Sony Pulled the Ultimate Bait-&-Switch (in the Best Way Possible)

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Initially, whispers about a movie based on “Until Dawn” (2015) sparked mixed feelings among its enthusiastic fanbase. Historically, films derived from video games have earned a poor reputation for being either dreadful or, if enjoyable, straying far from the original content. Given that “Until Dawn” was considered a relatively brief game with a straightforward narrative, fans hoped that the movie might remain true to its source material.

Regrettably, the adaptation of Until Dawn didn’t resonate with fans, including myself. Although the movie does contain some nods and references to the original game, it’s not the story we recall from 2015. Normally, this would be a significant issue for a video game turned into a film, but in this case, it proved effective. Importantly, Until Dawn (2025) was never intended to replicate Until Dawn (2015) as it is actually a prequel to the game’s events instead.

Until Dawn’s Plot & Ending, Explained

Until Dawn’s Premise

In the movie Until Dawn, we follow the story of Clover and her friends – Max, Clover’s former lover, Megan, Nina, and Abe, who is Nina’s boyfriend – as they embark on a quest to locate Clover’s missing sister, Melanie. It’s been approximately a year since Melanie vanished, leading up to the events portrayed in the film. The friends decide to retrace Melanie’s footsteps leading to her last social media post location, hoping it will bring closure for Clover. They acknowledge that finding Melanie is unlikely, having accepted the possibility of her death; however, they believe this journey might finally help Clover come to terms with her sister’s presumed fate.

Ultimately, they reach Melanie’s last known spot, a peculiar gas station nestled close to an antiquated mining town named Glore Valley. The gas station attendant verifies for Clover that he spotted Melanie and suggests she might have been bound for the old town, which is where Clover and her companions decide to head. Glore Valley is an eerie place indeed. A waterfall of rain surrounds a solitary, seemingly abandoned, house. Cell phones fail to work here. What’s more concerning, ominous warnings surface, threatening anyone trapped within the valley. To start with, a murderer in a mask and armed with diverse weapons appears. Gamers may recognize the killer’s mask as the one Josh dons in the game while executing his intricate prank.

In simpler terms, each night finds them reawakened, compelled to relive the same terrifying ordeal. Each night brings familiar dangers along with new ones – a masked murderer, an evil sorceress, and the recurring Wendigo from the game. After experiencing death and resurrection a few times, they realize that if they wish to break free from Glore Valley’s vicious cycle and escape, they must make it through till dawn.

Each passing night we spend here in Glore Valley, I can’t help but feel our humanity slipping away. Megan, my friend, seems to be the first to notice this eerie transformation among us. The longer we’re trapped within these valleys, the more fear grips us, and the stronger our desire to escape becomes. We grow increasingly ravenous for freedom. Add to that the raw, unrelenting terror we experience daily, and it’s taking a devastating toll on our minds and bodies.

Until Dawn’s Ending

As the climax approaches, many gamers might find themselves quite frustrated with the movie adaptation of Until Dawn. Despite some nods to the video game, the film fails to capture the essence of the game. Instead, it seems like these references and the appearance of Peter Stormare as Dr. Hill (who also plays this role in the game) are more about appealing to fans than a genuine appreciation for the source material. However, everything changes once the major revelation takes place.

Dr. Hill, who appeared to be just the gas station attendant, was in fact the key figure guiding the group towards Glore Valley. He frequently emerged during the movie, often after the passage of night, suggesting his role in the unfolding events. Later on, Clover uncovers that Hill is a therapist who initially arrived at Glore Valley following a mining accident that decimated the town’s population. The majority of the town collapsed into the ground, and Hill was called upon to aid the survivors of this traumatic event. Obsessed with fear and its potential effects on humans, he started conducting experiments on his patients. These experiments ultimately resulted in several human-to-Wendigo transformations, including Clover’s sister, Melanie. Clover and her companions were his latest research subjects.

As a cinephile, I found myself drawn into an eerie, abandoned sanatorium in this film, where the enigmatic Dr. Hill carries out his chilling experiments. In the heart of this place, I encountered a captivating mystery involving Megan and a Wendigo. The climax unfolded when I cornered Dr. Hill in his office, and he confessed his dark secrets.

For those well-versed in the games, this moment served as the first tantalizing clue that the movie’s events would culminate in the game’s narrative. A conspicuous stack of files on Hill’s desk caught my eye, with the top file revealing a striking image of Josh – one of the main characters from the game. Known for his exceptional portrayal by Rami Malek, Josh was a tormented young man grappling with the vanishings of his sisters, Beth and Hannah. Intriguingly, it’s disclosed in the game that Josh was among Dr. Hill’s patients.

During their discussion, Clover secretly poisons Dr. Hill’s drink using a lethal substance that dripped from the ceiling. Earlier in the story, Clover and her companions perished after consuming the town’s water, making her believe it would have the same effect on Hill. It did, leading to Hill’s apparent demise. The group then miraculously endures until dawn and successfully flee Glore Valley. The movie concludes with some of Dr. Hill’s surveillance cameras switching to a mountain lodge blanketed in snow, which coincidentally resembles the one from the video game.

The Movie’s Ending Suggests It Was a Prequel All Along

The Clues are Subtle, but Hard to Miss for Hardcore Fans of the Game

In the final scenes of “Until Dawn,” there are two significant hints that imply this game is a prequel from the 2015 version. These subtle references suggest that Dr. Hill had a more substantial influence on the happenings at Blackwood Mountain than initially perceived. The two vital Easter eggs to observe closely:

From the two hints given, it appears that the storyline in the video game has not unfolded yet. Given Dr. Hill’s penchant for conducting experiments on his patients, it seems plausible that he viewed Josh as a potential subject for further research. In this video game, Hill is portrayed as a figment of imagination that surfaces between chapters to add variety to the narrative and allow players to modify certain fright elements in the game. For instance, he might ask the player if they prefer being scared by clowns or scarecrows. Based on the response, either clowns or scarecrows will appear as jump scares or backdrops throughout the game. Players won’t know who Hill is addressing until the game confirms that it’s Josh.

It appears that the movie “Until Dawn” is attempting to build a broader universe where the events of 2015’s “Until Dawn” are set. If Wendigos are real, it’s plausible that other supernatural entities and occurrences exist as well. This could explain the presence of the witch, giant, and some of the other mysterious creatures seen in the film. It also provides a reason for Clover and her friends being trapped in a time loop. The world is filled with more unexplainable phenomena than most people believe, leading to events that defy logical understanding. In this narrative, Dr. Hill has discovered a method to leverage these inexplicable beings to control his subjects, thereby placing himself at the heart of everything.

In this narrative, the pieces fall neatly into place, particularly given that the revamped 2024 “Until Dawn” features hinted at it. Our character, Sam, begins her day for work, with a book on mythical beings positioned on her bedside table, indicating she’s delved deeper into supernatural lore. Multiple medication bottles are also visible, signaling that she’s managing the repercussions of Blackwood Mountain. A mysterious wound is discovered on her arm. The room suddenly tints red, and a voice echoes, eerily reminiscent of Dr. Hill’s.

The movie serves as an origin story, setting up the universe of “Until Dawn” and delving into Dr. Hill’s part within it. This narrative is primarily told through Sam, suggesting that Dr. Hill plays a significant role. It appears that “Until Dawn” aims to expand into a broader franchise, encompassing various kinds of monsters. Additionally, the storyline seems to be positioning Dr. Hill as the chief adversary, masterminding everything, implying that even in a world teeming with supernatural entities, humanity harbors its own inner darkness.

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2025-04-30 07:16