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Until a few years ago, the presence of movie stars in video games was mainly associated with commercials in intros or brief cameos. Until Dawn (PS4, 2015) from the Supermassive Games studio, however, proved that first-person actors can give an interactive story a cinematic quality – both in terms of acting and the emotions that accompany the player throughout the story.
The cinematic roots of the mountain macabre
The plot is reminiscent of a classic slasher: a group of friends return to a mountain cabin a year after a tragic accident to face trauma… and something even scarier. The key thing here, however, is the so-called butterfly effect: every decision of the player – from words spoken in dialogue to dexterity in quick-time events – can completely change the fate of the characters.
For this concept to work, the characters had to sound and look believable regardless of the chosen plot. So the creators relied on motion capture technology and hired actors who were not afraid to spend dozens of hours in marker suits, acting out even the most extreme emotions.
Rami Malek and the rest of the team
The cast included Hayden Panettiere (Heroes), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Nichole Bloom (Superstore). However, it was Rami Malek’s portrayal of Josh Washington that stood out. Before winning an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody, the actor recorded hundreds of lines and facial movements to capture the psychological complexity of Josh — a character who serves as the emotional “hinge” of the entire plot.
Thanks to Malek’s full commitment, Josh comes off authentically both as the playful host of the party and as one of the game’s most disturbing characters when the plot takes a darker turn. It is the presence of an actor of this class that gives each branch of the story a cinematic depth.
Hollywood-quality sound design
The sound in Until Dawn is more than background music. Every whisper in the snow-covered corridor and every creak of the floor builds tension straight out of a good thriller. When the characters – or rather, the player – make the decision to flee or confront, the credibility of a scream or a trembling voice matters. Here the recordings of the actors, including Malek, play an equal role with the camera and editing in the film.
Is it still a game or already a movie?
The success of Until Dawn has shown that interactive horror can provide an experience comparable to a good cinema production, and even heighten it thanks to the player’s influence on the course of events. Hollywood names attract attention, but it’s only by combining their talent with the mechanics of the butterfly effect that subsequent playthroughs of the game are like screenings of alternate versions of the same movie.
Heritage
Years later, the title is still regarded as a paragon of narrative horror, with Supermassive Games continuing the formula in its “Dark Pictures Anthology” series. Significantly, the involvement of stars has become almost standard in AAA productions today – from Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077 to Norman Reedus in Death Stranding. Until Dawn paved the way, proving that actors can not only “lend a face” but also make the gameplay truly cinematic.
