"Dredge, developed by Black Salt Games and published by Team17, turned out to be one of the best games of 2023. The indie fishing-horror game landed to superb critic and player reviews, sold over one million copies in the first handful of months after its release, and the revenue was even put back into the game to create some expansions.
When the many awards ceremonies came around, Dredge was a regular nominee, even being put up for four accolades at the BAFTA awards, including for its narrative and game design. So, with Hollywood constantly on the hunt for known IPs to reboot or adapt for the big screen, it only makes sense that Dredge would get a film.
Dredge looks to have the makings of a possibly intense horror movie on the water. Importantly, the production company bringing Dredge to live-action, Salt Kitchen, will be bringing in developer Black Salt Games to further adapt the story and world for the big screen.
In the recent past, Story Kitchen’s co-founder has helped to appease gaming and movie fans with the Sonic the Hedgehog movies. Notably, after a poor response to Sonic’s initial design, the team pushed back the film and adjusted Sonic’s eyes to better fit the iconic character’s in-game design.
The co-founder, Dmitri M. Johnson, has been on a streak of video game adaptations which also includes the upcoming Tomb Raider animated series, Streets of Rage, Sifu, and Vampire Survivors. In theory, this means that Story Kitchen knows how to adapt video games in a way that creates a coherent movie and sticks to the rules and established lore of the IP.
While a window for the release of the Dredge movie hasn’t been announced, a mini synopsis has been revealed. As relayed in this IGN report, it’ll be along the lines of “The Sixth Sense on the water,” utilising the blend of influences from Ernest Hemingway and HP Lovecraft to create a grounded, atmospheric cosmic horror story..."
I can definitely see a movie working out for the game. Although I'm wondering how they'd make the main gameplay loop enticing and engaging to watch since it's "just" fishing.
Movies don't always have to adapt the story directly, and sometimes its best not to.
I wouldn't be surprised if the movie just takes the universe, lore and 'vibe' and builds an original story on top of that.
Sure, that'd work
Yeah I want to see how this plays out. I imagine they focus more on the psychological horror aspect of “be afraid of the dark” and maybe have MC talking about the weird fish he’s been catching to another character. Then have a reveal of one at some point to scare the pants off the viewer?
Oh yea that sounds awesome
Seems somewhat easy to me, fisherman goes out for a catch, finds stranger and stranger fish, until one finds him