Butcher's Creek (2025)

David Szymanski's knack for creating deeply unsettling experiences reaches a new height with "Butcher's Creek (2025)." This descent into visceral horror follows a solitary cinephile obsessed with cinematic gore, whose pursuit of authentic snuff films leads him to a derelict cabin in the remote reaches of Butcher's Creek, Pennsylvania. What begins as a morbid investigation morphs into a desperate struggle for existence when he falls prey to a ruthless collective of sadists. Imprisoned and facing a grim fate, his only recourse is to arm himself with whatever makeshift weapons he can find – a box cutter, a hammer, a pickaxe – and turn the tables, inflicting his own brand of video violence to secure his escape. The game masterfully employs Szymanski's signature blend of raw, atmospheric discomfort. Players will wield an array of brutal implements, from hammers and axes to pipes and 2x4s, in their fight for freedom, even utilizing the environment itself as a weapon by kicking enemies into hazards. Documenting the grisly aftermath through photography offers a dark mechanic to regain health, rewarding players for embracing the carnage. The locales, including decaying farmhouses, collapsing factories, and grimy strip clubs, immerse players in a forgotten corner of the Appalachian Forest, all rendered in a unique visual style that merges the lo-fi aesthetic of found footage with the photo-sourced textures of Source Engine games, building upon the bizarre nightmare world established in his previous works like *Squirrel Stapler* and *The Pony Factory*.