This Step-by-Step Guide will show you the complete walkthrough of Initiation 8 Zane’s Film to locate the Murder Site in Poet’s Cinema in Alan Wake 2 (2023).
Go to Poet’s Cinema
After looking for Zane at the Oceanview Hotel player’s next stop is the cinema. Head back down to the first floor using the elevator and exit through the main entrance of the Oceanview Hotel. Poet’s Cinema is in the bottom right-hand corner of this map, just south of the car wash.
From the hotel turn left to walk along the street.
As you reach the end of the street, you’ll see some scaffolding overhead. Walk under it and turn to the left to reach the entrance of the car wash.
At the entrance use your flashlight to destroy the three glowing orbs, and then go inside.
Inside the car wash, and then turn right and exit through the door. You’ll find yourself in the main area of the Poet’s Cinema. Place the ticket in the booth to open the main doors.
Lobby
Head inside the Poet’s Cinema and then grab the Poet’s Cinema map in the kitchen area behind the concession stands in the Lobby area.
Go upstairs to the balcony. The Lobby has an Echo: the light orb is on the first level, while the dark orb is on the second. Position your character behind the black orb on the balcony and move it to line the two. This unlocks the Cult of the Word inspiration
Proceed to the back of the concession stand located on the first floor, select the Lobby scene, and use the Cult of the Word.
This reveals another Echo in the adjacent room. Align the Echoes to get New York’s Finest theme. Return to the Lobby and choose New York’s Finest to gain entry to the Theatre Hall.
Theater Hall
Head to the Theater Hall and go to the stage.
Switch to New York’s Finest theme and then align the Echo.
Head to the back area, switch off the light, and then change the theme to Cult of the Word. Align the Echo here, to get “Clip of the Lost Film” inspiration/theme
Use the new Clip of the Lost Film theme in the Theater Hall. This will play Thomas Zane’s short scene.
Once you reach the conclusion of Zane’s short scene, you will observe Zane holding an Angel Lamp. Approach it, and use your Angel Lamp to channel the light, which will unveil a path leading to the garage area on the left side.
Investigate the Alley
Upon reaching the backyard, switch the theme to “New York’s Finest” and align the Echo. You’ll spot a police car, and by utilizing the Angel Lamp, you’ll observe that its headlights direct your attention towards a doorway but some obstacles block this section.
Change to a theme – “Cult of the Word,” and position yourself in the small nook where the doorway is located.
Then, revert to “New York’s Finest,” allowing you to access the doorway.
Go to the Roof and find where someone fell
Scale the ladder to reach the rooftop, and then follow the path to the back of the rooftop.
Descend using another ladder and change to the “Cult of the Word” theme. You will come across an Echo that ends the scene and you will unlock the “Grandmaster” theme for you.
Meet the Grandmaster in the projection booth
Return to the backyard area where the police car was located and use the Grandmaster theme. This unlocks the door back to the cinema. Use the metal stairs to reach inside the cinema building again.
Head back to the Theater Hall and activate the Grandmaster scene. This triggers another movie to start, showing the Grandmaster entering a door. The goal is to move towards the stage and interact with the door on the screen, which will enable Alan to magically transport to a completely different location.
Maze of Film Equipment
Alan must navigate through a series of small storage areas, and he’ll notice that he’s stuck in a repeating loop. During your third loop, you’ll come across a small room with a TV, which provides you with a video to play in the Writer’s Room.
Advance to the fourth loop, and you’ll encounter a mysterious man wearing a mask. This man will plead with you not to pick up the knife, which is positioned right behind him. However, if you do take the knife, the man will hastily retreat.
As you proceed toward the dead-end, retrace your steps, and you’ll eventually find yourself back in the “normal” projector room. There, you’ll discover two police officers who have met unfortunate ends, and one of them is wearing the Moose Skull Mask.
