Surgent Studios, having recently delivered the vibrant action-adventure title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, is now venturing into distinctly darker territory. Their next project, titled Dead Take, is confirmed to be a psychological horror game, marking a significant genre pivot for the studio. The game promises a tense, atmospheric experience rooted in interactive live-action footage, challenging players to piece together disturbing scenes within the confines of a sprawling Hollywood mansion, all while exploring the often-ugly underbelly of fame.
Adding considerable weight to this ambitious shift are the revealed lead actors: Ben Starr and Neil Newbon. Both are highly regarded for their recent, prominent roles in major video games – Starr as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI and Newbon, who garnered widespread acclaim (and a few awards) for his portrayal of Astarion in Baldur`s Gate 3. Their involvement immediately draws attention to Dead Take, promising performances that can anchor the game`s potentially unsettling narrative.
An exclusive first look provided glimpses into Starr and Newbon`s characters through unsettling “audition tape” style clips. These sequences show the actors in moments of palpable nervousness, which are then abruptly interrupted by supernatural intrusions. For anyone familiar with Newbon`s rather… *distinctive* vocal performance as a certain pale elf, hearing him adopt a deep American accent for his character, Chase Lowry, is an initial surprise, almost an uncanny valley effect, even before the horror elements kick in. Similarly, Ben Starr embodies Vinny Monroe with a visible fragility that contrasts sharply with his previous heroic fantasy role.
The revealed footage highlights the core of Dead Take`s approach: leveraging live-action performances to create immersion and dread. Both actors demonstrate a capacity to convey vulnerability and fear convincingly, traits essential for drawing players into a psychological horror setting. Their performances in these brief clips are genuinely unsettling, hinting at the kind of intense character-driven horror Surgent Studios aims to deliver.
Transitioning from a visually striking action-platformer to an interactive live-action horror title is undoubtedly a bold move. However, the caliber of talent secured in Ben Starr and Neil Newbon, coupled with the evident intensity of their early performances, suggests that Dead Take is not just a thematic departure, but a serious artistic endeavor. Horror fans and followers of these actors will be keenly watching to see how these unsettling glimpses translate into a full, terrifying interactive experience.
Ellis Thorne