Wakey-wakey! You're Ava, caught in a storm, with power knocked out and a mysterious killer on the loose. Welcome to Netflix's horror video game, 'Unhinged', co-conceptualized by Hollywood titan David Fincher, filmmaker Zach Cregger, and Sean Krankel, the mastermind behind Night School Studios. This immersive 'choose your own path' thriller wants you to experience death…at least once!

In 'Unhinged,' your very survival hinges on the device in your pocket. You can use your personal smartphone as a controller to shine light on dark corners, communicate with your buddies (voiced by Zoe Kravitz, Sadie Sink, and Troy Baker) and, yes, also make life or death decisions. Every decision you make is crucial and can lead you to a grisly end, introducing you to the dark, twisted charm of the game.

This Netflix-exclusive, built with Night School Studio's stellar team, is packed with instances where you could perish, making it almost as spine-tingling as your favorite horror film. The game begins with a nail-biting race against time, gently nudging the player towards their first grisly end just to give them a taste of the adrenaline-filled adventure that lies ahead.

Sean Krankel notes, "The very essence of the game lies in the afterlife - the cops debating over the specifics of your murder each time you die adds an exciting twist of storytelling following your demise."

There was a whirlwind of debate about outcomes, choices, and dialogue while developing the game. In the end, the most intriguing aspect wasn't multiple endings, but the interactions and choices you make with the characters as you navigate through the blood-chilling narrative. The game does offer multiple "death" experiences, but funnels you to a single survival path.

There's no special advantage to replaying 'Unhinged.' Krankel draws an interesting analogy, suggesting that the motive to re-engage should be sharing the exhilarating story with a friend, not unearthing varied takes on the narrative.

As for a sequel, there isn't a direct setup, but there is an ominous message from super-turned-killer Ben, hinting at the possibility of more terror kinks to unravel in the future.

The production of 'Unhinged' was more akin to a thrill-packed, interactive movie rather than a traditional game. Krankel reflects, "Night School placed the storyline above gory scenes, focusing on character interactions and developing an absorbent narrative backdrop."

For Krankel and his team, the unique selling proposition of 'Unhinged' is using a smartphone as a controller, enhancing the game's immersive experience. "A phone is more than just a device in 'Unhinged.' It's you trying to save your life," claims Krankel.

With a content rating warning for those under 18, 'Unhinged' does let you peek into some grotesque moments. After all, what’s a horror narrative without a few stomach-churning scenes? Balancing gore and storytelling, 'Unhinged' places you right at the center of a horror universe you can barely imagine.

Sean Krankel concludes, "Sometimes, reality is more horrific than a horror game. But Unhinged?' Now that's another beast entirely!"