credit: Microsoft Studios.

Gears of War: Judgment has always been in a peculiar place within the community.

The official unveiling of Gears of War: E-Day at the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this month has every Gears fan chomping at the bit for more information about the most awaited prequel. While the gritty, action-packed trailer gave us a tempting glimpse of the Locust War’s brutal origins, it’s what the game might include that has fans truly excited: the return of Overrun!

For those who never had the chance to experience the adrenaline-fueled mayhem of Overrun, imagine a mode that takes the best elements of Horde and Beast, throws them into a blender, and cranks the dial up to eleven. It was a mode that kept players coming back for more—even when Judgment‘s multiplayer failed to hit the mark.

The Chance to Revive a Gears of War Favorite The in-engine footage has driven up hopes for the next Gears of War. | Image Credit: Xbox YouTube...

What did five of the most critically acclaimed Asian movies that premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival have in common? They all were edited by rising Taiwanese studio Cutting Edge Films.

Formally established only in 2022, the company comprises a small group of film professionals who have worked together for over a decade. They are co-led by French editor Matthieu Laclau (Touch of Sin), known for his long-running collaboration with Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke, and Taiwanese producer Justine O. (The Chinese Mayor, Black Dog), whose work has nabbed a succession of festival prizes in recent years. The company says its recent successes point to the maturity and expanding reach of Taipei’s post-production sector, which has been buoyed by steady government support and a growing reputation for high-quality work at globally competitive prices.

“Taipei’s post-production scene is definitely having a moment,” says Laclau. “For VFX, editing or color grading,...

One of the major reveals at the Xbox Games Showcase was the first official trailer for Gears of War: E-Day, which will serve as a complete prequel to the franchise. Many fans were expecting the first trailer for the sixth installment, but The Coalition surprised everyone with gameplay footage of what will be a return to the origins with the first two protagonists of the saga.

The studio has already provided several details about what this game will entail and where it fits in the timeline. This title promises to transport players to the war’s origins. Here are three reasons to be excited about this highly anticipated game.

Gears of War: E-Day Has Three Reasons Why This Game Will Return to the Franchise’s Origins and Is Just What Xbox Needs Gears of War: E-Day and three reasons on why this game will be making a great come back.

The highly anticipated release of Gears of War: E-Day is generating a lot of excitement among Gears fans.

This upcoming prequel is set to transport us all the way back to the intense initial moments of the Locust emergence, marking a pivotal and challenging period in humankind’s battle for survival.

Although specific details about the storyline are being kept closely guarded, a mysterious remark from The Coalition, the developer of Gears of War, has ignited speculation about the potential return of a beloved character from the franchise: General Raam.

The Legacy of General Raam in Gears of War

Fans were surprised to learn the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel.

General Raam is a well-known character for Gears of War fans. This formidable Locust leader, with his imposing stature and Kryll bat companions, quickly became a notable video game villain when he first appeared in 2008’s Gears of War.

The best Gears of War game is Gears of War 2, which features innovative additions like Horde mode. Gears of War has a loyal fanbase, with each entry retaining a similar feel despite slight tweaks. Gears 5 is a solid entry in the series that expands the gameplay formula with open-world sections, hinting at a larger future for the franchise.

The best Gears of War game will always come down to player preference, but it's inarguable that Gears has always been a reliable hit for Microsoft's line of consoles. The third-person shooters feature football-sized men crouching down behind an inexplicable number of knee-high barriers and firing off weapons at glorified mole men who want to take over the surface, and somehow, lead designer Cliff Bleszinski made that premise believable and emotionally resonant, turning out a trilogy of great Xbox titles and leaving new developers The Coalition a blueprint for success when...

The first trailer for Gears of War: E-Day completely surprised fans with something they didn’t expect at all. The game will be taking players back to the franchise’s origins just before the appearance of the Locust, the iconic enemies that are the hallmark of this saga.

In a recent interview, the game’s director said the studio is very confident in delivering a fantastic game. This could mean something huge for Xbox, similar to what God of War 2018 was for the PlayStation.

Matt Searcy, Director of Gears of War: E-Day, Thinks It Will Be a Spectacular Game Gears of War: E-Day could make something similar for Xbox to what God of War made for PlayStation.

Following an incredible presentation, E-Day topped the list of most anticipated games for fans. The title’s introduction presented it as a complete prequel to the franchise, illustrating the Locust’s emergence as iconic enemies in this saga.

While fans were anticipating a teaser for Gears of War 6 at the Xbox Showcase 2024, The Coalition surprised everyone by revealing Gears of War: E-Day instead. At first glance, the game appears to embody the classic Gears of War elements, suggesting that The Coalition has decided to return to its roots.

Not only is Gears of War back, but it’s also going back as E-Day is a prequel to the first Gears of War game. While the fifth installment of the franchise failed to charm fans, E-Day has got everyone excited, as it could be the start of another trilogy.

Gears of War: E-Day Could Be a New Start for The Coalition Gears of War: E-Day could be start of a trilogy

Gears of Wars is one of those franchises that has a huge fanbase due to the success of the initial games in the series. However, Gears of Wars...

Microsoft seized the opportunity and delivered an incredible event with many updates about its upcoming projects. Among them was the new installment of one of its flagship series, which wasn’t exactly what players were expecting but still received positive reactions.

Gears of War: E-Day will be a complete prequel to the saga, showing how the Locust emerged for the first time. The game’s director clarified in a recent interview that everything will be entirely different, potentially disappointing some fans.

According to the Director of Gears of War: E-Day, Players Should Manage Their Expectations Gears of War: E-Day is like no other title in the franchise and fans may have to control their expectations.

Following the spectacular announcement of Gears of War: E-Day, many fans of the franchise have recovered their hopes thanks to this new entry in the franchise. The studio behind the game, The Coalition, confirmed that it will be a prequel,...

After the reveal of Gears of War: E-Day at the Xbox Games Showcase, many fans have high hopes for the future of the franchise. The spectacular trailer showcased how this title will return to the saga’s origins with the first appearance of the Locust in the game.

Some users on social media are now hoping for various changes in the multiplayer aspect to revive the game’s popularity and steer clear of the mistakes made in the previous two titles. One of the things that bothered players the most was the new cover system.

The Coalition Has a Unique Opportunity to Bring Players Back to Gears of War: E-Day’s Multiplayer Gears of War: E-Day fans want changes for the multiplayer of this upcoming game.

With an astonishing trailer featuring a young Marcus Fenix alongside his well-known friend Dominic Santiago, Gears of War: E-Day promises a return to the origins that the franchise needed.

Gears of War is one of the most popular franchises out there, and after a five-year wait, fans now know that another title is soon coming their way. Xbox announced Gears of War E-Day, a prequel at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 that will take players back to Emergence Day.

While fans were hoping for Gears 6, they are happy that they will get to know the origin stories of series heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. The franchise creator, Cliff Bleszinski, is expecting to see something in the prequel, which would be epic, but the game will have to break the timeline.

Gears of War Creator Wishes to See an Emotional Moment in the Prequel

Cliff Bleszinski wants to see what could be one of the saddest moments in the franchise in Gears of War E-Day.

Emergence Day is when the Locust made themselves known to the planet of Sera, and...

The Gears of War franchise is taking a bold new step with its latest installment, Gears of War E-Day. The developers have promised a unique experience that will follow the characters through ‘every single minute’ of the Locust invasion.

This is a big departure from previous games, which have focused more on the big events and major objectives than the day-to-day lives during a certain time period.

Gears of War E-Day Will Feature a Closer Look at Daily Survival

The character development between Marcus and Dom in Gears of War E-Day will be a big focus.

In past Gears of War games, the campaigns typically spanned several weeks, and they were all about major missions and the bigger picture. Things would only happen that moved the plot forward, you wouldn’t follow a character through an entire day and see what they’ve been doing.

You’d jump from one epic battle to the next,...

Cliff Bleszinski, better known as Cliffy B, is a relatively big name in the gaming world, especially when it comes to the Gears of War series. He’s known for being the lead designer on the original trilogy.

But his recent interview about what he’d like to see in Gears of War: E-Day, has left a lot of fans scratching their heads. This could either make or break the upcoming title.

Stealth in Gears of War: E-Day Is Probably Not a Good Idea

Gears of War: E-Day is set to release sometime next year.

As part of the Xbox Expansion Pass podcast, Cliff Bleszinski talked about a few things he’d like to see in the next Gears game, as part of playing as a child to see a different perspective on the Locust Horde.

While this inherently isn’t a bad idea, stealth is the last thing Gears...

Gears of War fans have long waited for a game in the popular franchise after the release of Gears 5 in 2019. The Coalition finally announced a prequel, Gears of War E-Day, at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 as a world premiere, and fans are beyond excited to see the beginning of the story.

While the long-time fans are hyped to face the Locust again, many new players will dive into the game. This has led the developer to make some important changes to the Locust, and the team has explained that this horde will be more terrifying than ever before.

The Locust in Gears of War E-Day Will Be an Upgrade

Gears of War E-Day will have a more terrifying Locust horde than before.

Gears of War E-Day is a prequel and is set 14 years before the events of the first title in the franchise. It will take players back to Emergence...

Achieving an incredible presentation at the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft introduced a spectacular trailer for Gears of War E-Day. While many fans were expecting a sixth installment in the saga, The Coalition, the studio behind the game, decided to go back in time with a prequel about how it all started.

Some details about this game are being confirmed, making fans even more excited to try it out. Unlike Gears of War 5, it appears that it will have fewer open-world elements and be more linear, going back to the original path of these games.

Gears of War E-day Revealed Several Details That Made Fans Very Happy Gears of War E-Day is making fans very happy.

As one of the best news stories from the Xbox event and after numerous rumors, The Coalition finally confirmed Gears of War E-Day. This game will serve as a prequel to everything we have seen so far in the saga,...

As the Cannes Film Festival celebrates its parties and standing ovations, audiences in Hollywood and New York prepare to wallow in despair. And they’ll enjoy it (almost).

The festival called Bleak Week this week will deliver 43 films to an expected audience of 10,000 at theaters including the restored Egyptian in Hollywood, the Aero in Santa Monica and the Paris in New York.

Created by the American Cinematheque, Bleak Week will feature celebrities and Q&a sessions explaining why their projects deal with existential dread, nihilism and “uncomfortable truths,” as Bleak Week creative director Grant Moninger puts it.

Not surprisingly, there surely also will be post-screening alcoholic consumption for filmgoers seeking to ease the pain.

As the Cinematheque details it, Bleak Week was not prompted by Gaza, student protests, geomagnetic storms or the possible loss of yet another studio (Paramount).

Rather, its announced purpose is to honor an important if long-ignored...

Code of Silence: Keff Revisits Time of Turmoil

For his directorial debut, Keff revisits the pinnacle of turmoil during the 2019 Hong Kong protests as a backdrop for a pseudo gangland thriller and romantic drama in Locust. Much like its protagonist, a mute young man in-between two distinct worlds, it’s a film set in the eye of this storm. But those who stand for nothing fall for anything, which seems to be the moral code threaded between these themes in a country wobbling on the precipice of political erosion. The story takes place across the strait in Taipei, when, in June of 2019, a thin membrane between these realms suddenly erodes, and the disastrous energy out of Hong Kong touches down in this other house which has inherited the wind.…...

New U.A.E.-based distribution and production studio The Plot Pictures is headed for the Cannes Marche du Film after snapping up Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (Menat) rights to a slew of indie titles across different genres.

They include “Locust,” a first feature film from Taiwanese American multidisciplinary artist Keff that is playing in Critics Week, and Nick Hamm’s epic “William Tell.”

The Plot Pictures CEO Pratixa Shah and head of sales Ozge Conduroglu – who was previously with Starz Play Arabia – are assembling a slate spanning “different genres, regions, and languages,” as Shah put it in statement. “We are agnostic to language and country of origin,” she said, noting that “the hyper local is often what global audiences are looking for, even if it is not local to them.”

The studio, which officially launched in Dubai in March, are co-producers on “Locust.” The film is set in Taiwan where,...

Cannes Critics’ Week, spotlighting first and second features, has unveiled the competition and special screenings selection for its 63rd edition running May 15-23.

Scroll down for full list of titles

Artistic director Ava Cahen, now in her third year in the position, announced the selection of 11 features chosen from 1,050 films screened. Seven films will vie for four top prizes in competition, chosen by a jury led by Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen. Nine are first films that will vie for the Camera d’Or and three are directed or co-directed by women.

The sidebar will open with French director Jonathan Millet...

Cannes Critics’ Week, the sidebar dedicated to first and second films, will open with Jonathan Millet’s psychological thriller “Ghost Trail” and wrap with Emma Benestan’s genre film “Animale.”

“Ghost Trail” and “Animale” are two of the 11 features slated for Critics’ Week, which runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival.

The sole U.S. film of the selection is Constance Tsang’s “Blue Sun Palace,” a bittersweet film about two Chinese immigrants living in Queens who bond following a tragic death and find meaning in each other’s company. “As humble and dignified as its characters, this first, realistic and intimate, film sheds light on a community that is little seen,” said Ava Cahen, Critics’ Week’s artistic director. “Blue Sun Palace” stars Lee Kang-sheng whose recent credits include “Twisted Strings.”

Besides the opening and closing films, the Special Screenings section will comprise of Saïd Hamich Benlarbi’s “Across the...

Cannes Critics’ Week championing work by emerging filmmakers has unveiled the line-up for its 63rd edition running from May 15 to 23.

The traditionally compact parallel selection will showcase 11 features, seven in competition, as well as 13 short films, selected from 1,050 features and 2,150 short films. (scroll down for full list)

The 2024 edition marks Artistic Director Ava Cahen’s third at the helm, with buzzy discoveries under her directorship to date including Tiger Stripes, The Rapture, Aftersun and Love According To Dalva.

Opening and closing films

French director Jonathan Millet’s psychological manhunt thriller Ghost Trail (Les Fantômes) will open the section. It marks his first feature after half a dozen shorts including Tell Me About The Stars.

Adam Bessa, who won the Un Certain Regard prize for his performance in Harka in 2022, stars as a man in pursuit of his former torturer. He never saw his oppressor’s face, but knows his smell,...

Watch out for this Spidey. There's a new fan film in the works launching soon titled The Spider, described as a "horror take on Spider-Man." Not to be confused with the other two actual spider horror films opening soon - Sting and Infested. Written and directed by Andy Chen, an up-and-coming young filmmaker who goes under the name "Locust Garden" on social media, the short film features a legit cast. Chandler Riggs (seen in "The Walking Dead" & "A Million Little Things") stars as Spider-Man, along with Caylee Cowan, Matthew Vorce, Kyra Gardner, Holgie Forrester, Carl Addicott, David Rice, Andrew Hernon, Kealani Kitaura, Ronan Arthur & Ben Thomas. With a score by Alexander Taylor. It is an entirely fan-made, non-profit film inspired by Spider-Man. Our pals over at Live for Film also point out that there is actually a "fully mutated Man-Spider" from the comics, and this short also seems similar to...

Toni Collette will attend Doha Film Institute (Dfi)’s Qumra project development incubator in Qatar in March.

The Australian actress and producer joins the Qumra Masters programme, through which she will take part in a conversation about her career for the audience of 200 Qumra attendees.

Scroll down for the full list of Qumra feature-length projects

Collette will also mentor the creators of the projects in the Qumra lab, most of whom are first- or second-time filmmakers.

She joins previously announced masters Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Martin Hernandez and Jim Sheridan for Qumra’s 10th edition, running from March...

Australian Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Toni Collette (Knives Out) has been announced as a Master at the 10th edition of the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra talent incubator, running from March 1 to 6.

She joins Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Atom Egoyan, Martín Hernández, and Jim Sheridan who were previously announced as Masters for the 2024 edition of the meeting dedicated to supporting new voices from Arab and world cinema.

They join a long list of top professionals to have participated in Qumra since its launch in 2014, which has included James Schamus, Naomi Kawase, Asghar Farhadi, Gael Garcia Bernal and Tilda Swinton.

Additionally, the Dfi has also announced the 40 projects by emerging filmmakers from more than 20 countries, that will participate in the event. (scroll down for full details).

Under the Qumra format, the Masters give a masterclass and provide one-on-one mentorship the talents attached to the projects, alongside a...

Qatar’s Doha Film Institute (Dfi) has announced the recipient projects for its fall 2023 grants cycle, featuring 44 films by first and second-time directors hailing from 32 countries. (scroll down for full list)

The awardee projects span short, medium, feature-length and drama series format, fiction and non-fiction, and are in various stages of development and production.

Highlights include UK director Ana Naomi De Sousa’s documentary Naseem, Fight with Grace about British-Yemeni featherweight boxer Naseem Hamed, aka Prince Naseem and Naz.

Fiction features in the mix include Iraqi director Mohamed Al Daradji new film Arkala Gilgamesh’s Dream about a street child who dreams of bringing back his dead parents through the mythical figure of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk.

Other highly anticipated upcoming features include Moroccan director Alaa Eddine Aljem’s dark comedy Eldorado, the Taste of the South, which is in production, and Palestinian-French-Egyptian filmmaker Rani Massalha’s The Return of The Prodigal Son.

After languishing in development purgatory for years, the ‘Gears of War’ movie is finally getting its time in the limelight, thanks to Netflix. This film adaptation of the iconic video game series is stirring excitement among fans, especially with whispers about potential castings and direction. Cliff Bleszinski, the genius behind the game, voiced his endorsement for Zack Snyder to take the director’s seat in a chat with ComicBook.com. He’s confident that Snyder’s knack for molding existing IPs would work wonders for the adaptation.

However, Bleszinski’s praise for Snyder has its caveats. While he appreciated Snyder’s classics like the ‘Dawn of the Dead’ remake and ‘300’, he wasn’t particularly taken with ‘Army of the Dead,’ a recent Netflix endeavor by the director. Yet, Bleszinski’s belief in Snyder’s capability for Gears remains unshaken.

The casting grapevine is buzzing with Dave Bautista‘s name. Snyder...

Lanterns on the Lake have announced that their new album, Versions of Us, will be out June 2nd via Bella Union. Featuring Radiohead’s Philip Selway on drums and percussion, it’s the band’s fifth studio album, and their first since the departure of their former drummer, Ol Ketteringham. Alongside the announcement, the group unveiled the album’s lead single, “The Likes of Us.”

Versions of Us is the follow-up to 2020’s Spook the Herd. The album’s nine tracks serve as a platform for the English quintet to explore subjects ranging from new motherhood to destiny to the meaning of life itself. Self-produced there is a sense of intimacy embedded in the songs.

“Writing songs requires a certain level of self-indulgence, and songwriters can be prone to dwelling on themselves,” songwriter Hazel Wilde said in a statement. “Motherhood made me aware of having a different stake in the world.