Doom. The word itself resonates with such nihilistic finality. To be doomed, or to meet doom is to meet an end. There is nothing more you will be doing. Cancel all appointments you have, because – let’s face it – you’re fucked. There are few words in the English language that say so much and yet are so simplistic. The word “doom” makes “condemned” seem like a walk in the park.

In the early 1990s, the game developers at id Software recognized the ultra-simplicity of the word and used it as the title for a video game they were developing. Doom became one of the biggest successes in the early CD-ROM era, and even a bigger success in the shareware arena, with millions upon millions of people downloading demo levels and playing the hell out of them over and over again. It was the first FPS (First Person Shooter) that nearly everyone with a computer played. The objective: You’re in Mars/Hell; hordes of demons are after you. Here’s your firepower – survive. Simple and easy to learn. In short, it is one of the key games of the modern era that helped secure the adult gamer market, and was so controversial that it was even linked to being a potential instigator of the Columbine massacre at one point. Until the Grand Theft Auto series drew attention away from Doom, it was the talk of the nation, even years after its initial popularity waned. So popular was it that Hollywood decided (10 years too late), “Let’s make a movie.”

The movie shakes things up a bit. The Olduvai research station at Mars is doing some genetic experimentation, based on information that they found from a long gone Martian race. Over eager scientists in movies are always doing genetic experimentation and it almost always results in people turning into zombies or mutating into monsters. It’s as if every script writer in Hollywood is a Scientologist trying to educate us all on the dangers of stem-cell research. So, as expected, nearly all of the people in the facility become hideous monsters with super-human strength. But one forward-thinking scientist was able to quarantine the research center so that neither the demons, nor anyone else for that matter, would be able to leave. There is a lot of good data in the Olduvai’s record files, though, so the government sends in a group of military hard-heads, led by The Rock’s eyebrows, to retrieve it.

This is, of course, a very generic sci-fi plotline and has been used in dozens of pictures, including the most-obvious inspiration, James Cameron’s Aliens. However, and very thankfully, the script does take several unexpected turns along the way, which helps elevate it from “another sub-par video game adaptation” to “a watchable, and enjoyable video game adaptation.” There is a great degree of double-crossing among the soldiers. All of them have the same simple orders, but each of them actually displays different characteristics and personality. Internal conflict is expected and delivered through most of the second-half of the film. The lab-coat researcher that tags along with the soldiers happens to be the sister of one of them, and they share a disconnect due to their decision on career choices. These characteristics don’t make up for a very simplistic plot, which only elevates during the discovery that not everyone is infected with a virus, but it does add a few interesting ideas to a film drastically in need of them.

And when there is nothing else that can be done to move the story along, there is gore. Bucket loads of gore. As a horror fan, I was very impressed with the considerable amount of blood that was on display. The first five minutes of the film gives us an arm getting severed by a door, and later in the episode we see someone getting stuck in a door that opens and closes on a molecular level. Doom is all about showing us the dangers that doors without knobs present. The monster effects for the humans-turned-beasts are quite good as well. There were segments that were done with prosthetics and tired-and-true make-up techniques; CGI seemed only to be used when needed. Most of the monsters were guys sweating bullets in real rubber suits. It’s a nice shift and something done less and less as the years progress.

Speaking of monsters, there are no demons in Doom. Get over it. For the die-hard Doom fans that spew opinions in the Internet wasteland, this was the most common complaint that I read. Seeing as how the video game had the most bare of plots to begin with, I can’t imagine why anyone would be against mixing things up a bit, but it is true, there are no demons, and they never visit Hell. In fact, there is little reference to the game at all save for the name of the station, The Rock’s eyebrow approving the discovery of a BFG (that’s “big fucking gun” for the uninitiated) which packs absurdly awesome fire power, and there is an inspired sequence that is entirely done in the first-person; an obvious throwback to the game’s roots.

But in the end the film actually works, which really took me by surprise. It certainly isn’t as bad as you are likely to hear from more genre unfriendly critics. It’s a nice little diversion piece that moves just a tad too slow for its own good but retains a great deal of action and gore to keep you interested in finishing it.

Presentation 
The transfer looks really good. It’s presented in the theatrical ratio of 2.35:1, anamorphically enhanced. The package indicates that this is longer than the theatrically released version because it was “too intense.” Whatever. The IMDB lists it as 13 minutes longer. I didn’t see this theatrically, so I can’t tell what is different about it, but there is certainly a hell of a lot of gore, and I expect that is where the added run time comes from. The sounds is very enveloping, with gunfire coming out from all directions, and when people argue they really sound like they are on either side of you. It’s a good mix, as one might expect for such a recently released movie. There are also French and Spanish 5.1 dubs, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for the hard of hearing.

And The Extras Are?
Basic Training – (10:32) - The Rock and the entire military cast underwent some basic combat training before the shoot of the film. Watch and learn how to carry your gun properly in case the person next to you becomes a zombie.

Rock Formation – (5:36) - This is a pretty cool little extra which shows how much prosthetics were put on The Rock’s face in certain scenes. There is nothing here that hasn’t been seen in a million other make-up effect featurettes though.

Master Monster Makers – (10:53) - This is a MUCH more awesome featurette showing how they did all the monster costumes and why they chose to do some scenes with and without CGI. There is actually a considerable amount of behind-the-scenes testing of different costumes and input from the creature FX team. This, if you watch any extra, is the one worth watching.

First Person Shooter Sequence – (5:55) - A step-by-step recap of how they did nearly every part of the FPS sequence in the movie. I have mixed feelings about the film in general, because while I appreciate its inspiration, I feel it takes you out of the film. Although, it is tough to discount it completely after seeing this feature, which shows just how hard it was to conceive. It is followed by the complete sequence separated from the film.

Doom Nation – (14:38) - Seemingly produced by G4, the videogame television station, this is basically a complete history of Doom. It starts with the initial inspiration to conception, up to last year’s release of the newest installment of the game series, Doom III. For casual gamers this might be a neat chronicle, but I imagine for hardcore fans this wouldn’t be anything new.

Game On! – (6:46)
Definitely the least of all the features, this is a completely pointless collection of tips on how to play Doom III. There is nothing here that is related to the film, and as a result it is useless. It doesn’t even succeed in being funny with stupid tips such as how swearing will give you an advantage. Skip it.

Doom III Xbox Game Demo
If you stick this in your Xbox you get to play the actual full first mission of Doom III. I did, and I was ownage, causing much damage when fragging the demon hordes. If you already have Doom III, then you already have this level so you will miss nothing.

There isn’t a commentary or trailer and, for the most part, you get a lot of nothing, but the Doom game history is interesting, and the monster effects are cool. Also, all the bonus features are subtitled, which Universal should be celebrated for. People hard of hearing no doubt appreciate that effort.

Overall
Doom isn’t revolutionary. Not at all. But it is worth a viewing on a rainy day for anyone who enjoys a good violent “if it moves, shoot it” style film. There isn’t a guy on this planet that doesn’t like one of those occasionally so it is completely worth seeing, even if it is just a rental. But it is difficult to recommend this as a purchase with such weak extras.