Sony and PlayStation Productions have done pretty well so far in turning beloved PlayStation franchises into intriguing and engaging movies and tv series. Their short but solid streak continues with Twisted Metal – a new action-comedy series for Peacock based on the iconic vehicular combat games – as it delivers loving nods, wildly explosive action, and highly-entertaining performances that combine for a crowd-pleasing watch.

The series takes viewers into a dystopian setting where the US has been turned into a chaotic wasteland after a destructive cyber-attack. With most people being enclosed behind the walls of cities that have been turned into safe havens, the open roads have become filled with criminals and psychopaths doing everything they can to survive. Amongst all the horrific factions that have formed is John Doe (Anthony Mackie) – one of the many delivery drivers known as Milkmen trying to deliver supplies to safe havens across the country.

Although John is satisfied by his life of killing scavengers and driving with the love of his life – his car Evelyn – John still yearns for a life of safety and to remember his past since he has amnesia. While there isn’t much John can do to gain his memory back, he is offered a once in a lifetime chance to earn a place in sanctuary after he’s tasked by a mysterious woman named Raven (Neve Campbell) to go on a cross-country road trip to pick up an unknown package and bring it back to her. This delivery will be no easy task for John though as he faces many obstacles along the way – including a psychopathic serial killer dressed as a clown, a band of crooked cops, and an uneasy alliance with a survivor named Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz).

On the surface, the series’ post-apocalyptic world harnesses the basics of what viewers would expect at this point – especially with how overcrowded the genre has become. There’s wreckage and ruin around every corner that’s even more horrifying when John sees how pristine and hopeful the inside of sanctuaries are. There are factions and cults that have formed with their own twisted sense of morality and even justice. There’s even a lot of reminiscing about the old world and what the world used to mean to these characters. However, Twisted Metal keeps its post-apocalyptic setting fresh through its vehicular DNA and the unique comedic charm of these characters.

Vehicles are such a key identifier in this world as they can add new visual and personal layers to the drivers or factions that they’re a part of. From a trucker convoy who essentially has a gear-head’s bazaar on wheels to a group of police officers instilling their own sense of justice in this cruel world, the cars of this world are a pivotal part of people’s lifestyles. There’s even a great episode where John and Quiet head to a Milkman pit stop where they run into a lot of intriguing and unique personalities – basically like anyone would find at a rest stop on a road trip. That connection between survivors and cars is best seen through John though. While it’s cool to see the personalities of characters like Sweet Tooth (voiced by Will Arnett/played by Somoa Joe) and Amber Rose (Diany Rodriguez) plastered onto their cars, there’s something special about how cars are an important aspect of his arc.

For John, his connection with Evelyn runs deeper than her just being a survival tool for him and while his love for her can be a little weird at times, the series does a great job establishing why she matters to him. John, in general, has this really interesting perspective on cars and it’s what makes his arc leading towards him becoming his persona from the games so meaningful and satisfying. In this series, cars are more than just tools of destruction and it’s great that they’re utilized as enhancers for the characters and world – something the games do just as well.

Still though, they are great tools for destruction and help make the series have thrilling action that’s unlike what’s seen in the genre lately. Outside of Death Race or specific instances in other action flicks, there aren’t really many vehicular combat-focused films or shows that deliver the same type of carnage that Twisted Metal does. So, it instantly comes off fresh and exciting when John and other drivers try to take each other down through explosive means. The visuals are amazing and even though you’ll wish there were more car fights, the series delivers enough destruction to easily please audiences. It’s also great to see some iconic weapons and battlegrounds from the games be brought to life and used for key battles. Plus, it’s just as hilarious and fun to watch John try and fight outside of his car because of how often he’s severely outmatched. 

Twisted Metal delivers the carnage that fans would want and should expect to see from a series adapting one of the iconic vehicle combat games of all time and it’s even matched by a comedic style that’s fitting. To be honest, when the series was first revealed, it was a bummer to see the grimy aesthetic the games have always been known for being stripped away. Not only is the series a little too bright and colorful for what Twisted Metal is all about, but it traded away the deeply desolate atmosphere of the games for a zany post-apocalyptic world. There’s no denying that Twisted Metal is missing big parts of the game’s visual identity, but maybe one day we’ll get the Grindhouse version of Twisted Metal that’s much more fitting.

Regardless of what its depiction might be missing, the attitude, grimy nature, and even slight immaturity of Twisted Metal does come out in the comedic aspects of the dialogue and characters. Frankly, even if it overstays its welcome and loses its luster a bit as the series goes on, it’s hard not to love the humor that comes from Deadpool co-writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese. Everyone has a foul mouth that makes their curse-filled lines hilarious and even the interactions between characters are great because of the fun rivalries that form. Plus, the sick and wicked humor of characters like Sweet Tooth add great layers of depravity and brutality to the darker parts of the comedy. It’s exactly the kind of wild and sadistic humor that Twisted Metal is known for and it’s only going to be more twisted when Calypso has a greater role in the series. Plus, the grimy and cruel humor of the characters matches the world and their harsh fight for survival perfectly. 

Along with the performances excellently delivering R-rated humor that’s fun and fitting of the somewhat campy nature of the series, they also nail bringing some of the franchise’s iconic roster of characters to love. Given how vast and expansive the franchise’s history of drivers is, it’s great that this series spares nearly no expense in having a lot of notable characters appear throughout the season.

There are so many fun and distinct personalities that the series works with that are amplified by strong and memorable performances. Thomas Haden Church makes Agent Stone and his band of officers a great Season 1 antagonist with the corrupt sense of justice they have and his determination to see his mission through. Campbell makes Raven perfectly mysterious and you’re constantly left wondering what her real intentions will be throughout the whole season. The combination of Somoa Joe’s screen presence and Arnett’s voice excellently bring Sweet Tooth to life and his arc throughout the show will be a huge highlight for fans since the series does a great job touching on the character’s history and bloodthirsty sense of humor. Admittedly, not all the characters and performances hit – like The Preacher (Jason Mantzoukas) – since some of them overstay their welcome or become side-stories that overly clutter up the experience. But they still have their moments and ultimately don’t tank the experience – despite feeling generically thrown in. 

Mackie and Beatriz are easily the top performers though as John and Quiet, respectively, since their performances and personal arcs are surprisingly heartfelt. The chemistry – both comedically and in serious moments – between these two is endlessly entertaining and engaging. It’s not only great to see both of them in more leading roles, but also just totally lean into the hilarious fun and foul-mouthed nature of their characters. They’re a blast from start to finish and are THE reason that a lot of the more simplistic and familiar themes and story elements end up hitting stronger. When these two can get real about their character’s respective issues or their views of what they want for themselves, they have such a connective energy that it’s tough to not feel something for them. They’re so incredibly likeable and unabashedly themselves that viewers will find ways to relate to them and be invested in their personal journey together.

What fans will really love most about Twisted Metal though is how much of the games are really brought into the show. Despite it being frustrating to see certain big characters be sidelined or totally absent in the series – namely franchise antagonist Calypso – it’s hard not to love what’s here. As said before, there are tons of characters and cars from the games that fans will love seeing. The car combat is so attuned to the style of the games and the weapons used will be recognizable for fans. There are tons of amazing Easter eggs and nods that fans will have a blast finding and it’s great that the series includes references to the entire history of the franchise. So no matter when you first came across the Twisted Metal games, there will be something for you. Even the finale offers a great direction for the series to follow and become more like the games – especially with some of the characters it hints at.

Peacock’s Twisted Metal isn’t a perfect depiction of the games nor show in general, but it will absolutely surprise audiences and fans with its distinct brand of charm and humor, thrilling and explosive action, and performances led by Mackie and Beatriz that emphasize the fun and wildness of the show’s world. More importantly, fans will come away feeling like they have a real-deal version of Twisted Metal that they can fall in love with and that has a strong potential for its future. 

Watch the Trailer Here: