Director David F. Sandberg is returning to the horror genre with an adaptation of the popular PlayStation-exclusive video game, Until Dawn. Released in 2015, the game was remastered just nine years later. I’ve never played the game, but with actors like Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere involved, it’s easy to see why expectations from fans are at an all-time high. Sandberg, who began his career by turning his horror short film, Lights Out, into a feature-length movie, has transitioned from a couple of DC projects to this well-known horror IP. While I may not be familiar with the video game, I found that the film succeeds as a standalone horror movie. Until Dawn does pander to horror fans while not prioritizing the story to fans of the video game.
Until Dawn follows Clover (Ella Rubin) as she searches for her sister, Melanie (Maia Mitchell), who has been missing for a year. Joining her on this journey are her ex-boyfriend, Max (Michael Cimino), and a new couple Nina (Odessa A’zion) and Abe (Belmont Cameli). The group has a starting point for their search, thanks to a video Melanie sent to Clover, which features a unique gas station in the background. In The Cabin in the Woods fashion, there’s a Harbinger character played by Peter Stormare that provides information on which direction Clover’s sister could have gone. As they leave the gas station, a heavy storm sets in, leading them to a location called Glore Valley. Here, they discover a house that has been converted into a “visitors center,” which ultimately becomes the main setting for the remainder of the movie.
Again, in a similar style to The Cabin in the Woods, the group begins to drift apart as they explore the premises. They search for items, look through books, and discover a wall lined with “Missing” posters featuring the faces of random people, including a small cameo by David F. Sandberg. While they are separated, a masked killer resembling a cheap version of “Sweet Tooth” from Twisted Metal, starts to eliminate the group members one by one. During the chaos, Abe and Nina decide to leave the premises and venture into the relentless storm outside. However, they are confronted by a giant celestial being that forces them back to the visitors center. This sequence mimics a video game mechanic, indicating they cannot leave the designated play area. Once all four friends have met their demise, they find themselves respawning in their original locations, retaining memories of their experiences. After several nights of strategizing on how to escape, Nina notices an hourglass. This discovery leads the group to the realization that they must survive until dawn to break free from this recurring nightmare.
The time-loop trope is not new, with one of the most popular examples being Groundhog Day. Recently, however, there has been a trend in movies featuring time loops and going back in time, such as Happy Death Day, Time Cut, and Totally Killer. Often, these films become repetitive, revisiting the same sequences. In contrast, screenwriters Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman chose to repeat each night but framed it within the context of different horror movies, showcasing a variety of monsters and creatures. This approach works conceptually because it avoids repetition and introduces unpredictability for the characters, keeping the audience on edge as they wonder what terror will arise each time the group faces death.
If there’s one thing that Sandberg is great at doing, is his attention to practical effects and use of jump scares. Until Dawn oozes in practicality with all of its kills, with, of course, a splash of CGI that is barely noticeable. From torn limbs to impaled faces to drinking tap water and… I won’t spoil that part because it’s the best gag in the film. Until Dawn could’ve easily defaulted into using CGI for a majority of its kills, but instead almost acts as a love letter to horror fans with its constant rotation of blood-grueling moments. If you’ve ever seen a Sandberg horror short, then you know his jump scares are highly effective, and there’s one scene in particular with a creature in the distance that got me out of my seat. There was also a segment that transitioned into a found footage segment displaying a multitude of scenes the characters forgot they were a part of, and that segment was the best part of the film. Here’s to hoping David F. Sanberg’s next project is a feature-length found footage film.
The downside of Until Dawn is its lack of a strong story, which fails to support the impressive horror atmosphere. Midway through the film, a plot twist involving the town of Glore Valley is introduced. However, this twist quickly loses its significance because it doesn’t place the characters in a high-stakes situation. It feels as if the audience knows that the group will escape safely, leading to an anticlimactic ending. Not only is the plot forgettable, but most characters are also simplistic versions of typical horror movie archetypes, lacking real emotional depth. The most memorable character is Nina, played by Odessa A’zion, who stands out not only because of her distinctive outfit but also for providing some of the film’s most engaging scenes through her dialogue and actions.
Final Thoughts:
Until Dawn, as a standalone horror film, provides enough jump scares and practical effects to entertain the average horror fan. However, as an adaptation of a popular video game, many fans may disagree with several decisions made, particularly regarding the story and character development, which were the strengths of the original game. When a horror film lacks a strong story, like this year’s The Monkey, it’s hard to stay interested in the source material. I believe that Sandberg and his team were just a few script changes away from creating an outstanding horror video game adaptation.
3/5
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Ever since my mom took me to go see The Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 7 years old I’ve been obsessed with not just movies but the horror genre. When I’m not watching movies you can find me thrifting, attending a local horror convention, or collecting physical media. I attended the University of Central Florida with a degree in Cinema Studies and use my degree to rant about movies online.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: The Cabin in the Woods, Cabaret, Seven Samurai, The Blair Witch Project, Inglourious Basterds