JOURNAL ARTICLE

The mechanics of evil: The ludic imaginary and the archetypes of horror in the representation of victims, law enforcement and serial killers in Until Dawn, Heavy Rain and Ravenous Devils.

  • Published In: Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies, 2025, v. 17, n. 2. P. 229 1 of 3

  • Database: Communication Source 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Cuadrado Alvarado, Alfonso; Planells de la Maza, Antonio José 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines how video games represent serial killers, victims, and law enforcement through interactive narratives, focusing on three case studies: *Until Dawn*, *Heavy Rain*, and *Ravenous Devils*. *Until Dawn* presents the victim’s perspective within an interactive slasher framework, emphasizing body horror and survival decisions; *Heavy Rain* explores the neo-noir archetype of the tormented detective, blending investigation with psychological complexity; and *Ravenous Devils* reinterprets the serial killer as a capitalist entrepreneur, framing murder as a rationalized industrial process. The study highlights video games’ unique capacity to remediate traditional media conventions while using interactivity to engage players in ethical ambiguity, identification, and systemic critique surrounding the figure of the serial killer.

Additional Information

  • Source:Catalan Journal of Communication & Cultural Studies. 2025/10, Vol. 17, Issue 2, p229
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Ethnic and Cultural Studies
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1757-1898
  • DOI:10.1386/cjcs_00122_1
  • Accession Number:189262534
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