Not too long ago video game fans were treated to an uncommonly well edited and engaging cinematic from the makers of Dead Island about a family on vacation on a remote island who are, coincidentally, overrun by zombies. After the release of the cinematic there were many speculating that the video would lead to a full-feature film. At the time the developers disagreed saying that most game-to-film adaptations didn’t meet their expectations. Fast Forward a few months and some glowing sales numbers for the game and we find out that Lionsgate has purchased the rights to the film.
Source: Filmonic
The game centers on vacationers whose island paradise becomes a living hell when a zombie outbreak quickly spreads. Cut off from the rest of the world, the survivors have only the available materials and the island’s natural “weapons” to protect themselves from the viscous and growing legions of the undead. In addition to the award-winning trailer and video game, the Dead Island intellectual property will be simultaneously developed by Deep Silver into forthcoming graphic novels, novels and other extensions.
Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film DEAD ISLAND will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling. Said Drake of the property’s acquisition, “Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck.” He continued, “This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential.”
I have to admit that the trailer does push the right buttons as far as getting an emotional response from the viewer but lord help me I can’t understand how this inspired a movie based off of this showing alone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but it’s not the first example of CGI that’s “wow’d” me on the internet and it most certainly isn’t unique as far as concept is concerned. Ah well, another videogame embarks on the lengthy process of adaptation into a feature length film. This news comes right as Zombie movies have been increasing in popularity and equally increasing in the number of films in the pipelines to use the undead staples. I’m not at all thrilled at this news but at no fault of the property, but moreso with the shoddy track record of games actually making it to the big screen and let me not even get started on their varying level of quality. If the developers can somehow shoehorn themselves close to the project to ensure the quality of the film is up to par then I’ll have some faith in this project but bigger named developers, (Cliffy B, Hideo Kojima, etc), have yet to reach that milestone.
