Steelkrill Studio is integrating public domain horror films, including the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, into its upcoming survival horror game Where Dolls Hang. The game allows players to view these films via in-game VHS tapes within a safehouse, blending real-world cinema history with a detective-led investigation of a cursed forest inspired by Mexico’s Isla de las Muñecas.
The developer’s press release describes the gameplay as a search for missing persons where players must investigate crime scenes by examining bodies, collecting clues, and documenting evidence with an in-game camera. This mechanical loop is set against the backdrop of a location inspired by the Isla de las Muñecas.
The Isla de las Muñecas holds the Guinness World Record for largest collection of haunted dolls. This atmospheric real-world location serves as the inspiration for the cursed environment players must navigate in Where Dolls Hang.
How Night of the Living Dead Entered the Public Domain
The inclusion of Night of the Living Dead in Where Dolls Hang is possible because the film is in the public domain. This legal status occurred because when the movie was released in 1968, US copyright law required a visible copyright notice. While the movie had a copyright notice under its original title, Night of the Flesh Eaters, it was left off the screen when the title was changed to Night of the Living Dead before release.
This omission meant the film can be freely downloaded from the Internet Archive or added to a videogame.
Gameplay Mechanics and the Role of VHS Tapes
In Where Dolls Hang, players assume the role of a detective tasked with solving missing person cases. The gameplay emphasizes forensic documentation, requiring players to place evidence markers and photograph scenes. A core component of the narrative and clue-gathering process involves the discovery of VHS tapes found throughout the woods.
These tapes serve a dual purpose. While some provide critical clues to the investigation, others allow players to watch public domain horror movies. Steelkrill Studio describes this feature as a way for players to take a “busman’s holiday” from the primary horror of the game’s environment by watching classic cinema within the safety of their in-game sanctuary.
Potential Public Domain Films in Where Dolls Hang
While Night of the Living Dead is confirmed, the developer has the option to include a variety of other public domain horror and cult classics. Films that could be chosen include:
- Manos: The Hand of Fate
- Plan 9 From Outer Space
- The Screaming Skull
- Maniac
- The Brain That Wouldn’t Die
- Roger Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors
- The Wasp Woman
- White Zombie
Release Information and Availability
Steelkrill Studio has scheduled the release of Where Dolls Hang for this year. The game is currently listed on the Steam platform, where interested players can track development updates.
For further information on the game’s release date and system requirements, players can visit the official Steam store page.
What are your thoughts on using real-world public domain films to enhance game atmosphere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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