The Casting of Frank Stone review: A visceral affair you’ll be lucky to escape alive

Five. That’s how many times I screamed out loud in shock, one of which was due to be taken by surprise by a QTE moment, another because a light bulb exploded. While that total doesn’t seem very high, there were plenty of gasps, twitchy jumps, and a quiet unease that stalked me throughout The Casting of Frank Stone.

Ever since the cinematic choices of Until Dawn made their debut, Supermassive Games has become the go-to publisher for narrative-driven horror. While some of its tales have fallen short at the last hurdle – Man of Medan, Little Hope – there's always an intense experience awaiting in the shadows of each outing.

Sometimes they’re filled with teenage angst dripping with 80s nostalgia, while others are a darker exploration of unearthing ancient evils once lost to the sands of time. Variety has never been an issue for these games, however, ensuring the narrative doesn’t unsatisfyingly unravel has been.

The Murder Mill is the scene of the crime in The Casting of Frank Stone

Not that I doubted how easily I’d be scared when I started this Dead by Daylight inspired experience, yet I did worry I’d be left frustrated by the end if made it to its finale. Assuming I kept anyone alive, that is. While my skills are going to be revealed as dramatically lacking over the course of this review, what wasn’t lacking was the story.

I’ll keep details narrative details light to avoid spoiling the experience for others because this is a game that should be experienced spoiler-free. That said, I will offer you a little taste of what you can expect.

The trailer, while certain to grab your attention and have you intrigued by this menacing Frank Stone character, does a brilliant job of only feeding you crumbs that entice you to the final buffet. Whether you follow that trail of crumbs is up to you. Personally, I think you should follow Frank Stone’s macabre tale, even if it spells tragedy for the unsuspecting protagonists of the piece.

Narratively, there’s a lot of moving components here, culminating in a multifaceted collection of horror sub-genres. The most obvious is slasher, but to say that The Casting of Frank Stone only ticks that box does it a grave disservice. Alongside the grusome, inventive deaths, there’s an undercurrent of mysticism that instantly reminded me of House on Haunted Hill (1999). A legacy is created that cannot easily be undone, one which may just cost the characters who try to fight back more than their lives. On that ominous note, I further implore you to begin your game, while also offering no more narrative insight.

Its dynamic twists and turns aren't the only refreshing change of pace, so too are the new in-game features that serve to increase the tension. Traditionally, QTEs feature heavily, as do judgement-based sections where your ability to choose rather than relying on speed is tested. Both of these aspects still feature, don’t worry, but so do new in-game mechanics. There’s now a way to further help or hinder your experience via the magic of an 8mm camera. Similarly, it sounds like the scanner GAMINGbible’s Kate Harrold references in her The Dark Pictures: Directive 8020 preview, although with marked alterations. Having another tool at your disposal besides your quick thinking is a boon, but only if you’re able to successfully wield it. Just because you have an expanded arsenal at your disposal doesn’t guarantee safe harbour.

Ultimately, every live lost (and my god, there were more than I’d prepared myself for) was through my failings. I became all fingers and thumbs as I tried to hit the button at just the right time. Not to mention my desire to always help others proved my downfall time and again. Seemingly, being a horror fan since a young age has taught me nothing in the way of self-preservation.

If you struggle to make the right choices, or should I say safer choices, then the ‘Cutting Room Floor’ is going to become your new best friend. Instead of having to restart The Casting of Frank Stone, you can visit the ‘Cutting Room Floor’. This is essentially an overview of every choice made by you, as well as paths yet explored. Presented as film strips in keeping with the cinephile theme of the game, this feature allows you to return to a previous point within the plot. Consequently, replayability is yet another string to this deadly bow.

Additionally, the choices you make can be determined by others through the introduction of Twitch integration. This isn’t a feature I personally used, however, given the replayability I just touched upon, it makes sense to allow streamers to share their experience in this unique way. Just be warned, you only get a handful of vetoes before you have to go with what the masses want, which could spell disaster.

Odd though it may sound, there’s a lot to enjoy about The Casting of Frank Stone. Whether you delight in visceral displays or relish the moody atmosphere of a well-lit scene, there’s a lot of refinement to this Supermassive x Behaviour Interactive collaboration. Gritty, gripping, and entertaining, horror fans are sure to find themselves hooked. And while the exaggerated expressions of the motion capture create unsettling uncanny valley moments, this title is a feast for the eyes. A bloody feast.

The greatest issue I take with the game is that it isn’t longer. That and towards the end of the game, the chapters start to position players in a passive role rather than an active one. As the tension thickens, chapters become much shorter and lack interactivity; they act only as visual novellas rather than an environment you can control. An opportunity was definitely missed in adding more time-sensitive decisions.

Frank Stone has embedded his unforgiving Wraith-like weapon into my mind. I cannot escape his legacy, nor do I necessarily want to. Ever since I stepped foot into this Cedar Hills mystery, I’ve thought about the lore of this game and the endless ways it opens up the Dead by Daylight franchise. Whatever the next story is about from this clever pairing between publisher and developer, I’ll be there, anxious but ready to give it my all until the bitter end.

Pros: Atmospheric, visually stunning, gripping story, intriguing new features

Cons: Relatively short, less interactivity towards the end

For fans of: The Quarry, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, House of Ashes

Score: 8/10 - Excellent

The Casting of Frank Stone is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam. A code for review was supplied by the publisher. Find a complete guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.