Editorials
‘Condemned: Criminal Origins’ – There’s Still Nothing Quite Like This Spooky Brawler Almost 20 Years Later
The dawn of the millennium saw a preference for more grounded horror stories, with shifting cultural sensibilities leading audiences to gravitate towards more down-to-earth scares rather than the masked bogeymen and supernatural threats that had previously dominated the horror genre. This change may have begun in the 90s with movies like The Silence of the Lambs and Seven, but it was only in the 2000s that the Saw franchise proved that audiences were truly hungry for hyper-violent yarns about urban carnage.
However, it would be a while before this change began to affect videogames. While the early 2000s boasted some of the most memorable survival horror experiences of all time (from the iconic Silent Hill 2 to Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem), the latter half of the decade brought with it a decline in interactive scares. We saw a few interesting experiments in Dead Space, Alan Wake and even Zombie Studios’ Saw adaptation, but it was still quite rare for horror games to attempt something different during the early days of HD graphics.
That’s why I think Monolith Studios’ Condemned: Criminal Origins is so unique, as this first-person survival horror experience defied convention by playing with popular horror tropes in ways that hadn’t been seen in gaming before, incorporating elements from police procedurals and serial killer narratives in an oddly compelling combination. And nearly two decades after its release, I’d like to discuss why there’s still nothing else quite like this spooky brawler.
Even back in the early 2000s, Monolith was already known for titles like Blood and Aliens vs Predator 2, but the studio had grown tired of overused horror tropes and wanted to create something new with their previous genre experience. Inspired by some of their favorite scary movies, the developers soon began production on two innovative horror projects, one that would end up being the legendary F.E.A.R., and another that would trap players in a gritty urban nightmare and take full advantage of the then-upcoming new generation of console hardware.
Scarier than a zombie!
Originally known as The Dark, this unusual project focused on serial killers in a gritty criminal underworld, with players taking on the role of an investigator as they used a mix of supernatural spells and gunplay to take down maniacal enemies. While the project would undergo a complete overhaul once the developers realized that the superpowers and other traditionally game-y aspects distracted from the narrative’s underlying horror elements, the renamed Condemned still maintained the big-city thrills of the original premise.
Keeping only a few of the proposed supernatural elements (most of which were clearly inspired by the work of Clive Barker), the final version of Condemned: Criminal Origins tells the story of FBI investigator Ethan Thomas as he embarks on a quest to apprehend the infamous Serial Killer X, a deranged psychopath who only murders other serial killers. The ensuing investigation leads Ethan down a disturbing rabbit-hole of homicidal gangs and spooky vagrants as he explores a run-down metropolis that appears to be eating itself alive.
While this premise is compelling enough for a horror game, the plot isn’t really the star of the show here. What Condemned: Criminal Origins is really remembered for is its creepy level design and impeccably crafted atmosphere. Over the course of the game’s ten chapters, the investigation strands players in abandoned tenement buildings and gloomy back alleys, evoking the feeling of becoming lost in the wrong neighborhood after dark in a way that hadn’t been seen in videogames before – and arguably still hasn’t since.
From dilapidated department stores containing deformed mannequins (some of which are actually enemies lying in wait to ambush Ethan) to ruined schools and their homicidal former alumni, the world of Condemned is filled to the brim with street-level scares that you don’t often see in this kind of media. The fact that your enemies are insane people instead of the usual mutants and zombies makes the whole thing that much scarier, even if the title exaggerates these elements for a more entertaining experience.
The main gameplay loop is also incredibly unique, with players literally taking the law into their own hands as they beat down homicidal enemies through simple-yet-thrilling melee combat while also using hi-tech tools and Ethan’s Red-Dragon-inspired instincts to piece together the mystery of Serial Killer X. The first-person combat system may not be as in-depth as something like Zeno Clash, but the clever AI and lack of combos mean that you feel appropriately underpowered as you explore this metropolitan hellscape.
Round one, fight!
I also appreciate how the game uses fire axes and other weapons to violently open up new pathways, forgoing traditional keys and ID cards to make traversal even more vicious. Unfortunately, the gritty atmosphere takes a nosedive towards the end of the experience as the plot begins to explore bizarre supernatural ideas that don’t quite gel with the established mood. While the idea that a mysterious entity is responsible for the madness overtaking the vulnerable population of Metro City is admittedly interesting, it still clashes with the rest of Criminal Origins.
In fact, the game basically culminates in what can be best described as a fist-fight with a cenobite, which is kind of disappointing when you consider the rest of the title’s focus on down-to-earth terror. That’s not to say that the ending ruins everything that preceded it (and I actually kind of like The Hate’s hellish design), but it’s a shame that the story takes this sudden turn into speculative territory.
The controversial finale didn’t seem to affect the game’s reception, as it was relatively well-reviewed by most critics and sold exceptionally well despite being banned in a few countries for its “cruel” content. The title’s success even led to a proposed film adaptation that never got off the ground, which was meant to bridge the gap between the first game and a possible sequel. Fortunately, a sequel did eventually see the light of day in 2008, with Monolith attempting to take the first game’s urban thrills to the next level, but that’s a story for another time.
At the end of the day, Condemned: Criminal Origins isn’t exactly a masterpiece, suffering from some janky combat mechanics and an uneven narrative, but I’d argue that it’s still worth playing today if you’re willing to overlook these surface-level blemishes in order to enjoy a thrilling look at urban horror. After all, it’s not everyday that we see a game where you can rip a rusty pipe off a wall and use it to beat down a literal murder elemental.
Editorials
‘Immaculate’ – A Companion Watch Guide to the Religious Horror Movie and Its Cinematic Influences
The religious horror movie Immaculate, starring Sydney Sweeney and directed by Michael Mohan, wears its horror influences on its sleeves. NEON’s new horror movie is now available on Digital and PVOD, making it easier to catch up with the buzzy title. If you’ve already seen Immaculate, this companion watch guide highlights horror movies to pair with it.
Sweeney stars in Immaculate as Cecilia, a woman of devout faith who is offered a fulfilling new role at an illustrious Italian convent. Cecilia’s warm welcome to the picture-perfect Italian countryside gets derailed soon enough when she discovers she’s become pregnant and realizes the convent harbors disturbing secrets.
From Will Bates’ gothic score to the filming locations and even shot compositions, Immaculate owes a lot to its cinematic influences. Mohan pulls from more than just religious horror, though. While Immaculate pays tribute to the classics, the horror movie surprises for the way it leans so heavily into Italian horror and New French Extremity. Let’s dig into many of the film’s most prominent horror influences with a companion watch guide.
Warning: Immaculate spoilers ahead.
Rosemary’s Baby
!['Rosemary's Baby' - Is Paramount's 'Apartment 7A' a Secret Remake?! [Exclusive]](https://i0.wp.com/bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rosemarys-Baby.jpeg?resize=740%2C416&ssl=1)
The mother of all pregnancy horror movies introduces Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), an eager-to-please housewife who’s supportive of her husband, Guy, and thrilled he landed them a spot in the coveted Bramford apartment building. Guy proposes a romantic evening, which gives way to a hallucinogenic nightmare scenario that leaves Rosemary confused and pregnant. Rosemary’s suspicions and paranoia mount as she’s gaslit by everyone around her, all attempting to distract her from her deeply abnormal pregnancy. While Cecilia follows a similar emotional journey to Rosemary, from the confusion over her baby’s conception to being gaslit by those who claim to have her best interests in mind, Immaculate inverts the iconic final frame of Rosemary’s Baby to great effect.
The Exorcist
William Friedkin’s horror classic shook audiences to their core upon release in the ’70s, largely for its shocking imagery. A grim battle over faith is waged between demon Pazuzu and priests Damien Karras (Jason Miller) and Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow). The battleground happens to be a 12-year-old, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), whose possessed form commits blasphemy often, including violently masturbating with a crucifix. Yet Friedkin captures the horrifying events with stunning cinematography; the emotional complexity and shot composition lend elegance to a film that counterbalances the horror. That balance between transgressive imagery and artful form permeates Immaculate as well.
Suspiria
Jessica Harper stars as Suzy Bannion, an American newcomer at a prestigious dance academy in Germany who uncovers a supernatural conspiracy amid a series of grisly murders. It’s a dance academy so disciplined in its art form that its students and faculty live their full time, spending nearly every waking hour there, including built-in meals and scheduled bedtimes. Like Suzy Bannion, Cecilia is a novitiate committed to learning her chosen trade, so much so that she travels to a foreign country to continue her training. Also, like Suzy, Cecilia quickly realizes the pristine façade of her new setting belies sinister secrets that mean her harm.
What Have You Done to Solange?
This 1972 Italian horror film follows a college professor who gets embroiled in a bizarre series of murders when his mistress, a student, witnesses one taking place. The professor starts his own investigation to discover what happened to the young woman, Solange. Sex, murder, and religion course through this Giallo’s veins, which features I Spit on Your Grave’s Camille Keaton as Solange. Immaculate director Michael Mohan revealed to The Wrap that he emulated director Massimo Dallamano’s techniques, particularly in a key scene that sees Cecilia alone in a crowded room of male superiors, all interrogating her on her immaculate status.
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
In this Giallo, two sisters inherit their family’s castle that’s also cursed. When a dark-haired, red-robed woman begins killing people around them, the sisters begin to wonder if the castle’s mysterious curse has resurfaced. Director Emilio Miraglia infuses his Giallo with vibrant style, with the titular Red Queen instantly eye-catching in design. While the killer’s design and use of red no doubt played an influential role in some of Immaculate’s nightmare imagery, its biggest inspiration in Mohan’s film is its score. Immaculate pays tribute to The Red Queen Kills Seven Times through specific music cues.
The Vanishing
Rex’s life is irrevocably changed when the love of his life is abducted from a rest stop. Three years later, he begins receiving letters from his girlfriend’s abductor. Director George Sluizer infuses his simple premise with bone-chilling dread and psychological terror as the kidnapper toys with Red. It builds to a harrowing finale you won’t forget; and neither did Mohan, who cited The Vanishing as an influence on Immaculate. Likely for its surprise closing moments, but mostly for the way Sluizer filmed from inside a coffin.
The Other Hell
This nunsploitation film begins where Immaculate ends: in the catacombs of a convent that leads to an underground laboratory. The Other Hell sees a priest investigating the seemingly paranormal activity surrounding the convent as possessed nuns get violent toward others. But is this a case of the Devil or simply nuns run amok? Immaculate opts to ground its horrors in reality, where The Other Hell leans into the supernatural, but the surprise lab setting beneath the holy grounds evokes the same sense of blasphemous shock.
Inside
During Immaculate‘s freakout climax, Cecilia sets the underground lab on fire with Father Sal Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte) locked inside. He manages to escape, though badly burned, and chases Cecilia through the catacombs. When Father Tedeschi catches Cecilia, he attempts to cut her baby out of her womb, and the stark imagery instantly calls Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury’s seminal French horror movie to mind. Like Tedeschi, Inside’s La Femme (Béatrice Dalle) will stop at nothing to get the baby, badly burned and all.
Burial Ground
At first glance, this Italian zombie movie bears little resemblance to Immaculate. The plot sees an eclectic group forced to band together against a wave of undead, offering no shortage of zombie gore and wild character quirks. What connects them is the setting; both employed the Villa Parisi as a filming location. The Villa Parisi happens to be a prominent filming spot for Italian horror; also pair the new horror movie with Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood or Blood for Dracula for additional boundary-pushing horror titles shot at the Villa Parisi.
The Devils
The Devils was always intended to be incendiary. Horror, at its most depraved and sadistic, tends to make casual viewers uncomfortable. Ken Russell’s 1971 epic takes it to a whole new squeamish level with its nightmarish visuals steeped in some historical accuracy. There are the horror classics, like The Exorcist, and there are definitive transgressive horror cult classics. The Devils falls squarely in the latter, and Russell’s fearlessness in exploring taboos and wielding unholy imagery inspired Mohan’s approach to the escalating horror in Immaculate.
Looking for New Episodes of “Chucky” on Peacock? Here’s What Changed
Five Underseen Vampire Horror Movies to Stream This Week
Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Is Now Available to Watch at Home!
‘The Blair Witch Project’ – Original Stars Release a Statement Asking Lionsgate for Residuals & Recognition
‘Mountain Man’ – Joe Manganiello Will Battle Zombies in Upcoming Horror Movie
You must be logged in to post a comment.