S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of the Zone (2024)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of the Zone (2024). 1h 12m | Not Rated

“Iu0026#39;ve never played the STALKER games but I loved the book Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky Brothers, which is very clearly what the game is based on. This takes a more paramilitary approach to the zone than the book, factions fighting over territory with some sporadic anomalies. Thatu0026#39;s where I was somewhat disappointed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI enjoyed the paramilitary stuff, I can feel how this is emulating a video game, but I would have liked more anomalies. In this they seem like a bit of a nuisance that can be avoided if youu0026#39;re careful, where in the book theyu0026#39;re beyond human understand entirely and the stalkers are simply the people who have good instincts and recognize patterns well enough to get through the zone. Until they eventually donu0026#39;t.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo if youu0026#39;re looking for a Roadside Picnic adaptation this probably wonu0026#39;t scratch the itch, but I thought it was better than the Tarkovsky movie. Maybe not as faithful, but certainly more entertaining.”