Just in time for the holidays, oneHome Alonefan has masterfully crafted an FPS-style loadout screen for perhaps the most well-known Christmas rascal in cinema history: Kevin McCallister. The inspired work is chock-full of clever references to the twoHome Alonefilmsthat Macaulay Culkin starred in, though mostly the first.Releasing in 1990, the originalHome Alonebecame the highest-grossing live-action comedy for over 20 years, untilThe Hangover Part 2took the mantle in 2011. The film launched the career of Culkin, who is now considered one of the most successful child actors of all time. The festive coming of age story paired Culkin with the likes of Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci, who was mostly known for gritty crime dramas likeGoodfellas. The film even spawned a handful ofHome Alonevideo games, though their quality was questionable at best.RELATED:NiGHTS Fan Notices Music Samples “Home Alone"Just a few days before Christmas, a die-hardHome Alonefan has revealed an impressive melding of the classic films with modern video game aesthetics. Twitter user bunny_ballball recently shared the creation, and it’s clear that a lot of effort and passion went into it. The artist behind the account is Simon Brewer, a professional game developer and UI artist whose Twitter bio states they’ve worked onBatman: Arkham KnightandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewhich will feature the late Kevin Conroy.
The image is filled to the brim with key references, many of which have now become part of the films' enduring mythos. The imagined game is titledJohn Hughes’Home AloneSiege, in the stye ofthe ongoingTom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Siege. Hughes wrote and produced the first three films in the franchise. A smug-looking Kevin is center screen armed with his older brother Buzz’s pump-action BB shotgun. The weapon comes equipped with a list of perks, all of which are references, like “Little Jerk is Armed,” a line Daniel Stern’s Marv screams after taking a hit between the eyes.
There are a lot more references included, but to identify them all here would ruin the fun. Perhaps the most impressive aspect is the blending of homage with believable game mechanics. The stats of the BB gun are a great example. The time and effort required to create this work is a testament to the quality of the first two films and the adoration they still garner.
The same can’t be said of the franchise’s later titles, like theunderwhelmingHome Sweet Home Alone, but it’s safe to say the early entries still have a place in the hearts of many, 30 years on. And even if the franchise has had its day in the sun, a host of new holiday movies release every year, and there’s bound to be a true cinematic gift in there somewhere.
