| Dead Space: Downfall | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Chuck Patton |
| Written by | Justin Gray Jimmy Palmiotti |
| Based on | Dead Space by Electronic Arts |
| Produced by | Joe Goyette Robert Weaver Ellen Goldsmith-Vein |
| Starring | Nika Futterman Bruce Boxleitner Keith Szarabajka Jim Cummings Hal Sparks Kevin Michael Richardson Phil Morris Lia Sargent |
| Edited by | John Hoyos |
| Music by | Seth Podowitz |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Anchor Bay Entertainment Manga Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.66 million |
Dead Space: Downfall is a 2008 American adult animated psychological science fiction horror film directed by Chuck Patton, written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and developed by Film Roman under the supervision of Electronic Arts; Electronic Arts also published the 2008 survival horror video game Dead Space upon which the film is based. It first released direct-to-video in October, before seeing a television showing the following month on Starz Encore.
Downfall is a prequel to Dead Space, taking place after the limited comic series. Set aboard the planet mining ship USG Ishimura, it details the events following the transportation of an artifact called the Marker from the planet Aegis VII, leading to the deaths of nearly everyone on board at the hands of reanimated mutated corpses dubbed "Necromorphs".
The film was produced as part of Electronic Art's multimedia expansion of the plot, referred to by staff as "IP cubed". Patton was given relative freedom with the narrative and visuals, wanting to create the goriest feature Film Roman had produced. Electronic Arts provided art assets to Film Roman, allowing an accurate representation of the game's universe. The DVD release earned over $1 million in sales. Reviews were mixed, with praise for its voice acting, writing and animation, but criticism for its short length and emphasis on graphic violence over horror and suspense. Electronic Arts and Film Roman would collaborate again on 2011's Dead Space: Aftermath, a prequel to Dead Space 2.