It used to be that when a video game movie was announced, there was an expectation that it would stink. That was, for a time, a reasonable expectation as adaptations of video games in the ‘90s and early 2000s were largely pretty terrible, save for those who enjoy the blockbuster thrills that the Resident Evil movies had to offer. In any event, things have changed and Hollywood has begun to figure this stuff out. So, it should be exciting for many to hear that the modern classic horror game Outlast is getting the big screen treatment.
As first reported by the folks at Bloody Disgusting, Lionsgate has boarded the Outlast movie, with the game’s developer Red Barrels also involved. Mega producer Roy Lee (Barbarian, Strange Darling) is on board as a producer, with J.T. Petty, who was involved in writing the games, on board to pen the screenplay. Plot details are currently being kept under wraps but Petty describes it as “an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the characters and killers we love.” For those who may not be familiar, the synopsis for the 2013 game reads as follows:
“In the remote mountains of Colorado, horrors wait inside Mount Massive Asylum. A long-abandoned home for the mentally ill, recently re-opened by the “research and charity” branch of the transnational Murkoff Corporation, the asylum has been operating in strict secrecy… until now.
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, independent journalist Miles Upshur breaks into the facility, and what he discovers walks a terrifying line between science and religion, nature and something else entirely. Once inside, his only hope of escape lies with the terrible truth at the heart of Mount Massive.
Outlast is a true survival horror experience which aims to show that the most terrifying monsters of all come from the human mind.”
Lionsgate is no stranger to the horror genre. This is the studio that birthed the Saw franchise, among many other titles. The studio is also currently working on a new Blair Witch movie with Blumhouse, in addition to releasing films such as The Strangers: Chapter 1 and Bagman this year. So this feels like a good home for the project.
“When Outlast launched in 2012, it changed the landscape of horror gaming, setting a new standard for immersion in the genre,” said Roy Lee. “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.”
The original game was a big success both critically and commercially. It spawned two sequels in the form of 2017’s Outlast 2 and this year’s The Outlast Trials. As for how the games might translate to the screen? The narrative is very POV focused and essentially plays like an interactive found footage experience. So a found footage movie of some sort would make sense, but we’ll see what the filmmakers have in mind. David Chateauneuf, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Red Barrels, had this to say about it:
“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. “
The Outlast movie does not currently have a release date, but stay tuned. For more, find out how to play the N64 classic Turok 2: Seeds of Evil on the Nintendo Switch.
