First, I’d like to introduce myself as “not a gamer girl.” I haven’t played any games except my yearly Minecraft phase. I don’t play video games, but I watch them. Since I’m not qualified to judge a game’s mechanics, I will use my experience watching playthroughs and my outrageously expensive education in Cinema to decipher if a game could be a successful film.
Still Wakes the Deep is a first-person narrative horror game developed by The Chinese Room and released in June of 2024. The story follows an oil rig terrorized by a horrific creature from the depths of the ocean, who controls the bodies and minds of those it absorbs. The game by itself contains an emotional background for the protagonist, detailed graphics, and an incredible cast of voice actors. However, to make Still Wakes the Deep compatible with what viewers expect from a film, character development, watch time, and budget must be considered and adjusted.
Shaping for the Silver Screen…
Our introduction to the main character, Caz, begins with a letter from his wife, Suze, in which we learn that their relationship is on the verge of divorce. The player progressively learns about Caz’s situation leading up to his time on the oil rig alongside progressively defeating the monster creating an emotional connection between the two storylines. Caz wants to escape the monster instead of defeating it, much like how he escapes his failing marriage by running away to the oil rig. This character development was made for the screen.
However, this is a first-person narrative game. Therefore, some characteristics of Caz lack shaping so the player’s experience feels as though they are the main character. In a film, a character is completely separate from the viewer with their own inner monologues, fears, limits, and decisions. A majority of Caz’s actions throughout the game were decided by other employees giving tasks to push the story along. To shape Caz’s character for the screen, we need one pivotal moment of defeat where Caz realistically responds, “Hell no!” He can then be encouraged by his need to be there for his family to form a plan and act on it, taking control of the situation and decision-making as the film’s hero.
Screentime Time Crunch…
One of the biggest obstacles to film adaptation is time. Jacksepticeye’s full game playthrough of Still Wakes the Deep is a total of three hours and fifty-seven minutes. Although a full run-through of the game with no deaths or exploring would take less time, the game would still be too long for a two-hour film. Some game adaptations have worked around the obstacle by creating a series of hour-long episodes. HBO Max’s The Last of Us was able to accomplish a relatively true-to-the-game adaptation by using this method.
If Still Wakes the Deep was adapted into a series rather than a film, it would be interesting to break the game up depending on the section of the oil rig Caz is in. Throughout the game, the player is tasked with a specific goal that introduces a new part of the rig. In these areas, there are designated monsters and ways to escape them. If each episode were dedicated to one of the oil rig’s areas and their challenges, the adaptation would not need to be as heavily modified.
However, if the game were developed as a film, many of these monsters and tasks would have to be cut. Supposedly, Caz would only enter three main parts of the rig and interact with three monsters, ideally Rennick, Muir, and the main source of the creature. This would likely be the situation needed to create a proper character arc, exploration of the rig, and interaction with monsters, and still be under two hours.
Monster Magic Needs Money…
A huge part of the film’s final look has to do with its budget. Film adaptations often struggle with converting videogame characters to the silver screen and a big portion of the problem has to do with the cost. Adam Basil talks about his experience with his costume performing as The Bloater from HBO Max’s The Last of Us on Express saying, “They spent about half a million on the costume, it takes an hour to get into.”
There’s no doubt that these complex video game monsters are just as expensive as they are important to the game. The Still Wakes the Deep monster Rennick is featured as a giant mutated head, with spiderlike limbs sprouting from its sides. Muir is a horrific clump of skin and intestines that rises high above Caz on skinny limbs. However, the main source of the creature is formed from a mesmerizing strip of twisting colors that can easily be mistaken for harmless. Each monster is horrifically unique and pushes the limits of imagination. To do justice to these monsters, the film would require a lot of money.
That’s a Wrap!
Still Wakes the Deep is a narrative waiting to be shared through film. The video game itself creates an atmosphere that can only be described as cinematic. With a few more developments to Caz’s character, adjustments to time, and an HBO Max-level budget, Still Wakes the Deep has the potential to be the next psycho-horror blockbuster we’ve all been waiting for.
