Netflix’s Unhinged is a short, delightful dive into the world of interactive horror. Armed with your smartphone and quick decision-making skills, can you escape the horrors that lurk in your own home?
Unhinged Uses Your Phone To Deliver Horror
Unhinged, developed by Oxenfree’s Night School Studio, is available on Netflix Gaming on June 30th. It’s a first-person, narrative-driven horror darling that immerses you into its world through your own iPhone or Android device. You use it not only as a controller, but also as a portal into the game itself, vibrating with phone calls and subtle haptics as you interact with the scenes.
You play as Ava, a young woman awoken by her friend, Claire, during a massive storm. Ava urges you to leave the apartment complex and stay with her in a hotel until it passes. However, several problems stand between you and the exit. The power is out, the stairwell is locked, and an unhinged man is chasing you through the halls.
Initially, I was skeptical about playing an immersive horror game through Netflix’s gaming portal. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the intensity and urgency that Unhinged conveys. Using my own phone to play brings me closer to its world, my screen becoming Ava’s. It’s a really cool feature, and the further I progressed, the more it was conveyed on my phone’s screen. Over the course of a playthrough, I made phone calls and received and read texts. I also found myself using the flashlight to guide myself through the hallways. The call audio comes through on my own phone as well, really putting me in the protagonist’s position.
A Great Cast Guides You
Unhinged features a star-studded cast, including Zoe Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and Troy Baker, who really lend these characters believability. It is impeccably acted, never feeling forced or overplayed. Horror can often lean into silliness sometimes, but you are rooting for Zoe Kravitz’s Ava the entire time, with Sadie Sink’s Claire urging you on in your ear, so to speak. Unhinged makes you believe you are right there in the middle with these two women, feeling their fear and distress as your own.
The world you are traversing is dark and unsettling. Run-down hallways and flashes of lightning give Unhinged a terrifyingly spooky atmosphere. Isolation and dread are heavily used themes in this game, preparing you when you turn around every corner. The musical score and soundscape really add to this, amping up during conflict and escape sequences. While I do think it may have benefited from headphones, it would have complicated the experience of listening to calls on your phone. I may be a little biased, though, as I want those scares right in my ears.
Unhinged’s playstyle and performance were enjoyable, and I never felt like it was overly challenging. Using your phone screen not only to answer calls but also to choose the direction you’re travelling felt like second nature. It syncs up flawlessly, each action on your phone translating to one on screen without issue. Even when backing out of the app, the game pauses and resyncs without issue. Much like The Dark Pictures games, there is also a timer that, when you are faced with a choice, counts down slowly. This gives that extra edge of dread and fear if you don’t react in time.
Short And Not Entirely Replayable
The story, albeit short (a timely 30-ish minutes for one playthrough), is a suspenseful thrill ride from start to finish. Although some motivations and story beats were a little unclear to me. Not a spoiler by any means, but it is made known that the storm you are weathering is a hurricane. And while most residents of the apartment complex have evacuated, it is never mentioned why Ava and Claire stayed. Of course, their being trapped is the whole point, but I would have enjoyed knowing more about their choices and backstories.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Unhinged has much in the way of replayability. It would be fun to sit with friends and have another go, but the choices you make don’t seem to affect how the story plays out, which is a little disappointing. Once you finish the game, you do get the option to replay in two different modes: Story and Standard. The only real difference between these two is whether you want the added layer of consequences to your capture, or you want to traverse through without worrying about dying. I played through it twice and didn’t see much of a difference, aside from minor changes in narrative lines and timing.
Verdict
Despite its short length, Unhinged is a really fun treat for horror lovers and fans of interactive media. It reminded me a lot of full-motion video games, and it really felt like being a part of a horror movie, rather than just playing a game. If you find yourself in the mood for some bite-sized horror, turn off the lights and turn up the volume. It really is worth a look.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: iOS
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