Twisted Metal found its way into my collection of games during the era of the original PlayStation gaming console. In my teenage years, I had an insatiable appetite for video games, eagerly bringing home new adventures week after week. In those pre-Internet days, the luxury of perusing reviews on websites like IGN or enjoying pre-release videos on YouTube was non-existent. Consequently, many of the games I acquired failed to meet my expectations.
Yet, Twisted Metal stood out as a remarkable exception among my acquisitions. Its concept was straightforward: A demolition derby amped up to extreme levels. Within the game, every vehicle was armed to the teeth, bristling with an array of weapons ranging from machine guns and missiles to treacherous land mines. The backdrop for this chaotic clash was an annual tournament that united all the competitors.
The sole objective of this vehicular showdown was to be the last contestant standing. The victor’s reward? A single wish granted by the tournament organizer, known as Calypso, with no limits on its feasibility or cost.
Among the diverse cast of characters available to play, my personal favorite was a sinister clown at the helm of an ice cream truck, aptly named Sweet Tooth. It’s safe to say that I dedicated an excessive amount of time to this captivating game, a testament to its irresistible allure. When I got into the haunted house business, one of the first concepts I made for a killer clown was one who attacked guests from an ice cream truck. His name wasn’t Sweet Tooth, so Sony, I did not completely steal your idea.
Peacock, the streaming service, recently breathed fresh life into the franchise with its latest series, titled Twisted Metal. Across its 10 episodes, this post-apocalyptic narrative unfolds around a man named John Doe (Anthony Mackie), a courier suffering from amnesia who has been entrusted by New San Francisco’s mayor, Raven (Neve Campbell) with a mission to retrieve a package from New Chicago. The promise of a better life in the city awaits him, if he succeeds. However, John’s path is fraught with peril as he navigates a treacherous journey. He must confront savage marauders and other dangers on the unforgiving road.
Amidst the challenges, John forges an alliance with Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz), a car thief. Together, they face constant hindrances from the wasteland’s inhabitants, including the deranged clown known as Sweet Tooth (bodied by Joe Seanoa and voiced by Will Arnett), the mall cop-turned-gang leader Agent Stone (Thomas Haden Church) and two ex-security guards, Mike (Tahj Vaughans) and Stu (Mike Mitchell), whose loyalty seemingly extends only to each other.
TWISTED METAL — “SHNGRLA” Episode 110 — Pictured: (l-r) Stephanie Beatriz as Quiet, Anthony Mackie as John Doe — (Photo by: Skip Bolen/Peacock via Getty Images)
The first season of Twisted Metal proved to be an immensely enjoyable journey down memory lane, brimming with nostalgia. Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz deliver performances that are truly praiseworthy, a noteworthy accomplishment in the realm of video game-based properties, where finding the right motivation and chemistry can be challenging.
In addition, Thomas Haden Church masterfully portrays a character who is meant to be the series’ antagonist, injecting a sympathetic depth into Agent Stone. This transformation makes Agent Stone a villain whose motivations are not only understandable, but in some respects, even agreeable. However, the standout star of the series is the malevolent clown, Sweet Tooth. Joe Seanoa, known professionally as the AEW wrestler Samoa Joe, imbues the character with an oversized presence, with his imposing physique dwarfing everyone sharing the screen with him. Will Arnett’s delivery of Sweet Tooth’s lines adds a layer of humanity to the monstrous figure, while giving him a sarcastic, yet commanding voice.
Of course, we can’t delve into the Twisted Metal Universe without addressing the vehicular mayhem that’s at its core. The series certainly has its fair share of vehicular assaults. However, the car-on-car violence isn’t necessarily the highlight of Twisted Metal. While there are plenty of explosions and intense moments, they are used somewhat sparingly, which downplays what should have been a central element of the show. Surprisingly, this didn’t even register much for me, as the engaging storytelling and strong acting managed to keep me thoroughly entertained.
Twisted Metal is a must-watch series for anyone who has a fondness for the video game franchise. While it may not feature the expected over-the-top vehicular chaos, the individual stories within each episode, along with the overarching plot, are immensely enjoyable. Each episode can be appreciated as a standalone narrative, providing ample entertainment.
Even if you have no prior familiarity or affection for the game, Twisted Metal offers engaging tales of individuals surmounting challenges and adversity to attain greater achievements, with some lighter moments of dark humor sprinkled in. I highly recommend giving the show on Peacock a watch in the near future.