Get ready to sleep with the lights on—the chilling world of a hit video game is leaping off your screen and onto the big screen! But here’s where it gets controversial: Can a horror game’s spine-tingling atmosphere truly translate to film? The first poster for The Mortuary Assistant has just dropped, and it’s already sparking debates among fans and skeptics alike. Epic Pictures and Dread unveiled the haunting artwork ahead of the film’s theatrical release on February 13, 2026, with the tagline “Get possessed” daring audiences to step into its unsettling universe. And this is the part most people miss—the movie isn’t just hitting theaters; it’s also streaming on Shudder starting March 27, ensuring you’ll have nightmares no matter where you watch.
Earlier this month, the team behind the project revealed the release date and a first-look trailer, giving fans a glimpse into the live-action adaptation of the beloved horror game. Directed by Jeremiah Kipp (Slapface) and co-written by the game’s original creator, Brian Clarke, alongside Tracee Beebe, the film promises to stay true to its source material while adding fresh layers of dread. Willa Holland (Arrow) leads the cast as Rebecca Owens, a newly certified mortician whose night shift at River Fields Mortuary takes a terrifying turn. Paul Sparks (Boardwalk Empire) plays her mentor, while John Adams (Hellbender), Keena Ferguson, and Mark Steger (Stranger Things) round out the ensemble, with Steger taking on the eerie role of The Mimic.
Here’s the twist: While the game focused on survival horror, the film delves deeper into themes of possession, demonic rituals, and buried trauma, raising questions about what truly haunts us. Rebecca’s journey isn’t just about embalming bodies—it’s about uncovering dark secrets tied to her workplace, her mentor, and her own past. Produced by Patrick Ewald’s Epic Pictures through its horror division, Dread, the project also involved Cole Payne’s Traverse Media and Jacob P. Heineke, with a star-studded team of executive producers.
“Seeing The Mortuary Assistant make the leap from game to film is incredibly rewarding,” Clarke told Deadline. “Fans of the game will finally witness the world they’ve explored come alive, while genre film audiences will discover a story filled with tension, dark secrets, and unforgettable scares.” But here’s the question we’re all dying to ask: Can a film truly capture the interactive terror of a video game, or will it fall flat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are you excited to get possessed, or do you think this adaptation is doomed from the start?
