As defined by Google, the Butterfly Effect is the phenomenon in which small localized choices can have a greater impact someplace else. The best theory of this is one you’ve surely heard of. The flap of a butterfly’s wing could change the weather someplace else in the world.
That is the basis of the survival horror game, Until Dawn.
Choices.
Small choices; things so small that you wouldn’t think twice about them.
The game follows the events of eight teenagers after a tragic accident when a silly prank went awry a year ago causing the loss of one character's two sisters. A year later when the friends return to the mountain lodge the losses had taken place, a vengeful brother is not the only monster on site.
You take turns leading each teen through a series of events as the night unfolds into a real life nightmare. Traveling from the lodge, through thick forest, snowy mountain terrain and abandon mine shafts all while evading a psycho and the flesh eating beast, the Wendigo.
So, when the terror unfolds, will your decisions keep you safe?
By the way, this amazing layout was the work of our amazing Fiskarna!
Until Dawn is a interactive movie of sorts. With voice actors and facial and body feedback from the actors, the game is set up just like a horror movie with one twist, you’re in control.
The cast featured great celebrities such as Hayden Panettiere (Sam), Rami Malek (Josh), Ella Lentini (Hannah and Beth), Brett Dalton (Mike), Meaghan Martin (Jessica), Nichole Bloom (Emily), Jordan Fisher (Matt), Galadriel Stineman (Ashley) and Noah Fleiss (Chris).
Each voice actor took part in the creation process by using technology to render their facial expressions and movements to their in-game counterparts. A process you can watch in the second video starting at 20:45 to 24:20.
In a behind the scenes interview with Lee Robinson, the production designer director, he mentions “The production design for Until Dawn started with a great teen horror script, that sets the characters in a Canadian winter mountain lodge. Being a contemporary setting, with visual clues derived from classic films of that genre - such as Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and Stanley Kubrick’s “Shining”. "
Which gives Until Dawn a bit of a cheesy cabin in the woods horror movie feel which I think everyone can appreciate.
Wendigo
As previously mentioned, there was not only one monster on that mountain.
The game's main monster was a legend from the Cree nation; the Wendigo.
The Wendigo is said to be a creature born from ice and curse obtained from consumption of human flesh.
In the game they’re given greyish - black skin, milky eyes, gaunt in the face, their bodies almost skeletons yet they’re stronger and more agile than humans. Their teeth and nails elongated to resemble fangs and claws. Their limbs are much longer that allow them to move quickly and spider like.
They’re terrifying creatures, something I wouldn’t like to come face to face with while walking in the woods.
Legend says that the only way to keep the Wendigo spirit at bay is to scare them with fire, but advises never to kill one for you’ll just release the spirit back into the air, waiting and wandering for someone hungry enough to fall victim to the curse.