Doom – Review

It is the far future and the year 2026 when archaeologists discover a portal in the Nevada desert which leads to an ancient city on Mars. Another 20 years pass, and man is still struggling to cope with what it all means and how best to exploit it all.

Now, in the Union Aerospace Corporation Olduvai Research Facility on Mars, the science team is running for their lives. As the bodies start to drop, it is clear that someone messed with the wrong something. Screams for help are ignored by escaping doctors. Something chases them. A level 5 breach means quarantine is implemented, and this is definitely one of those.

The Marine Corps is called in to investigate the breach, save any scientists and retrieve UAC property. The orders are to use extreme prejudice and if necessary, search and destroy. The squad starts readying themselves for the mission. Sarge (Johnson) recommends Grimm (Urban) takes leave and skips the mission. The rest of the unit hits the flight deck and ship waiting for them, grabbing their gigantic guns.

Through the Arc they go, though at the last-minute Grimm joins the crew despite the pass to skip. The quarantine situation briefing shows a quick message from one of the fleeing doctors. They know they are to go in for a rescue and kill any threats, but don’t know what that threat may be.

The squad readies themselves to hit the Arc and face unknown adversaries on Mars. Next for the men are big fucking guns and an answer to why the level 5 quarantine has hit the complex.

The story is pretty plain, though the video game it is based on mostly just sets up areas for players to run around blasting the hell out of demonspawn, so there is only so much story in general for the series. Some video game movies are only taken so seriously by the production studios, and this one got a pretty cookie cutter script. Is this total trash? Nah, but don’t set the bar high.

The cast has a few veterans like Karl Urban and Rosamund Pike, and The Rock actually has a few darker character traits which he should lean into more often in roles. If you are looking for an okay Sci-Fi actioner you could do worse, however most of the story and dialogue will leave you wanting a bit more. For brainless fun, it is still okay and Urban and Pike at least bring legitimacy to it all.