Licensed Killers From Non-Horror Media?

Wylrin · February 2023

I know Dead by Daylight is focused on slashers and monsters from popular horror movies, games, and such, but what do you guys think about a killer that came from a form of media that isn't exactly horror? I think a lot of books and movies have characters or plot devices that are honestly more terrifying than what you'd find in a slasher film despite horror not being its genre of focus.

An example that comes to mind is the book/movie A Christmas Carol. If you asked anyone, they'd probably summarize the theme/feel of the story as "a Christmas story" or something along the lines of "protagonist being terrorized into becoming a better person." Which both are fitting, but I feel like there are a lot of horror elements that are quite effective despite not being the focus of the story. Because honestly, an eternity of being forced to see all of the pain and suffering in this world - pain and suffering you could have eased, but actively chose not to - all the while knowing that now you can do absolutely nothing... that's more terrifying than a lot of conventional horror movie plots.

I honestly think Dead by Daylight could work with licensed characters that aren't strictly horror. Using A Christmas Carol as an example, Marley or the Ghosts of Christmas I feel like could fit in seamlessly. I know we already have a chain-themed killer in Pinhead, but just the thought of a tormented ghost fettered in chains chasing after you, all the while possibly bemoaning his eternal anguish at a wasted life that he now suffers for constantly... that would be pretty epic, in my mind.

I don't claim to know how licenses work, though, so maybe it wouldn't really be possible. Though I suppose original killers could be inspired by non-horror icons.

But what do you guys think? Would characters that aren't from something labeled as horror in the conventional sense fit into Dead by Daylight, or would it break the theme the game currently has going?

And regardless of your stance on the matter, if you have ideas for non-horror characters that could fit into Dead by Daylight, I'd be very curious to hear what characters those would be!

I have a few that come to mind:

Marley from A Christmas Carol
The Other Mother from Coraline (I know Coraline is more conventionally horror-themed than A Christmas Carol, for example, but it's not exactly the typical R-rated slasher film that most licensed characters are from.)
That gem shard experiment abomination from Steven Universe (Alright, this one's mostly as a joke, but seriously, even kids' cartoons can have some messed up concepts. I feel like it would be short-sighted to immediately discount something just because it's from a kid's show, because honestly, that gem shard thing is quite comparable to the Dredge. You know, for kids!)
Probably a bunch of different monstrosities from Courage the Cowardly Dog (Again, like with Coraline, definitely horror themes there, but not the standard "What will the kill count be?" kind of horror setting.)
And probably a bunch of others that I just can't conjure right now.

But yeah, I'd love to hear the community's thoughts! :)

Pulsar · February 2023

I'm still vibing with Part 1 Dio

Wylrin · February 2023

https://forums.bhvr.com/dead-by-daylight/discussion/comment/3339345#Comment_3339345

I know virtually nothing about any anime/manga, but from what little I do know, there probably are a lot of characters from them who would thrive in the Fog, now that I think about it! :)

Also, I just imagined Star Wars villains in Dead by Daylight. Probably not the most fitting, but I will admit, it's entertaining to think about Darth Vader choking people out in the trials. X3

Though the topic of Star Wars makes me think of General Grievous, which in turn makes me think of cyborg and robot killers in Dead by Daylight, which would be pretty sweet, I think. I can't think of any malicious AI characters from books or movies off the top of my head, but I know they're definitely out there. All my brain can come up with right now is the synths from Fallout 4, which that in itself could be terrifying. Just imagine having a bunch of "mannequins" standing around... and one of them turns out to be a humanoid weapon.

On the topic of the Fallout series, Vulpes Inculta or literally any other character from Caesar's Legion could be interesting! I feel like the Knight encapsulates the razing and pillaging aspects of Caesar's Legion pretty well, but I feel like a character like Vulpes Inculta could represent a killer who is part of a faction that actively brainwashes people, stripping them of any former identity to "recruit" them into their slave army. Not sure how that would translate as a killer power, if at all, but it would be a neat backstory to explore, at the very least.

VideoGameMage · February 2023

Bhvr seems open to non horror settings but only for skin collabs, rather than chapters (aot Collab). Would be jumping the shark a bit if bhvr started doing non horror licenses, some people already thought they were pushing it with stranger things. I wouldn't mind terrifying/horror themed creatures from non horror media but I don't want things like Darth Vader or a star wars chapter in dbd. Dbd isn't Fortnite at the end of the day.

Wylrin · February 2023

https://forums.bhvr.com/dead-by-daylight/discussion/comment/3339379#Comment_3339379

I agree. Star Wars and a lot of other franchises just wouldn't fit thematically, I feel like. It's entertaining to think about, but if a licensed character comes into Dead by Daylight and isn't from your conventional horror movie, the killer themselves needs to be monstrous or terrifying in some way that makes up for it.

Wylrin · February 2023

Oh geez, it just occurred to me. Psycho Mantis in Dead by Daylight would be insane.

GreyBigfoot · February 2023

Hotline Miami is my true most wanted licensed killer, but I thought it so unlikely that I usually say it's Bioshock.

HM isn't really horror, but it's a very brutal game with a lot of violence that I think could make a good DBD killer. They could be a very creative character and imagine all the masks they could sell.