Twisted Metal is a Clever, Original and Absolutely Unhinged Vision of the Near Future
What a delightful surprise "Twisted Metal" is. Knowing nothing about it aside from it being based on a wacky 90's video game, I expected some lowbrow jokes and gallows humour. Thankfully, it completely obliterated my expectations.
One of the show's biggest strengths is that it has some absolutely brilliant writing. I'm not surprised Sean Diston is one of the writers on the show - the film has some of his subversive style in its soul, (the podcast that he hosts with Scott Aukerman on "Scott Hasn't Seen" is a must for film and comedy lovers). And the always charismatic and exceptional Anthony Mackie, along with the chameleon-like devotion Stephanie Beatriz puts into her acting, are all stunning. The soundtrack, sound editing, even the mixing are all dynamic, booming and right on point. Every zig zag this series takes, ends up right on track.
All in all, this is a visually colourful, explosive, hilarious, surprisingly heartfelt and absolutely enjoyable action-comedy that has just the right mix of action, drama, characterization, backstory and flat out enjoyable characters. Will Arnett/Samoa Joe are a delight; going absolutely insane, in a Jack Nicholson-in-Batman type of performance. Thomas Haden Church is a devilishly cruel, memorable villain, and Mike Mitchell is, unsurprisingly, fantastic. He gives his character complexity and enough heart to make the audience truly care about who he's playing. As do the rest of the cast.
This is the rare moment when a lot of perfect elements all meet up to make something special. This is a heavy metal drenched, post apocalyptic, ridiculous, soaringly funny, video game adaptation that takes its premise and does truly inventive and interesting things with it. Not only is the season's overarching plot and writing stellar, but so is the acting, cinematography, editing and everything else.
Also, as horrifying and disturbing as this vision of the near future is - it also has moments of wholesome goodness - amongst mountains of gore. It's like a "happy horror" film. Is that a thing?
It is now.
One of the show's biggest strengths is that it has some absolutely brilliant writing. I'm not surprised Sean Diston is one of the writers on the show - the film has some of his subversive style in its soul, (the podcast that he hosts with Scott Aukerman on "Scott Hasn't Seen" is a must for film and comedy lovers). And the always charismatic and exceptional Anthony Mackie, along with the chameleon-like devotion Stephanie Beatriz puts into her acting, are all stunning. The soundtrack, sound editing, even the mixing are all dynamic, booming and right on point. Every zig zag this series takes, ends up right on track.
All in all, this is a visually colourful, explosive, hilarious, surprisingly heartfelt and absolutely enjoyable action-comedy that has just the right mix of action, drama, characterization, backstory and flat out enjoyable characters. Will Arnett/Samoa Joe are a delight; going absolutely insane, in a Jack Nicholson-in-Batman type of performance. Thomas Haden Church is a devilishly cruel, memorable villain, and Mike Mitchell is, unsurprisingly, fantastic. He gives his character complexity and enough heart to make the audience truly care about who he's playing. As do the rest of the cast.
This is the rare moment when a lot of perfect elements all meet up to make something special. This is a heavy metal drenched, post apocalyptic, ridiculous, soaringly funny, video game adaptation that takes its premise and does truly inventive and interesting things with it. Not only is the season's overarching plot and writing stellar, but so is the acting, cinematography, editing and everything else.
Also, as horrifying and disturbing as this vision of the near future is - it also has moments of wholesome goodness - amongst mountains of gore. It's like a "happy horror" film. Is that a thing?
It is now.
- GrantKanigan
- Aug 14, 2023