Get ready gamers, you’re in for a scare. The studio that brought the world the gory and uncomfortably twisted horror movie franchise Saw is about to enter an even more gory and twisted world with a new film adaptation of the terrifying video game franchise Outlast. In an exclusive report from Bloody Disgusting, Lionsgate revealed that it’s teaming up with Red Barrels, the video game developer behind the Outlast games, to bring the survival horror series to the silver screen. If the unadulterated body horror of the Saw franchise is any indication of what’s to come, then Outlast has found the perfect production company to bring the game to movie audiences.
The revolutionary game’s adaptation will be led by Roy Lee, who has a famous horror movie history with hit films such as It, Barbarian, Late Night with the Devil, and Strange Darling in his portfolio. This is great news for fans of Red Barrels, which is also famous among horror fans for being one of the most influential game developers in the industry. Lee had this to say about the upcoming adaptation:
“When
Outlast
launched in 2012, it changed the landscape of horror gaming, setting a new standard for immersion in the genre. Its deep, emergent lore has provided a perfect foundation for creating a film that delves into the psychological and physical horrors at the core of the franchise. I’m excited to bring this unique world to life for both new viewers and the series’ dedicated fans.”
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If that partnership wasn’t enough to sell fans on the adaptation, they will be thrilled to know that the screenwriter of the Outlast movie, J.T. Petty (The Burrowers, Hellbenders), is also the writer behind the games. Petty told Bloody Disgusting, “Red Barrels has been pushing the limits of horror in games for more than a decade, and expanding the Outlast Universe into film is an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the characters and killers we love.”
Lionsgate and Red Barrels Are a Match Made in Heaven
Despite recent box office flops, with the success of horror releases like the Saw films, The Strangers: Chapter 1, and Imaginary, Lionsgate should be confident in its ability to take on such a boundary-pushing franchise like Outlast. Since debuting in 2013, the Outlast games changed the horror game landscape forever with their genius implementation of immersive atmospheres, terrifying sound design, constant suspense, and over-the-top gore effects. The closest cinematic analogs we have to the first-person psychological survival horror video games are the Saw movies, so it’s safe to say Lionsgate probably won’t hold back.
Audiences can expect a shocking and immensely suspenseful experience from an Outlast adaptation, a series in which survivors cannot fight back but only run and hide when danger comes around the corner. And with a recent multiplayer addition to the franchise, Outlast Trials, it looks like we might have a Saw-like ensemble cast on our hands. Co-Founder and Creative Director at Red Barrels, David Chateauneuf, summed up the announcement perfectly when talking to Bloody Disgusting:
“As die-hard fans of horror across every medium, at Red Barrels we are great admirers of Roy Lee’s and Lionsgate’s work. Horror movies old and new have had an undeniable impact on our franchise over the years, and to now have the opportunity to work on an
Outlast
film with true horror legends is a dream, or should I say, nightmare, come true.”
Outlast
does not yet have a release date, but you can check out the games on Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.