‘Until Dawn’ Review: A Bloody Horror Tale That Stumbles Over Its Legacy

Let’s be honest: a live-action Until Dawn movie should’ve been a no-brainer. With its cinematic flair, bone-chilling jumpscares, and eerie mountain lodge setting, the 2015 cult classic horror video game practically begged for a big-screen adaptation. So when a film was finally announced, expectations soared. But here’s the twist no one saw coming: the movie doesn’t follow the original plot. At all.

For those unfamiliar, Until Dawn is an interactive gameplay where your decisions shape who lives, who dies, and how the tale unfolds. The goal is to keep eight teens alive through a deadly winter night as they’re hunted by an unknown figure and supernatural creatures lurking in the shadows.

So, what gives? According to director David F. Sandberg, its movie iteration isn’t a direct adaptation but rather an expansion of the Until Dawn universe. Beloved characters are nowhere to be seen, fully replaced by a new cast, a reimagined storyline, and major changes to the game’s lore. It’s a risky move for a franchise with such a loyal fanbase, but does it pay off?

PLOT

A year after her sister Melanie vanishes without a trace, Clover ventures into the desolate town of Glore Valley to retrace her steps. Her friends—Max, Megan, Abe, and Nina—tag along, not expecting to find the missing woman but to help Clover heal from the loss. At the town’s abandoned visitor centre, they stumble upon a wall covered with missing person posters and a strange hourglass device that becomes their only way to track time.

Unease begins to settle in, and by nightfall, the quiet dread looming over the group boils over into full-blown panic when a masked killer begins to stalk them. One by one, they’re brutally murdered—only to wake up alive at the start of the same night.

Trapped in a never-ending time loop, they soon learn they can only die so many times before it sticks. Their only chance at escape? Survive until dawn.

The time loop concept could’ve easily felt like a tired gimmick, given the plethora of films that lean on it as a narrative crutch, but Until Dawn cleverly grounds it in the emotional weight Clover bears each time she returns to life. The deaths are gruesome, particularly at the hands of cannibalistic wendigos, but it’s the psychological toll that lands the hardest.

Clover is forced to relive the grief of her sister’s disappearance and the gnawing regret that she’s leading her friends deeper into a nightmare they might never wake up from. Each reset brings new dangers and stranger anomalies, but for Clover, the most haunting part isn’t the monsters—it’s the growing realisation that some losses don’t get second chances.

One of the film’s most thrilling tricks is how each time loop throws the group into a new horror sub-genre—slasher flick one night, ghost story the next, then a terrifying creature feature. It’s like flipping through a mixtape of fears, and somehow, it all fits together. Granted, the pacing could’ve been tighter. It builds suspense with gradual reveals, but suddenly fast-forwards into a death montage that undercuts the ongoing tension.

CHARACTERS

As someone who is deeply attached to the video game’s characters, it was a gut punch to see their live-action counterparts fall short of that same spark. While it’s definitely harder to connect with them on the same level, the cast brings just enough depth and charisma to keep you invested.

Ella Rubin is stellar as Clover, emerging as a clear standout among the ensemble. While the script doesn’t fully flesh out Clover’s backstory, Rubin fills in the gaps with a nuanced performance by balancing guilt, desperation, and steely resolve to make her both believable and fiercely sympathetic. Here’s to hoping she lands more horror-forward roles that cater to her talents; Here’s to hoping she lands more horror-forward roles that play to her strengths; she’s undeniably a scream queen on the rise.

Meanwhile, Ji-Young Yoo delivers a compelling performance as Megan, the group’s psychic and spiritual guide. Unafraid to show Megan’s vulnerability, Yoo feels utterly raw and exposed, especially when her character faces some of the film’s most harrowing deaths. She also seems to be having more fun than anyone else on screen, making you root even harder for her to survive against the odds.

The rest of Clover’s friends—Max, Nina, and Abe—struggle to leave a lasting impression, though it’s less a fault of the cast and more of the writing. Caught in the time loop’s chaos, they’re given just enough screen time to react to the carnage around them, but not enough space to evolve beyond familiar archetypes. At times, the trio felt more like genre placeholders than fully developed characters.

As the only returning character from the video game, Peter Stormare’s Dr. Hill is a divisive presence. Don’t get me wrong, a good callback is always appreciated, but there’s a tonal shift that strips away some of the character’s original intrigue. Stormare still remains a magnetic force on screen, bringing theatrical menace to keep you on edge.

Speaking of nostalgic nods, you might want to keep an eye on Dr. Hill’s office for a subtle Easter egg hinting at one of the game’s titular characters…

VISUALS

One thing Until Dawn doesn’t skimp on is atmosphere. Under Maxime Alexandre’s lens, the film transitions between horror sub-genres with striking visuals. The slasher segments boast flickering bulbs and POV killer shots while the supernatural sequences take on a ghostly, dreamlike quality. Each loop feels visually distinct, keeping things dynamic even as scenes repeat.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is how it uses lighting to evoke dread. Forests feel suffocating. Cabins look cold and lifeless. Blood pops in the dark.

The wendigos are undoubtedly the film’s visual highlight, brought to life using special effects makeup, prosthetics, and CGI that craft their gaunt, twisted forms. Rendered in grotesque detail and framed within claustrophobic, shadow-drenched spaces, their jagged limbs and hollow eyes make every appearance a chilling spectacle.

FINAL VERDICT

Overall, Until Dawn is a bloody love letter to classic horror that mostly delivers. It doesn’t fully live up to the game’s potential as an adaptation, but it manages to carve out its own identity as a scream fest loaded with solid scares and gnarly kills. Sure, it tips into some well-worn clichés (yes, someone runs headfirst into danger with zero backup), but what’s a scary movie without a few “you idiot!” moments? It’s far from perfect, but horror fans looking for a fresh spin on familiar territory might find it worth the ride.

Rating: 6/10

Watch Until Dawn on Netflix.

For more film reviews, head here.