Alan Wake 2 Critique - Beyond the Lake

[@MontyZander]

Thanks for being here! The commissioned music can be found in this playlist kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4XElIFjoKt2ibc If you want to hear me explain Remedy Games to my friends who haven't played them, check out Lore Dump! kzbin.info/door/GhgiyBSgi4pVaR7pQK6IIQ My patrons always get a copy of this video - and others like it - that's ad and sponsor-free for £2 a month. If you want to join them, here's the link! www.patreon.com/montyzander

[@TheMybll]

Kool Always glad to see that you care abut the quality of the type of videos you put out.

[@Braxmegaman]

A part of me wants to think the reupload was the plan all along -- just another layer of the spiral. Where does it end, Monty?! WHERE DOES IT END?!

[@UberNoodle]

And the previous version ... is gone. Only residual memories remain in those individuals whom it touched deeply. Yet even for them, the memory is fading. Did the original upload ever exist? Was it just a fever dream, or a premonition? Has this current version always been the one and only? ... What old version? What reupload? That's silly. It's always been this one. This one, perfect upload. Always ... You must be mistaken ...

[@toothemaxx4027]

Very good video, loved style and multimedia. A review Alan Wake 2 deserves.

[@aaricialambrigts]

Well, I guess I will watch it again then :D

[@crizmeow8394]

Just coming here to inform that THE Sam lake shared this video on his twitter and praised it

[@michaelweldon4613]

Hell yeah! Getting recognition from the head of Poison Pill Entertainment himself!

[@lawtonaaj]

@@michaelweldon4613 cant wait to see your friends will meet him when your gone remixed in alan wake 3

[@Xehanort10]

@@lawtonaaj That's if a 3rd version of Scratch appears in 3.

[@IndustrialPelican]

Guess he actually did like the way the show started

[@NUBF]

Thee!! Sam Lake ❤🥳

[@CaptainBonClay]

“I don’t know what to say about Alan wake 2” Makes 5.2 hour video

[@Torpi583]

5.33🤓

[@SonicluNerdGamer]

​@@Torpi583 5.3523334 🤓

[@ObliqueReference]

Ah, "Man slowly loses his mind trying to figure out who Thomas Zane is for 5 hours", my favorite piece of performance art.

[@yohohoho971]

What if Tom the Filmmaker is Alan's attempt to write in an ally for himself, but since Alan is Alan, Zane is untrustworthy. He is a creation who is attempting to grow past his creator. His is a Filmmaker because Alan has more experience with films than poetry and hopes that film could get him out more successfully than poetry

[@BakumanLakuman]

The physical embodiment of a writer's inferiority complex manifesting as a coked-out indie filmmaker chasing relevance​.

[@3ndlessL00p]

I watched this on the day it released, lights off except for my tv screen, as a thunderstorm decided to come and provide ambience outside my house.* Ever since, I've wanted to write this comment to thank you for this masterful video. But something kept me from it. I think it was fear that my words wouldn't do justice for the things I felt. But now I'll try anyway, fear be damned. I have been craving someone making a video like this about Alan Wake. Someone that clearly loves this game as much as I do, and drive themselves crazy about it like I do. Watching this felt like vindication. I'm not the only one. The way you brought in collaborators, artist and creatives of other disciplines to enhance this video was *definitely* the right way to do an essay like this. I love AW2 for its mix of media, genre and art disciplines and I love it here. This video essay is an impressive gesamtkunstwerk, and I feel like it brought out the best in your collaborators too. (The day after watching this I listened to Marina's dark poem song for what may have been a hundred times. In my headcanon, it is the end credits song to Alan Wake 2 before you play The Final Draft.) As a creative myself, your work on this video inspired me hugely, much like the game did. The stuff you did with this is what I wish to do more of myself. And I need you to know that a lot of the personal or darker stuff in this also really resonated with me. My words seem to fail me now, so I will go no deeper into this. Last thing I want you to know, is that I of course have plenty of my own theories as to the nature of -Mr.Scratch- that I felt an intense need to share with you, after noticing certain clues I don't think you considered. If you would ever want to have that kind of conversation with a stranger, let me know. In any case, now I've written that statement, maybe it will let me be for a while. Thank you for this. Don't ever let your own mind tell you it was wrong to make or that nobody else got it. *I am paying you the cost of a movie ticket in my country, because that is the experience I feel like I got. Thank you, sincerely.

[@MontyZander]

Hey thank you!

[@InvisibleInque]

I don’t know why Alan’s origin is such a mystery, he’s CLEARLY Casper Darling and Tom Zane’s lovechild.

[@andycic.544]

I love the fact that at the final murder site, Sam Lake is the guy tied to the chair so you're acting out a LITERAL death of the author. Just a funny bit from the final murder site.

[@PoorlyWrttenReviews]

It's funny because Sam lake has been killed by scratch before canonically in the 3rd part of a promo video

[@itsmemoose9751]

The art direction and visuals, sound production, script, and everything about this video is incredible. The fact that something so high quality is available for free is mind blowing. Thank you Monty!

[@Rattafix]

Words cant explain the amount of passion that can be found in this video, truly a mirror to the amount of passion Remedy put into the game. Theres so many videos on this site that just paste a voice over onto clips of gameplay, but this... The editing, the commissioned music that brings a tear to the eye, the utter human touch... Standing ovations aren't enough

[@briankale4653]

This may have been said already, but the way you pronounced “Oh Dear” Diner made me realize that it’s a reference to the concept in Norse mythology of “Óðr” (“oh” - “dir”). It is “divine madness” often associated with Freyja. Given the other Norse Mythology elements and references in Alan Wake, it’s not an accident. There are more recent (‘97) interpretations of Óðr to mean “the frenzied One.” Also apt for Alan wake Lore.

[@candybeans]

Oh dang. I looked this up and it's sometimes Freya's husband? So is it Mr. Door...?

[@briankale4653]

@@candybeans with all Norse Mythology, it’s often an evolving interpretation. Especially when translating the different works from different time periods and languages. Recently, people have started to connect Od and Odin together. So anything is possible, even for Mr. Door. For Alan Wake 2, I think it’s a fun little Easter egg.

[@nathanaelwaters2509]

Hope the algorithm picks the re-upload

[@MontyZander]

Yeah, I'm completely kicking myself, there were so many lovely comments on the bad version!

[@mrjtfang2]

@@MontyZander It notified me this time, if that makes any difference.

[@TitaniumAlloyz]

It must have because I didn't see it the first time, definitely thought it was a first upload lol

[@DonNinja05]

Regarding the eye, I think Odin's younger version has both eyes but on stage uses an eyepatch for his left eye. Listen to what Odin says after Door takes his eye. "He took the wrong eye". On stage he's an Odin who had lost his left eye. Door taking the "wrong eye" meant that his stage persona would have had to change. I do like your theory though, and I bet that him taking the eye is still a nod to Quantum Break and Mr. Hatch.

[@habijjj]

It's 100% that door took his eye for a specific reason. Idk why people think scratch took his eye.

[@flipit.20]

No warning could stop me from sleeping to your videos Monty

[@mcbill7352]

Sleeping to them? Bro put in all the effort to voice and edit over 5 hours of video and you are going to fall asleep while it plays in the background? I would take that as an insult to my creation, but whatever i guess

[@zolofttube4840]

@@mcbill7352 Engagement is engagement. 5 hours of engagement is great for the YT algorithm. For every person that sleeps to the full video, more possible ad revenue and shows to new viewers.

[@DonNinja05]

@@mcbill7352 Obviously we're going to watch the video while awake first, but it's a good sleep aid for the future :)

[@SidPhoenix2211]

​@@DonNinja05exactly. The first time I watch it properly, and then later, I go to sleep to it. Not just one night, but MANY nights lol

[@RaptieFeathers]

I'm the opposite. I sleep first and then watch afterwards :D

[@Lara-gc9wd]

I have never really understood Alan Wake. Seven minutes in, you are discussing House of Leaves. I fear I will continue not to understand Alan Wake

[@TheParadoxGamer1]

You get used to it

[@RealBradMiller]

The f*cking house on Ash Tree Lane....

[@TheParadoxGamer1]

@@RealBradMiller This is not for you.

[@calumbyrne5926]

The very opening of Alan wake is a quote from Stephen kings that says horror is best felt when unexplained, you gotta just feel it not understand it

[@ZeroRulz0]

Sadly that's the point. But what really hurts Alan Wake, especially 2 is that Control and the dlc exist. And they both went out of their way to explain what should have been unexplained.

[@zeroanonymity9736]

This is phenomenal. Seeing essayists push for making their essays art, expressing their feelings for the subject beyond just words, it's wonderful to see. Watching art inspire others to push their art further is incredible to me. You've truly stepped up your game and I cannot wait to see how much more you can develop as an essayist!

[@hada__02]

Monty Zander: reviewer, dreamweaver, visionary, plus actor

[@Henez89]

He has an extensive catalogue of chillers too

[@Lilbee730]

Monty Zander: in which a mutated placenta attacks Romford

[@Henez89]

@@Lilbee730 Monty knows reviewers who use subtext and they're all cowards

[@cleverpsyche115]

So what ever happened between you and that Wake customaaah?

[@hyperdeath84]

He’s one of the few people who’s made more in depth game reviews than he’s watched.

[@ianagrace9212]

Im so, so proud to have played a small part in this ❤ thank you, Monty, for having me!! Your writing is beautiful. You've been my fave video essayist since I watched your Bioshock videos so it's been a dream to work with you! Also wow 5 hours???!! We're eating good 😍

[@wyattjames6828]

Despite it being a small part, you did it amazingly. I genuinely believed it was real until it said you had read it! Fantastic job!!!

[@ianagrace9212]

@@wyattjames6828 thank you so much! that really means a lot to me

[@nucbillfish]

Kia ora, iana, and thank you for sending me here to watch this; I would not have seen it otherwise. I love your addition to this wonderful video essay ❤️

[@rayumbo]

Here I am watching this for the 4th or 5th time 4 or so months after it released. Monty, this is by far and away your most impressive critique yet. You remedified it, and it’s such an amazing watch. I hope you’re proud of this dude.

[@MontyZander]

Thank you!

[@datguyuno98]

I'm 1 hour in and I think this might actually be the most perfect execution of a video essay about any piece of art ever because it itself is a work of art. No notes, it speaks for itself and then some

[@andycic.544]

Me: Thinking my chapter on Alan Wake II being an hour long was a lot. Monty: Hold my beer.

[@jaydenwark]

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to work on the soundtrack and intro! It turned out so well!!

[@sayborgoussawa4424]

5 hours and 21 minutes and 14 secends of Clean and pure ART. This is ONE of the best video I've seen about Alan Wake 2, thank you Monty. ''I don't know how to talk about Alan Wake 2''. MasterPiece. Breathtaking. Beyond the Lake.

[@Lilbee730]

Yes!! This is art!

[@sayborgoussawa4424]

@@Lilbee730 Yeah 🔥🔥❤❤

[@liquidrufus]

The first Chapter hit me like a ton of bricks. Helped my mother care for her Mum with dementia from mid 2016 to late 2020 after my grandfather passed away. Amazing video. Well worth the wait! Also adore the secret messages.

[@AdamSoucyDrums]

You know, I first read House of Leaves maybe 6 or 7 years ago and to this day there’s I still feel like there’s surprisingly little in the way of long form analysis on KZbin about the book, no doubt in large part to how tied to “ink and paper” the experience of reading it is. It’s been so fun and surprising seeing it crop up more and more in your Remedy videos and it’s scratching an itch I didn’t even realize I still had!

[@brycecartwright2403]

The closest I’ve gotten is Powerpaks House.wad video so more of House of Leaves adjacent stuff is awesome. But man, I want someone to make a really big deep dive into it someday I’d watch the shit out of that.

[@thedeathray8620]

​@@brycecartwright2403 I'd suggest the video's by the channel Night Mind for that one. He has made 3 video's on a deep dive in the book, totaling around 5 hours. I don't know if it's a good recommendation. The video's start with the suggestion to read the book yourself first before watching, and I never got around to that, despite the book lying right next to me.

[@RaptieFeathers]

A really good deep dive into that book would be an incredible undertaking. So much to cover

[@laser1373]

Yea there was a point when reading house of leaves that I just couldn't stop reading I had to finish and it was like the last half of the book and it was midnight when I hit that point lol

[@user-rf7br8yb3l]

5 hours!? Yea fucking right. *presses play*

[@TheZombieButler]

Tell me about it. Love me some Zander.

[@user-rf7br8yb3l]

@@TheZombieButler I watched the whole thing in one sitting 😑

[@BehindTheVoicePod]

This is beautifully made. I'm such in awe to see so much that you got to talk about this game and so much detail that even I uncovered because of this video. Including all these wonderful talented people to include a piece of their art into this piece of art is magical. Including so many points and conversations that helped understand the small moments, characters and stories of this game, its insane to watch how INCREDIBLE this is.

[@lynackhilou4865]

to add on to your theory on the oldest house being Yggdrasil and its roots being the dark place , there is this famous quote by carl jung : no tree can reach into heaven unless its roots reach down to hell

[@spooky_boi6978]

The amount of effort and passion put into this video essay is astounding. This needs to get the attention it deserves

[@o0bscure]

having Gaming University here is the cherry on top. Thanks Monty ..... now im really waiting for Alan Wake 2's Lore Dump

[@pepperronin8868]

I don’t see anyone praising it yet, so just want to say that harmony in the opening was absolutely beautiful. Keep making great essays,man!

[@candybeans]

That harmony made me so excited for what was coming and it SO pays off.

[@maxmillianwiegel1643]

Now THIS is quality

[@neil_breen42]

The amount of effort evident in every single frame of this video goes way beyond a "simple" video essay. This is pretty much on par with the text itself, in my opinion. Hope you get all the views you deserve for this, Monty. You should be fucking proud!

[@brankopetek6884]

One week. It took me one week to get through the entire video. And here I am as the credits roll, in standing ovation. This critique is art, in all my life I am yet to see something so masterfully done.

[@Shapeshiftergreen]

1:38:52 That actually looks just like when he burns away in American Nightmare, similar pose. Great catch!

[@Sarah-uf8jv]

oh my god this is amazing. the songs, the stories, the massive amount of work editing this video must have taken; its incredible. I've been so excited for your Alan Wake 2 review and this did not disappoint. such fantastic work, I cannot wait to rewatch it. Bravo!

[@matinsaberifar5049]

Finally finished this. I'm honestly lost for words. Thanks for the time and the love you put into it. The editing, the writing, the theories, the analysis, the music, the animations and the goddamn comic book, all superb for sure. One of a kind. I'm happy Sam Lake himself put his stamp of approval on this one on Twitter as well. And I hope more Alan Wakers out there get to come across this in the algorithm!

[@Riley-uy5pe]

I honestly can't believe you went hard enough to put multiple music videos in this essay

[@microphytobenthos]

Thank you, Monty, sincerely. This video has made me appreciate Alan Wake 2 much more than I would have been able to on my own. It's a deep dive into the mind of darkness, into forgetting and remembering little stories you once heard a long time ago. Thank you.

[@marinaryan]

This is an absolutely brilliant work of art, Monty. Your passion, research, writing, and commitment to your creative vision shine in this video, and you've given me new perspectives on one of my favourite games. Thank you for having me; it was an honour to write music for this project.

[@HollyWoodford14]

I’ve been a fan for a while now, your videos always soothe my soul but this one really is something else, 5 hours of pure entertainment thank you Monty for sharing your talent and a fitting tribute to this incredible game!!

[@msthlemon5521]

3 hours and 20 minuites in and got to say, im so impressed the production is outstanding, got so much stuff i should have done today but ah well

[@Para2normal]

Bloody Hell Monty, your quality in this is amazing. I was sat wondering where you'd been just the other day and Lo and behold this absolute classic of a review turns up.

[@Ekklo]

Yo, this is a level above your already potent craft. Thank you Monty.

[@UberNoodle]

This was absolutely amazing. A complex multi-layered work of art in itself. You've absolutely outdone yourself, Mr Zander.

[@DJPirtu]

3:08:55 Holy moly, Ahti suddenly saying "This is not my home" in my native language hits in a weird way.

[@roonkolos]

A random thing i want to mention on the Cynthia Weaver jumpscare It wasnt just the jumpscare in of itself that startled me and not just the quickly rising tension Its what the scare meant. In that moment, i had a slight scream and then immediate realization Cynthia was Taken. She, The Bearer of the Light, was gone. That jumpscare was earned because of what i knew from the first game. And it made what i knew was to come sooner or later all the more tragic

[@cake_knight183]

Sweet christ, that was slightly less of a trip than the game. God tier video Monty.

[@ten_of_diamonds7575]

"I don't know how to talk about alan wake" There's 5 hours of him talking

[@ekofever827]

This video is so damn good man. Had to come back AGAIN. Can’t get enough of it

[@carepackage2389]

The great news is this is single best Critique I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The bad news is now everything else I watch will pale in comparison.

[@Sisalumo]

Great video! I like surreal, thought-provoking art like Alan Wake 2, though I have difficulty arranging my thoughts and following along the whole way. Having you point out things I overlooked or fill in gaps with details from the first game was very enlightening, and let me appreciate the game even more.

[@patrickr2790]

I watched this twice. 11 hours. I was able to watch other KZbin videos afterwards so I know I’m not a character in your spiral. Great work.

[@hungryLIKEALI0N]

God damn, the music in this is amazing. "Still" is just... incredible. Wow. What a transcendant song. And I'm only 1 hour into the video. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@hungryLIKEALI0N]

omg the acapella bit, amazing, amazing

[@brain_drops]

I've only barely started the video and the amount of effort you've put into this is really impressive. I dig your voice underneath the dialog, reading it like its manuscript pages.

[@primemcmanus]

I haven't played this game, but this video has just upped my excitement to play it tenfold. That story about the teacher was absolutely heartbreaking. I assume it's a personal story. My grandmother on my dads side succumbed to alzheimer's when i was 8. Seeing someone you care for forgetting who you are is absolutely devastating. This might be your best video ever. Keep on keeping on, man!

[@jollyredgiant203]

I'll repost my comment then. Thank you so much for this work of art. Every minute of this is dripping with passion and it blows my mind

[@RaiuWorren]

Comment to feed the algorithm! Just finished watching Patreon release. Truly amazing work! Well worth the wait. Now just waiting on the Lore Dump 😊

[@GubtodiReviews]

I cannot explain how excited I have been for this video. Seeing all the teasers, trailers and BTS was all amazing to see, both for the video and how far you've come on this platform. Here's to the next 5 hours 🥃

[@Undcvrhlp]

I’m sure someone else has said it but Saga removing the paper without gloves is almost certainly a reference to a similar moment in Twin Peaks when Dale Cooper removes the first letter from inside Laura Palmer

[@MontyZander]

Nobody has and I completely forgot about this!

[@lewdwig]

Thanks

[@ElPresidenteMargz]

It’s called “Return” cause WE return

[@kinglyer5640]

Finally finished this beast. This was amazing!!!

[@batmanstrike8287]

Im back! Hello again! I just wanted to say i picked up your video a little while ago, and got about halfway through before buying the game for myself. Now I'm back after beating the main story to hear everything you have to say about it. I just want to say Monty, so far the video has been amazing. I can listen to you talk about Alan Wake for hours. I think this just might be your best video yet

[@Rust1809]

2:36:50 Idk man, "Baby, baby, baby, yeah! Orange peel!" Is a pretty rad line 😂

[@davidgray5513]

YOU ARE A WORM THROUGH TIME

[@lexradu]

2:10:23 The Jumpscares also work the same way as they do in Control, when the Hiss is attempting to take over Jesse.

[@LewisJ815]

Watching this in bits and bobs and currently about 2 hours in. But this is bloody incredible work. Top stuff MZ!

[@WeiLeR2009]

They do have an answer for the eyes of Odin. He pretended to be missing an eye when he was younger on stage. In 1988, he fought another "God" (Mr. Door more than likely) whom took the "Wrong eye" in their fight. It's in the manuscript in Alan Wake 2 called "It took the wrong one"

[@MarkoUntitled]

The amount of care and effort you put into your videos is worth of admiration. It's very clear that you enjoy doing this and are very passionate about it. Keep it going my dude!

[@Undcvrhlp]

My wild theory is that these are two multiverses at odds with one another. The oldest house is the trunk of a tree which separates two infinities of possibilities. The branches and the roots. One dark and existing beneath the surface in the form of the FBC and the Dark Place operating in the shadows of art and science. Then there’s the Branches where everything is similar but in the open like the REC. That’s how there can be a Tom the poet and a Tom the Filmmaker, two different origins for scratch, two representations of the conversation between Tom and Alan observed by Jesse. A white pyramid and a black pyramid. A bright place and a dark place. A blessing a curse. But just like yin and yang, each has a little of the other in them. Similar to the relationship between Alan’s deep nihilism and Alice’s hopeful interpretation of the dark.

[@nicholaswmitchell]

Beautiful review. Remedy is truly on another level of writing, I cant wait to see what they do next

[@galactic_4042]

I'm 1 hour into this and wow, the work put into this by you and everyone you collaborated with is honestly inspiring. I truly think this might be one of your greatest pieces of work :)

[@luxomatix]

First video I've seen of yours and some of the most thoughtful and put-together video essay content I've seen on here!! And of a game I need more and more content for. Love it

[@BlueSkiesandDeathofficial]

This video is incredible! Love it! We were so honored to be a part of it!

[@johnjarvis7791]

I knew we were in for a treat with everything youve been saying about this episode, but ive never had so many chills through a video essay. This is absolutely peak Monty, never stop persuing your passion.

[@andrewlarose3205]

An art critique, about a game which itself is an exploration of the creative process across multiple mediums, the critique also being a cross media artistic endeavor. How deliciously meta. Can’t imagine how much work this took to put together

[@talesfromtheknottedgrove]

I’m watching this for the 5th time, and just became a patron for the first time. Congrats on the son, mate. Thanks for changing the way I play games.

[@lakai_path]

Waited in anticipation for months for this Monty, time to replay it again - great video and brilliant breakdown.

[@leonardocota4703]

monty has unironically became my favourite youtuber

[@jakewhite2328]

I hope you're proud of yourself for this one, Monty. I know I'm proud of you. Knocked it out of the park. Best one yet!

[@KyanNurse]

Started yet another rewatch and realised just now that you not only edited the live chat of the Remedy dev streams, but also made the announcement of having a son in them is just so perfect for the video, congrats to you and Noobus

[@SakeM75]

Amazing video, you're an absolute legend for commissioning so many different artists!

[@heatfist117]

Absolutely monumental, can't imagine the effort that went into this, thanks as always Monty. Big shoutout to all of the collaborators as well, the musical segments especially, they were outstanding.

[@Plabini_223]

genuinely one of the best youtube videos ive seen

[@provocativecheesecake]

What can I say that hasn’t already been said? You-and all the disgustingly talented cats you herded-didn’t just move me, you turned me upside down and shook all the loose change out of my pockets. Figured you should have it.

[@MontyZander]

Thank you so much!

[@CaptainArthanos]

Commenting for the algorithm but also to say that you fucking rule man. Always enjoy your stuff but your previous Alan Wake video was a high point. Very excited for your voice to guide me through the next several hours of work I have to get through.

[@H1SD]

I thought I'd end up saving this and watch it over the course of multiple days, but I ended up just binging the whole thing. Absolutely no regrets, the production value was insane. Beautiful music, funny bits, and genuinely interesting theories and thoughts. I guess I'll have to replay this sometime soon again. Edit: Alan Wake 2 lore dump when?

[@vanirie434]

I have a slight disagreement over Door's motivations -- I think the reason he enters the plot is because *Alan* drags *Logan* into it. There's a theme of tense familial relationships being resolved through the children reconnecting with the grandparents, and Door's actual interactions with Saga tend towards the distant and the chill. He's clearly confident that she is on top of her shit -- but Logan is an innocent who was completely uninvolved, who Door has no designs for, who is still his blood, and that's what makes him feel he has to get on with it. Helping Saga is... well. I don't want to say it's secondary, but Door doesn't really act to me like he's trying to reconnect with Saga, y'know?

[@jameshamrick8111]

This is one of the best videos I’ve ever spent this long watching. And now I’ve got to replay!

[@arguekayes]

I love that Gaming University is involved

[@msmoon6011]

The amount of passion and work that went into this critique is a testament to not only how much Alan Wake, heck Remedy games as a whole means to Monty but to us fans and how much we appreciate what "art" is about. Thank you Monty and to everyone else who had a part in the making of this video! The inclusion of original songs was such a nice touch! Especially Jayden Wark's "Still". So hauntingly beautiful.

[@potofbees]

theres a million things i could say about how great this video is and how i love to see someone as passionate about something as i am cover said thing, but i gotta thank you specifically for being one of the few people to talk about the "jumpscares" like that. i felt like an odd man out thinking they were fascinating, and yet i seemed to see so many people complaining that that was their main gripe with the game. like huh? i never felt they were cheap, and most of the time they were just unsettling, not actual jumpscares that get me to fall back in my seat (i think the only one to actually make me jump was a cynthia one funnily enough) i saw it like you did as a manifestation of the dark presence and i feel they dont really count as jumpscares when you can tell by context clues that theyre coming. the build up to each one was always there and thats why they never jumpscared me, because you knew something was brewing and that it was taunting you, beckoning you forth into each overlap or each scratch appearance. i dont think theyre at all vital to the game being as amazing at is, but i think removing them like some people would rather have would definitely lessen the experience. being able to see these visions of the dark presence's influence throughout was always interesting to me. on top of that, theyre all just gorgeous. like i know theyre supposed to be terrifying but from an artistic perspective theyre just so cool, everyone on the art team did such an amazing job in every single part of this game. thank you for making this video man, i feel like this video stands as a masterpiece on its own, while simultaneously being an homage to this masterpiece of a game. great job, and great job to all the artists involved in its making as well!

[@atanamorell2]

YES! 🎉 Thanks for giving this all the time, attention & love it deserved. It shows. Excellently done, Master Monty!

[@milesdavidvt]

5 HOURS?! YOU'RE SPOILING US MONTY AND I'M ALL FOR IT

[@INZOMBIEA]

Took me two weeks to actually watch this through and it's an amazing amalgamation of transmedia interpretive dance storytelling with an explanation and review this is elevating the essay format congratulations to Monty and all the collaborators hope this picks up steam and gets the views it deserves

[@comichero2228]

You, and everyone who collaborated with you on this amazing project, are phenomenal. This is phenomenal. I want to print this script out at my library and hug it tight. Thank you thank you thank you.

[@16jornio]

Came here after sam lake twitted about this video !!

[@zennaxyl5480]

I am absolutely in love with this video. Alan Wake 2 is one of my favorite games, and this video perfectly sums up how i feel about it.

[@buggyjohnson666]

this is not an essay. It's a critique!

[@seandamienhill]

One of the Alan Wake videos I’ve ever seen, incredible, big fan of Gaming University too. Absolutely awesome

[@ddtanksssss]

I've took one week to saw this for the first time. Absolutely the best media i ever consumed on this platform, your essays are really a singular type of art. Probably this changed my perception about this game, and it became my favorite of all time. Wishing the best for you, thank you for all this hours of enjoyment ❤❤❤