Dead Take Reviews

Dead Take doesn’t announce itself with cheap shocks. Instead, it creeps in like a bad memory, pulling you through the corridors of an opulent mansion where every locked door feels like it’s hiding something rotten. It’s less about what jumps out at you, and more about what lingers when the screen goes black.

Overall, Dead Take was a fascinating experience, but it still felt as if it lacked just a little something. The anonymous text messages with the names of the other stars that Duke was connected to didn’t quite make sense, and the side stories didn’t seem to bear any relevance, except for Lia Cain’s footage.

Dead Take is a surprise standout experience from Surgent Studios. It's got a stacked cast with a focus on storytelling over anything else, using the allure of Hollywood as the gateway to unconventional horror. While there are some predictable moments, the environment, the performances, and immersion make up for it. It is an emotionally charged horror experience that punches well above its weight and serves as a commentary on ambition and exploitation.

Dead Take is a unique glimpse into the indie horror genre through the lens of an actor desperate to stay relevant in the ever-changing landscape of the film industry. Its use of atmosphere and film craft drives home a narrative that is both captivating and compelling. However, the combination of poorly lit environments and heavy shadows can make certain puzzles feel cheap, and the lack of clear direction may be too much for some players to overcome.

Dead Take has got some great atmosphere, wonderful voice acting, and a real creepy story, slightly hampered by simple puzzles and an over-use of jumpscares.

Dead Take too often dips into the surreal but is otherwise an authentic and terrifying view into the trauma of being an actor.

Dead Take is a brand new game from Surgent Studios, the developer of Tales of Kenzera: Zau. Ditching the Metroidvania and hopping into the Horror genre, the adventure covers new grounds, merging 3D exploration of a Hollywood mansion with FMV (Full Motion Video) cutscenes, interweaving an intriguing mystery story. Though it doesn’t quite reach all of its ambitions, it remains a moody and palpable horror experience with some stellar acting from some of the game industry’s best.

Dead Take is an experimental puzzle horror game that shines a haunting light on the entertainment industry. But that doesn’t mean it won’t still have you muting your sound just to avoid a jumpscare or increasing it to watch some stellar live-action performances.

As both a horror game and an escape room enthusiast, Dead Take had my number the moment I laid eyes on it. The premise is simple on the surface: find your missing friend inside a creepy mansion. However, once the game gets going, it quickly becomes clear that there's more going on than it wants you to see at first. There's no tutorial, no warm welcome, and no real sense of safety.

Dead Take succeeds in harnessing terror by means of anticipation and stellar environmental horror. The performances of the cast are on point, delivering interesting themes, but that aren’t always tied up in the end. Even with a bit shallow of a narrative, Dead Take kept me on my toes from beginning to end, a commendable effort from Surgent Studios.

Dead Take is brimming with atmosphere, with the Cain mansion being an absolute joy to explore (at least for those who like to be scared). If the story were longer and there were more live-action sequences, then the game could have been something truly special. However, what’s here is still worth checking out, especially for horror aficionados who are looking for something a bit different, and a little more real. For that low cost, it’s worth the price of entry.

Hearts of Darkness

Dead Take is a fantastic psychological horror that pulls no punches, delivering superb acting and some great puzzles that keep you engaged until the very end.

This short jaunt through a haunted mansion leads you through entertaining puzzles, even if you're not quite sure why you're there, but will entice you further with a deeper mystery about the abuse of power in the entertainment industry.

Dead Take stands out in the genre of horror walking sims with its intriguing story, talented cast and FMV elements. Unfortunately its horror aspects are where it falls flat, as it tries to cram itself into the genre with the use of cheap jump scares and horror clichés.

A short first-person psychological horror game, Dead Take cleverly incorporates full motion video footage to explore the lengths that some will go to in order to achieve success. It's not particularly scary but it does go to some dark places, making it definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre.