The upcoming single-player spinoff of Dead by Daylight, titled The Casting of Frank Stone, has been generating buzz for its intriguing premise and the collaboration between Behaviour Interactive and Until Dawn and House of Ashes maker Supermassive Games. However, upon closer inspection of the devs’ latest revelations, the game’s plot bears some undeniable similarities to the 2011 Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi thriller Super 8.
While the game promises to deliver a unique experience within the Dead by Daylight universe, the parallels between the two projects are hard to ignore!
Teenagers, Terror, and a Dark Legacy
The Casting of Frank Stone follows a group of teenagers in the summer of 1980 who set out to make their mark on horror cinema. As they film their movie, Murder Mill, on the site of an infamous serial killer’s crimes, they uncover a sinister influence that triggers “unthinkable events.” The game’s premise revolves around these four young friends as they navigate the dark history of their town and the supernatural scares that await them.
In a similar vein, Steven Spielberg‘s Super 8 revolves around a group of young friends in 1979 who witness a catastrophic train crash while filming a Super 8 movie. They soon suspect that the incident was not an accident and begin to investigate the unusual disappearances and inexplicable events that follow. The train derailment serves as the catalyst for the strange occurrences that unfold in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio.
Small American Towns Haunted by Their Past
The Casting of Frank Stone is set in the town of Cedar Hills, Oregon, a community grappling with the dark legacy of the titular Frank Stone, whose violent crimes continue to haunt the residents. The game’s setting plays a crucial role in creating an atmosphere of suspense, unease, and dread, as the young protagonists uncover the secrets that lie beneath the surface of their seemingly quiet town.
Super 8, on the other hand, takes place in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio, where the young characters find themselves at the center of a terrifying mystery tied to a catastrophic train derailment. The eerie small-town setting, with its close-knit community and hidden secrets, serves as the perfect backdrop for the film’s blend of nostalgia and horror.
Nostalgia and Horror Throwbacks
Both The Casting of Frank Stone and Super 8 draw inspiration from classic horror and sci-fi movies. In an interview with GamesRadar, Supermassive Games’ creative director, Steve Goss, notes that the idea of using a Super 8 film as a “vehicle for horror” allows them to “bring in other influences that they really liked.” This nostalgic element is likely to resonate with fans of both the film and the game.
This mirrors Super 8’s homage to Spielberg’s earlier works like E.T. and The Goonies, while also incorporating elements of 1950s sci-fi films. The nostalgic setting and focus on a group of young friends facing extraordinary circumstances are common threads between the two projects.
While the developers continue to remain tight-lipped about the exact nature of the supernatural threat in The Casting of Frank Stone, the game promises to blend Supermassive’s signature choice-based storytelling with Dead by Daylight‘s lore. Players will make decisions that have a direct impact on the narrative, potentially resulting in dire consequences for the characters.
What is your take on this bold collaboration between the two horror-expert studios? Will Supermassive Games and Behaviour Interactive deliver a fresh and terrifying experience that stands apart from its cinematic counterpart? Or will the similarities prove too difficult to overcome? Let us know in the comments!
The Casting of Frank Stone is set to release sometime in 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
