Published Feb 12, 2026, 6:54 PM EST
Betty Robertson is a Contributor at ScreenRant. She's new to Entertainment Journalism, starting her career with it in 2026. Prior to joining Valnet, she was a full time Writer and Narrative Designers for Games like Assassin's Creed, Alien: Rogue Incursion, Lovelink, and Poppy Playtime.
Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available.
She is an award-winning screenwriter, a member of BAFTA, and a contributor to UBC's Game Writing Program.
When she's not writing she's playing sports (soccer, softball, basketball, and pickleball), watching travel shows, or walking her dog, Banana.
The Mortuary Assistant is just the latest in a long line of recent horror video game adaptation flops.
While it's waiting on its audience score, critics have already dubbed The Mortuary Assistant a major failure with a score of 36% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film stars Willa Holland as Rebecca Owens, a recovering addict turned mortuary assistant on her first night at the morgue. The adaptation was first announced in 2022 following the game's overnight success. Holland was cast in 2025 before filming began in Missouri.
The movie is based on the PC horror game of the same name. It garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews for its unique gameplay and tense atmosphere. The Mortuary Assistant's film counterpart wasn't as well-received. It has been criticized for a lack of tension or atmosphere.
This is part of a recent trend of video game horror movie adaptations that have stumbled on release. Recently, Until Dawn, FNAF2, and Return to Silent Hill have bombed with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The highest being Until Dawn at 52%. Only Iron Lung, the independent film by the YouTuber Markiplier, bucks the trend at 60%.
© Markiplier /Courtesy Everett CollectionAdaptations are considered a safe bet by producers due to the built-in fan base. However, this is a double-edged sword. Fan reception can make or break a film's success. The popular series, The Last of Us, received high praise for its first season, but the second fell short in the eyes of viewers.
The issue with these types of projects is often boiled down to two issues. The first being that playing games is often a highly personal experience, with what the player sees and experiences being up to their own pace and interest. The other is that they often expect all audiences to have an understanding of IP and its rules.
The Mortuary Assistant has actually been commended for taking the time to explain its premise to those unfamiliar with the source material. Creator Brian Clarke co-wrote The Mortuary Assistant with director Jeremiah Kipp. The two collaborated well, according to Kipp:
Brian Clarke and I respond to character-driven storytelling within a disturbing horror space. Because his influences have been largely cinematic, the whole process has organically felt like an expansion of his unique gameplay.
While the critical reception has been tepid, Holland's performance was applauded, with HighOnFilms calling her "The pulse that keeps The Mortuary Assistant alive." Holland hasn't had a rotten score since 2011's remake of Straw Dogs.
It is worth noting that The Mortuary Assistant still doesn't have an audience score. Sometimes critics and the general population disagree on scores, with FNAF2 being a great example, with a critical score of 16% and an audience score of 82%. The Mortuary Assistant may yet win over the hearts and minds of its intended audience.
The Mortuary Assistant may be struggling at the time of this article's publication. However, time will tell if it has the staying power to turn the film into a franchise.
Release Date February 13, 2026
Director Jeremiah Kipp
Writers Tracee Beebe
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Paul Sparks
Raymond Delver
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English (US) ·