The Mortuary Assistant, a critically acclaimed indie first-person horror game, is getting a big-screen adaptation. Based on a report from Deadline, the film will be directed by Jeremiah Kipp and co-produced by DreadXP (a developer and publisher of horror video games) and Epic Pictures Group. Director and writer Kipp has previously helmed the films Slapface, Black Wake, the animated short Draw Up & Stare, and the horror films Broken Badges and The Sadist. Kipp’s goal in creating the screenplay was to do justice to the universe that Darkstone Digital creator and film executive producer Brian Clarke has built. Kipp: “I wanted to honour all of the game that horrified me and make a companion piece to it…translating it into the visual storytelling and character-driven terror of narrative cinema.”
Clarke thinks the decision to make a film out of his game is “a unique and wonderful chance.” Additionally, he said “The visual design of my games has been heavily influenced by the movies. Having the chance to bring this project full circle is the realisation of a long-held goal of mine to write stories, dialogue, and scenes with a cinematic quality.” Clarke gushed about Kipp, calling him an “amazingly gifted storyteller” and that she was looking forward to “seeing him evolve The Mortuary Assistant in new and fresh ways.” Along with Clarke and Kipp, the production team consists of Patrick Ewald, Ted Hentschke (Head of Production at DreadXP), and Abbey Smith (co-producer at DreadXP).
With its release in early August, The Mortuary Assistant immediately gained popularity, becoming a Steam bestseller and attracting the attention of influential YouTubers and social media users. Rebecca Owens, the player character, is an apprentice at River Fields Mortuary and has recently graduated from mortician school. Rebecca works as an embalmer and learns about the care of the recently departed throughout her time at the morgue. Rebecca quickly discovers the evil presence in the morgue and must figure out how to combat the demons if she wants to make it through the night. Although a premiere date has not been set, the film’s cast members will be revealed soon. For anyone interested, The Mortuary Assistant may be purchased through the Steam marketplace.