The Enigmatic Journey Beckons: Unveiling the Untold Story of The Death Stranding Movie
Unlocking the untold potential of Death Stranding, the upcoming film aims to enhance the flawed narrative and dive deep into the captivating yet underdeveloped story of Lucy Strand Prepare to be mesmerized by her compelling journey
Highlights
The narrative of Death Stranding falls short in adequately exploring the character stories, especially the one involving Sam Bridges' wife. However, the upcoming film adaptation has the potential to rectify this shortcoming and offer a deeper understanding of their relationship.
The game's storytelling primarily relied on telling rather than showing, often revealing crucial plot points through phone conversations with Deadman. However, with its inherent cinematic qualities, the film adaptation has the opportunity to visually bridge these gaps and elevate the storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from successful adaptations like HBO's series based on The Last of Us, the potential of the Death Stranding film lies in its ability to delve into and develop characters and relationships, particularly Sam and Lucy, thereby granting audiences a more profound comprehension of the narrative.
Released in 2019, Death Stranding made waves in the gaming community worldwide, leaving players perplexed. While the gameplay sparked controversy, the game's narrative captivated both audiences and critics, emerging as its strongest aspect. However, Death Stranding did fall short in fully exploring the stories of some pivotal characters.
The protagonist of Death Stranding, Sam Bridges, is an enigma when it comes to his emotions. With minimal dialogue, it is evident that he carries the weight of a strained relationship with his family and remains detached from others. Unveiling a tragic tale involving his wife and child, which regrettably lacked development in the game, could be addressed through the anticipated Death Stranding film.
The Narrative Shortcomings of Death Stranding
The story of Death Stranding has received high praise as one of the best narratives in the recent console generation. However, it did have some weaknesses. The main issue with the story is that it often relied on telling rather than showing. For instance, players learn about the Chiral Network's origins being linked to the BBs, which served as a power source. This revelation occurs through phone calls with Deadman, a character who unexpectedly unveils this crucial detail. Similarly, the backstory of Sam's late wife suffers from the same problem.
Deadman discloses the tragic fate of Sam's wife: she died while pregnant and Sam was away. Her body remained undiscovered until it was too late, transforming into one of Death Stranding's BTs and annihilating the town where they both resided. It was later uncovered that she took her own life after learning about the reality of The Beach and the connection her child had to it. Following this event, Sam isolated himself from others and entered a state of social withdrawal when we first meet him. This significant event deserved more attention and could potentially be addressed in a film adaptation.
How the Death Stranding Film Could Flesh Out Lucy Strand's Story
In late 2022, it was announced that a film adaptation of the game was being developed. Hideo Kojima expressed that the Death Stranding film would have a distinctiveness not found in other video game adaptations. Like all adaptations, there will likely be changes and adjustments to accommodate the medium and a shorter runtime. One possible change could be the exploration of Sam's wife, Lucy, to provide fans with a deeper understanding of their relationship.
Similarly, The Last of Us HBO series expanded and modified the story of Bill and Frank. While the original game hinted at their romantic involvement, the show explicitly developed their narrative into a bittersweet love story. Moreover, the series delved into the relationship between Tess and Joel, showcasing how adaptations can enhance a story. Hopefully, the film adaptation of Death Stranding can do something similar by delving deeper into the dynamic between Sam and Lucy.
The plans of the film's creators and game developer for Death Stranding 2 are yet to be revealed. The initial trailer hints at potential flashbacks and the possibility for players to witness this storyline unfold. However, the film adaptation could also serve as a suitable platform to expand Sam's character through Lucy Strand's narrative. The development of Death Stranding 2 is currently underway.
