Summary
Super Mario Bros.was the first theatrically released live-action movie based on a video game, and while it was nothing like the games, it has created a cult following over the years. Not all games have entered into the “so bad it’s good” adaptation territory, though, with many being outright forgettable. That was consistently the case for a while, but now the tides have been turning, and there are legitimately good movies and TV shows based on video games now.
Between shows and movies, there have been manyadaptations based on horror games or franchises,with the latest beingUntil DawnandThe Last of UsSeason 2, which is currently airing on Max.In celebration of those two achievements, let’s rankthe best horror game adaptationsbased on their quality.
Dead Space: Downfallis a prequel to the first game, setting up the fall of the USGIshimura, a planet-cracker spaceship where theevents of the firstDead Spacetake place. After finding a mythical relic, the ship’s crew starts to go wild, turning them intomutated monsters called Necromorphs.
Even though it’s animated, the movie does not shy away from the gore. Fans ofDead Spacecan assume the worst for the USGIshimura,since they know how the first game starts, so there’s not much unpredictability, butDownfallstill offers plenty of lore and interesting details about the Marker and theIshimura.Additionally, there is a prequel game calledDead Space: Extractionthat also covers these events.
The2002Resident Evilmovie kicked off an impressive film run, and they all did relatively well at the box office despite the lore not matching up to the games. The recent reboot film,Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, sticks more to the original narrative, but the 2002 movie is still the superior offering.
In hindsight, fans can appreciate the more action-centered approach to the film and the unique underground Umbrella facility. The laser grid is also a highlight that even made it into a future game:Resident Evil 4.Resident Evilis pure popcorn entertainment, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
From a horror movie perspective, the2006Silent Hilladaptation arguably does a better job of creating an ambiance for game fans. It’s mostly mirroring the first game, setting things up for a nightmarish adventure in the town of Silent Hill, complete with thick fog and derelict buildings.
There are some nods from the other games too,like the appearance of Pyramid Head,who has one of the most shocking scenes in the movie, even if it’s not particularly lore-accurate.It’s not worth spoiling here, but the movie is worth it for that scene alone. While this first movie is still a fun, spooky ride, fans should steer clear of the sequel,Silent Hill: Revelation.
Until Dawnis the latest horror game-to-film adaptation, and it is nothing like the source material, technically. Saying anything more would ruin the surprise for first-time viewers, but the basic plot of the film is a time loop scenario, which is far from anything that goes on in the plot of its video game namesake.
Five young adults are trapped in a building and keep dying in new ways every night, before waking up the next day in a new horror-homage situation. What the film gets right is the gore, which is quite literally explosive.It’s funny in some contexts, though, like another recent horror film,The Monkey.Divorced from the game, it’s just a good horror movie with some interesting twists.
Werewolves Withinis based on a concept that has been around in board games for a long time, but specifically, it is an adaptation of a Ubisoft VR game. In the game, players have to ask each other questions to figure out who among them is secretly a werewolf, which transfers well into awhodunit mystery plot.
A new mailman arrives in a remote town in Vermont where strange murders keep happening. While unnerving in some bits, the kills are played more for laughs, and the cast sells the comedy well.The onlydrawback is thatWerewolves Withinwas released around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, so not many people had the opportunity to see it in theaters or were exposed to its advertising, making it a bit of an underrated gem.
Netflix’s animatedCastlevaniaseries is one of the most successful video game adaptations ever.This first series had four seasons, which were all based onCastlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse,along with some other spinoffs.The monsters, animation style, and bloody gore are beyond unsettling, but that’s good since the action is very well-animated.
The series adds a lot to theBelmont source materialsince it was thin to begin with, coming from an NES game. The second series,Castlevania: Nocturne, is based largely onCastlevania: Rondo of Bloodand is equally entertaining, although it is still ongoing as of this writing.
As good as these other movies and shows are,The Last of Usis leagues above them. Except for a few changes here and there, Season 1 is almost an exact recreation of the first game, and they did it in only nine episodes.
The cast is great, especially the dynamic between Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who play Joel and Ellie, respectively. If that chemistry was off, then the whole show would be ruined.The Last of Usdoesn’t pull any punches either and is equal parts scary, heart-breaking, and action-packed, with a few droplets of humor too. If fans only watch the first season, they will be satisfied; however, Season 2 is currently airing as of this writing, and appears to be maintaining that momentum.
