Dead by Daylight film adaptation secures director Tordur Palsson and script writers while game plans Terrifier crossover content
Long in development, a film based on the cooperative horror game Dead by Daylight has officially gained some steam. A major move was confirmed by developer Behaviour Interactive during a broadcast commemorating the game's 10 year anniversary: Tordur Palsson has been tapped to direct. Palsson, also known for the atmospheric horror movie The Damned, will be at the helm of the creative adaptation of the game from Blumhouse Productions.
The announcement of the film a few years back meant there were a few years for the producers to ensure they got the creative leads to match the tone of the game. The script is a collaborative effort between Alexander Aja (director of Mirrors) and David Leslie Johnson McGoldrick (Aquaman writer). This duo will try to find the balance between classical terror and high octane action to ensure both fans of the game and the moviegoing public are interested. Palsson himself has confirmed that one of his top priorities is to convey the unique sense of psychological pressure that occurs during an actual game, aiming for atmospheric terror rather than jump scares.
The biggest goal, he says, is translating the claustrophobic terror of gameplay to cinematic terms
The biggest thing I want to convey is the feeling of playing Dead by Daylight. The single most important factor is conveying the feeling of always looking over your shoulder. I want to convey the terror, the tension, the fear of what awaits you in the Fog. I'm always trying to achieve the kind of horror that lingers after the film's conclusion, and I believe that's what we're hoping to accomplish for all you guys on the big screen.
In addition to cinematic progress, Behaviour Interactive outlined their plans for game content for the upcoming year. They plan a series of content updates for the game to keep the player base active, and a significant upcoming November update will include the crossover character Art the Clown from the Terrifier horror films. With the physical production helmed by Blumhouse, and with the current screenwriters and director, the movie adaptation is officially moving from development into preproduction.
