Until Dawn: Horror Fans Will LOVE This Twist!

by

As someone not overly familiar with gaming, I can’t comment on the accuracy of David F. Sandberg’s Until Dawn as a representation of its original content. However, there’s no denying its deep-seated love for horror storytelling, especially given the genre’s current popularity. The movie seems to be an ode to terror, meticulously crafted to encompass various aspects of fear. With a narrative that opens up numerous avenues for exploring diverse nightmares, it’s clear there’s a lot of enthusiasm put into its creation alongside a solid foundation. Yet, despite the potential, the film seems to stretch itself too thin in scope, taking on more than it can handle. This leaves us with an enjoyable, albeit somewhat underdeveloped, production that hints at what could have been even better.

Until Dawn

Launch Date: The 25th of April, 2025

At the Helm: David F. Sandberg

Scriptwriters: Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler

In the Spotlight: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Maia Mitchell, and Peter Stormare

Rated: R due to intense bloody horror violence, gory scenes, and frequent use of strong language.

Duration: Approximately 103 minutes

From a passionate cinephile’s perspective, I’d describe this film as a clever homage to Drew Goddard’s “The Cabin in the Woods,” infused with a time loop element: A group of us find ourselves trapped in a conventional horror movie scenario, only to discover that we’re not just battling one monster, but reliving the same fateful night repeatedly, each iteration bringing new twists and turns. The creators seize this opportunity to explore various subgenres and creatures, resulting in thrilling and chilling scenes. However, despite some innovative concepts, the movie ultimately fails to reach its full potential.

Under the collaboration of Gary Dauberman, screenwriter of Annabelle: Creation, Until Dawn commences with a group of friends – Clover (Ella Rubin), Max (Michael Cimino), Nina (Odessa A’zion), Megan (Ji-young Yoo), and Abe (Belmont Cameli) – reuniting on the anniversary of their missing friend, Clover’s sister Melanie (Maia Mitchell). They assemble at the last known location of Melanie in an attempt to unravel the mystery. As they dig deeper, they discover information about a forgotten mining town named Glore Valley where people have mysteriously vanished.

As our heroes navigate thick forests and a relentless downpour that mysteriously ceases at Glore Valley’s edge, they reach what seems like an abandoned visitor center boasting peculiar elements: a guest book filled with identical names repeated endlessly, a towering hourglass built into the walls, and a notice board overflowing with missing person posters. The unsettling atmosphere is palpable from the start, and things quickly spiral as they repeatedly encounter death only to relive each terrifying night. Strangely, their bodies suffer injuries that shift throughout the time loops, leading them to realize the chilling truth – they can only survive if all of them make it until dawn.

Until Dawn offers tastes of fun horror but never feels like a full meal.

The standout feature of the game Until Dawn lies in its unique aspect where characters who die can be resurrected, providing a new chance to delve into distinct horror subgenres. To start with, the initial night presents a familiar slasher scenario, featuring a large, masked assailant wielding a pickaxe, but this is merely one of many themes that later unfold for characters such as Clover, Max, Nina, Megan, and Abe. These include supernatural elements like spiritual possession, witchcraft, eerie creatures, and abundant body horror. Although it might not frighten hardened movie-watchers, the thrill lies in anticipating what kind of terror awaits around the next corner.

In essence, the movie seems to be in a limbo-like state, lacking a solid direction or focus. It’s much like attending a social gathering when you’re famished and there’s only finger food available – while the assortment of flavors is delightful, it fails to quench your hunger or provide a substantial experience. This can be seen most clearly in the way that some of the most effective scares in Until Dawn are presented as a series of footage clips found on Abe’s phone during the third act.

The movie isn’t flawless, but it does have some fantastic concepts, one of my favorites being a scene from Until Dawn, where the characters attempt to outmaneuver the central premise by barricading themselves in a bathroom. However, their plan takes an unexpected turn and leads to a grand failure, causing a lot of blood to be spattered around. Unfortunately, not all elements are as impactful, leading to a somewhat disjointed storyline.

Until Dawn is a movie in need of a scene-stealer that it never reveals.

The main characters in this narrative share a common thread following Melanie’s disappearance. Each character has unique traits that intertwine and evolve, creating distinct personalities. For instance, Clover grapples with overwhelming guilt over her missing sibling, Max harbors lingering feelings for Clover after their breakup, Megan experiences a spiritual connection to the unfolding horrors, and Nina loves her friends but finds herself in an awkward relationship with Abe, who struggles to fit into their dynamic. As the story progresses and the nightmare deepens, these traits become more pronounced and contribute to the narrative’s intricacy.

In the movie, there’s no standout character who truly outshines the rest. Every actor delivers a solid performance, but none of them are exceptionally brilliant. This film could benefit from having such a remarkable, impactful element – be it a protagonist or an antagonist. It’s a common element often found in this genre that this movie lacks, and it somewhat diminishes the overall enjoyment.

In a year filled with exceptional genre films such as “Companion,” “The Monkey,” and “Sinners,” “Until Dawn” stands out as a solid choice rather than an outstanding or excellent one. While it has noticeable flaws that are more prominent than usually preferred, the movie is clearly made with heart, which makes it easy to appreciate.

Read More

2025-04-24 16:08