Until Dawn, is a film that poses a unique challenge for viewers. It can be experienced from two distinct perspectives. For the people who played, and loved the video game, it may not live up to the expectations, while newcomers to the story might find it more enjoyable. As someone who knows and is a huge fan of the Until Dawn video game I was sadly very disappointed in the film.
Plot
We follow Clover (Ella Rubin) and her friends as they search for her sister who disappeared a year ago. They head to a remote valley where she vanished to search for answers. They are soon confronted by a masked killer who murders them. However, when they wake up at the beginning of the same night, they’re forced to relive the terror over and over again.
Starring Belmont Cameli, Michael Camino, Odesssa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, and Peter Stormare.
Thoughts
I’ll start off by saying I was a little disappointed that they didn’t use the original cast from the Until Dawn video game. While I understand the argument they might be too old to portray college students, it felt like a missed opportunity. Many films feature older actors playing high school or college roles convincingly. The original cast brought depth to their characters, and their abscence was felt. Peter Stormare, who reprises his role from the game, was a standout performer, bringing a memorable presence to the movie.
I feel like there were some missed opportunities to put more Easter eggs in for the fans of the video game, for example there is a scene where we see a wall of missing person flyers. They could have used the original cast from the video game for the people on the posters. A simple yet impactful nod to gamers.
As a fan of director David F. Sandburg, I was very disappointed in Until Dawn. I knew him from his short films on YouTube and was pumped when his short film Light’s Out was turned into a full length film. However I felt like this was a cheap film with cheap jump scares. I realize I sound very harsh but as someone who loved the video game Until Dawn and was so excited to see the movie, I was left disappointed. I actually started to doze off in the Theater.
They sell Until Dawn as a Happy Death Day type of movie, where characters have to relive the same night over and over again. That’s not what actually happens. They die a different way each time. The audience is introduced to different killers and monsters, however only some of them are explained leaving the audience with more questions than answers. Additionally, a recurring element, an hourglass that keeps time, was never explained in a meaningful way; not one character attempted to destroy it to see what would happen, which stuck with me as an oversight.
In Until Dawn the video game, players make choices that directly impact the outcome, leading to multiple endings. It would have been an innovative approach to release the film in different theatres with various endings, similar to the 1985 film Clue. This interactive element could have made for a more engaging experience.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Until Dawn was a major letdown for fans of the video game. While those unfamiliar with the game, may find some enjoyment, I would definitely recommend waiting for this one to be streaming for free on one of the many streaming services. As a passionate fan, I left the theater feeling disappointed and yearning for the rich, choice-driven experience that the video game provided.
