Summary
As horror fans will know, a newThe House of the Deadmovie adaptation is on the horizon, withResident Evil’s Paul W.S. Anderson set to steer the ship. And now, the director has promised hopeful fans that this project will hit home for those wanting a “scary” big-screen viewing experience. This isn’t Anderson’s first video game-making endeavor, as previously, the director wrote and directedMortal Kombat(1995),Monster Hunter,and six otherResident Evilmovies, as well as non-gaming films like the classic 1997 film starring Sam Neill,Event Horizonand the 2004 filmAlien vs. Predator.
Sega’sHouse of the Dead,released in 1997, was considered one of the most popular games of its time, especially in arcades, due to its light gun action where players cleared hundreds of zombies over multiple levels.House of the Deadwas also credited with popularizing zombie video games, further leading to a massive boom in the appeal of zombie films, especially during the 2000s.The House of the Deadfranchise includes several sequels and spin-offs, as well as a remake. Now, Anderson is putting his cards on the table when it comes to adapting yet another adaptation, in which he promises horror fans that the zombie movie will be “immersive” and “very scary”.
In an interview withVariety, director Paul Anderson said that he’s “really going to push the envelope on this one," referring to his upcomingadaptation of the video gameThe House of the Dead. Anderson also makes a bold statement that it will be “very, very scary” and “a full-tilt horror film”, which will be closer to his work onEvent Horizon.
I’m really going to push the envelope on this one. It’s going to be something different for me.
When asked if Anderson could provide an update on where the movie was in production, the director said that the script was almost complete and that they are aiming to start filming towards the end of 2025. Providing further context forThe House of the Deadadaptation, Anderson said that the film will “reflect the experience of playing the game. The only time it stops is when you beat the game or you die. That’s going to be the only way out.“
It looks like Anderson is focused on takingHouse of the Deadto a new and more serious level, rather than the more cheesy and lackluster attempts in the past by Uwe Boll, which sadly didn’t have much success. It’s also interesting that the director references his past movie,Event Horizon, as a jumping-off point when adaptingHouse of the Dead. WhileEvent Horizonhad plenty of terrifying moments, coupled with an incredibly atmospheric setting and strong visuals, the movie didn’t receive the best of reviews at the time. Here’s hoping that Anderson’s next take on his long list of movie adaptations is better received than his recent endeavor intoGeorge R.R. Martin’sIn The Lost Lands.
