Twisted Metal – Peacock Review

TWISTED METAL on Peacock is a new sci-fi, action, comedy, and fantasy series. Based on a video game with lots of familiar faces in the cast, and Anthony Mackie in the lead. 10 half-hour episodes. Read our Twisted Metal series review here!

TWISTED METAL is a new Peacock half-hour series based on a video game. With this origin, it should come as no surprise that it’s also a true genre mix. We’re in a post-apocalyptic world, so sci-fi, action, and fantasy are at the forefront, but comedy is always a driving force.

For all these genres, Anthony Mackie is perfectly cast in the lead role with Stephanie Beatriz as his somewhat reluctant sidekick. From the very first episode, you’ll see plenty of familiar faces in various roles, which is a real treat.

Continue reading our Twisted Metal season 1 review below. Find all 10 episodes on Peacock from July 27, 2023.

Anthony Mackie is perfect as John Doe

In this series, we meet the motor-mouthed outsider, John Doe (Anthony Mackie), who is offered a chance at an actual life rather than just a lonely life as a drifter trying to survive. To get this better life, he has to pick up and deliver a mysterious package.

All he has to do is drive across a post-apocalyptic wasteland (and back) within 10 days.

Giving John Doe this task is the COO of New San Francisco. She’s portrayed by Neve Campbell (Scream) who is clearly having a ball with this character.

Other key characters are portrayed by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and Jared Bankens (The Peripheral) as new “lawmen”. And then there’s Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as his road trip buddy. Forced buddies, but they’re good for one another. For the most part, anyway.

In a very memorable turn, we have the deranged Las Vegas-based character Sweet Tooth. He’s voiced by Will Arnett and physically portrayed by professional wrestler Joe Seanoa AKA “Samoa Joe”.

You’ll want to give this one a shot

From the quirky and diverse characters to the crazy plots and straight-up slasher comedy feel, Twisted Metal is a real treat for us genre fans. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the trailer intrigued me, and watching the series got me hooked immediately.

When episode 1 of Twisted Metal begins, there’s a cool and simple reference to its origin; A video game. It’s a “blink and you’ll miss it”-moment, but also perfect for fans of the videogame to notice.

There are elements reminiscent of Mad Max, but a lot of the style is more like Zombieland. And I do mean that as a compliment as I love the crazy style and vibe of Zombieland. Of course, it’s not without reason that there’s a similar “feel” to Twisted Metal and Zombieland. More on that below.

Watch season 1 of Twisted Metal on Peacock now!

The directors on season 1 of this series include Bill Benz, Jude Weng (Only Murders in the Building), Maggie Carey, and Kitao Sakurai (Bad Trip), who opens with the first couple of episodes.

Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai), Rhett Reese, and Paul Wernick are credited as writers of the television story or “developers” of the TV series. Both Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were writers on Deadpool, Zombieland, and Life.

Especially those two first titles should give you an idea of the style of Twisted Metal. And yes, it does also get dark, but not quite as dark as Life.

With ten 30-minute episodes (often shorter than the half-hour mark), this series is quick and easy to watch. Well, as long as you’re also ready for all kinds of crazy violence with a dark comedic driving force.

Twisted Metal season 1 premiered on the Peacock streaming service on July 27, 2023.

Details

Creator: Michael Jonathan Smith
Directors: Kitao Sakurai, Bill Benz, Jude Weng, Maggie Carey
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Thomas Haden Church, Will Arnett, Samoa Joe, Neve Campbell, Tahj Vaughans, Mike Mitchell