My quick rating – 6.5/10. Until Dawn isn’t a shot-for-shot retelling of the excellent video game (I recently finished the remake), and that’s probably for the best. This new adaptation, directed by David F. Sandberg, takes some liberties with the source material but manages to spin it into something uniquely brutal, atmospheric, and surprisingly thoughtful in its own way. It’s far from flawless, but there’s enough here to enjoy, especially for those who appreciate horror with a bloody edge and an experimental twist.
Set one year after the mysterious disappearance of her sister Melanie, Clover (Ella Rubin) and a group of not-so-close “friends” venture into a remote valley seeking answers. Their journey leads them to an abandoned visitor center where things quickly unravel. They’re stalked by a masked killer, violently picked off one by one… only to wake up right back at the start of the same evening. Yes, the film dips into Groundhog Day horror territory, but to its credit, it doesn’t just replay the same events each time. The variations and the psychological descent the characters experience are what keep it engaging.
Right from the opening moments, it’s clear this group can’t stand each other. That actually works in the movie’s favor—when the deaths start piling up, you’re not heartbroken, but you are entertained. There’s a certain twisted glee in watching a dysfunctional group try (and fail) to survive night after night. It’s not about warm friendships but survival instinct and fraying sanity. And that change in dynamic suits the grim tone Until Dawn is going for.
Fans of the original game might be put off by the lack of snowy mountaintops and the absence of key early-game story elements, especially the prank setup involving Josh. That was a memorable, defining twist in the game, and here it’s glossed over with only a subtle nod. But that’s where some understanding is required: the game was a multi-path experience with endless outcomes, while the film is confined to a singular narrative arc. Expecting it to be identical is misguided. It’s a different medium, and this story chooses to focus more on fear manipulation and looping trauma.
There are ties to the original, and one in particular at the end could suggest a direction for a sequel. No spoilers, but it’s enough of a breadcrumb to keep fans intrigued. Sandberg smartly builds on the idea of horror as a psychological experiment, twisting the characters through repeating dread and escalating violence.
The kills are vicious, the gore is top-notch, and there’s genuine creativity in how each death is executed. It’s not just slasher fodder; there’s some imagination at play. Ella Rubin gives a standout performance as Clover, especially in her more… unhinged moments. Without giving too much away, let’s just say she makes “possessed” work in a way that’s both unsettling and captivating.
All in all, Until Dawn is a solid adaptation—not perfect, but a bold and bloody interpretation that pays homage without being enslaved by the source. Fans willing to accept it on its own terms will find a lot to like. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning.
This one is priced for theaters on these streamers, including Amazon.