Dead Take: Neil Newbon Talks the Dark and Complex Nature of Chase Lowry

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Neil Newbon, speaking about his character Chase Lowry in Surgent Studios’ upcoming psychological horror “Dead Take”, commented, “My characters tend to be somewhat unrestrained.” Indeed, the versatile actor and motion capture artist is known for taking on roles that span from delightfully deranged to deeply troubled and intricate. In “Dead Take”, Newbon offers a multifaceted portrayal of a man who will go to extreme lengths to secure his dream role, all while collaborating with director Abubakar Salim and an ensemble cast including Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and others.

At the event where Game Rant was present, Newbon conveyed that he perceived Chase not as a villainous or unstable character, but primarily as an individual. He stated, “I don’t play the roles of villains or heroes,” then elaborated: “I avoid these specific labels because I believe, if you assign them, you’re already making a judgment about your character, which may limit decisions you might need to make.” Newbon is accustomed to portraying characters that challenge traditional ‘hero’ and ‘villain’ stereotypes—such as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3—and with Chase Lowry, he seeks a similar depth, playing a man who deeply cares for his friend while fiercely competing against him for a significant film role.

Newbon Sees Chase As Complex, Not Simply Mad

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but express my excitement over the trailers for “Dead Take.” They showcase Ben Starr as Chase Monroe and Vinny Monroe, both grappling with the intense pressures of Hollywood life. The clips are filled with silent outbursts and desperate pleas from both characters, seemingly vowing to go to any lengths to secure a role in Duke Cain’s next production. There’s an undeniable air of madness permeating Chase’s actions, but director Newbon has made it a point to delve deeper into the character than just his unstable side. As he put it, Chase’s portrayal is about more than just his slightly erratic behavior.

Playing a mad character isn’t about being genuinely angry. Instead, you should portray the expressions of madness that your character exhibits – understanding the reasons behind their behavior… As an actor, I believe it’s crucial to maintain authenticity in our performances, both in the choices given to us and the ones we make ourselves.

In his long-spanning acting career, the actor has often taken on more complex, “darker” roles, including Karl Heisenberg from “Resident Evil Village” and Lumacchio in the DLC of “Lies of P’s Overture.” However, with the character Chase, Newbon found him to be more than just a dark persona. Instead, he felt that Chase was remarkably grounded and intriguing to play. Newbon also commended Abubakar Salim’s direction for creating an incredibly realistic portrayal of a struggling actor grappling with the ongoing stresses of life.

Is Chase “Unhinged?” It’s Up To Players To Decide

Newbon explained that while he was just portraying a character as written in the script for ‘Dead Take’, there was a significant amount of improvisation involved during recording. This included an entire monologue that made it into the game. He described the process by saying, “This is a person, this is what we go through.” Newbon further added, “The audience reacts to how the story unfolds, so if you find him dark and unhinged, that’s fine.” In simpler terms, he was suggesting that his character’s portrayal is realistic and the audience’s reaction to it, whether they perceive him as dark or unhinged, is acceptable.

Players will soon have the freedom to form their own opinions about Chase, Vinny, and the cast of Dead Take, which includes Alanah Pearce, Travis Willingham, Matthew Mercer, and numerous other talented actors. This highly anticipated game, initially unveiled by Surgent Studios in early June, is set to debut on July 31 for PC platforms. Moreover, Salim announced that the game will be offered at a reduced price during its initial release days, enabling players to delve into Dead Take immediately upon launch.

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2025-07-24 21:53