Directors & Writers Unveil the Secrets Behind Until Dawn’s Film Sequel: More Than a Game

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Until Dawn transforms a popular horror video game into a cinematic experience, offering chilling time-loop frights and an endless array of menacing adversaries. The film chronicles the tale of Clover, who assembles a group of friends to find her missing sister at an abandoned visitors’ center, unknowingly trapping them in a loop where they are forced to endure the same dreadful day over and over again. Actress Ella Rubin from Anora portrays Clover, alongside Michael Cimino known for his role in Love, Victor, Odessa A’zion of Ghosts, Ji-young Yoo from Expats, and other talented actors.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the chilling masterpiece that is Until Dawn. From behind the scenes, it was meticulously crafted by an impressive team of visionaries, spearheaded by director David F. Sandberg. Known for his work on films such as Shazam!, Annabelle: Creation, and Lights Out, Sandberg’s expertise in horror storytelling shone brilliantly through this project.

On the writing side, the script for Until Dawn was skillfully adapted by Gary Dauberman, a name that sends chills down my spine when I think of his other works like Annabelle, It, and The Nun, collaboratively penned with Blair Butler.

In this conversation with Joe Deckelmeier from ScreenRant, David F. Sandberg (director/producer) and Gary Dauberman (producer/writer) shared insights about their work on the movie adaptation of Until Dawn. They delved into the process of determining the right mood for the film, a trait that our review of Until Dawn in ScreenRant described as “imbued with a classic affection for the genre.” Additionally, they spoke about deciding how much to incorporate directly from the game. Furthermore, they discussed their choice of bringing one beloved character from the game to the big screen.

David F. Sandberg Explains Until Dawn’s Sequel Status

In the realm of cinema, the movie “Until Dawn” takes on the challenge of familiarizing new viewers with the extensive gaming universe, and the creative team behind it opted for a daring strategy to achieve this. Previously, director David F. Sandberg referred to the film as more of a continuation rather than a direct adaptation. Sandberg was quick to commend the writers of “Until Dawn” for their method: “That’s what Gary and Blair did [so well] with the script. They didn’t try to simply compress 10 hours of game, remove the interactivity, and recast it.

Sandberg commented, “If it had been any other way, it wouldn’t have felt the same.” The director went on to explain, “By creating another chapter in a broader narrative, we are able to offer more of ‘Until Dawn,’ not just a repetition. This is particularly thrilling because the game is such an ode to horror, and we were able to craft our own homage to horror in the movie, blending various genres and elements.”

Sandberg noted, “Had it been different, it wouldn’t have had the same feel.” The director elaborated, “Instead of rehashing ‘Until Dawn,’ we’ve crafted another chapter in a larger story, offering more of the game’s essence. This is exhilarating because ‘Until Dawn’ is such a tribute to horror, and we were able to create our own tribute to horror through the movie, combining multiple genres and aspects.

The Creators Of The Until Dawn Game Heavily Influenced The Script

Screenwriter Blair Butler Collaborated Closely With The Game Makers

In the creation of the movie “Until Dawn”, screenwriter Blair Butler, who penned 2022’s “The Invitation”, was involved. To ensure accuracy, Butler interacted with the game developers before joining forces with Gary Dauberman to draft a script. Regarding their collaboration, Dauberman explained, “Our process primarily consisted of extensive dialogue back and forth. We discussed the storyline of the game, delved into specific character backgrounds like Dr. Hill’s, and brainstormed potential directions for future installments in the series.

Dauberman, being an enthusiast of the game and a dedicated gamer, expressed that he doesn’t often engage with game developers. However, it was fascinating for him to observe their creative process and how they craft stories. There were numerous discussions between them, ensuring they didn’t veer off course and remained in harmony. They aimed to ensure that if another game were to emerge, they would all be paddling in the same direction metaphorically speaking. Dauberman emphasized that they are viewing the movie as a part of a larger narrative.

Creatives Reveal How They Expanded On Game Ideas For The Movie

Sandberg Was Excited To “Do Things That They Didn’t Do In The Game”

The until dawn film, being somewhat of a follow-up, enabled the creators to selectively incorporate elements they found most intriguing from the game, while simultaneously deepening the narrative’s background. One aspect they focused on was the authentic portrayal of characters’ declining physical and psychological conditions as the plot unfolded. As Dauberman explained, “We paid close attention to how fear can impact one’s mental health, which in turn affects their physical well-being, and aimed to reflect that same dynamic in the movie just as the game does.

Sandberg disclosed that they broadened the film’s foundation by incorporating fresh aspects from other horror genres not previously delved into in the game. It was an enjoyable challenge to extend these elements, explore them further, and create experiences that were unique to the movie but not present in the game.

The One Character Who Made The Game-To-Film Jump, Explained

“I Really See Him As The Face Of The Franchise”

In the movie “Until Dawn,” Dr. Hill, who was a key character in the games, makes an appearance. Interestingly, Peter Stormare reprises his role from the games as Dr. Hill. As Dauberman explained, “He’s playing the same character, but it’s different.” The writer further emphasized the significance of Dr. Hill, stating that “His story is arguably the heart of the franchise. I see him as the embodiment of the series, essentially its face.

Sandberg & Dauberman Reveal Their Process On Including Easter Eggs & Other Game Motifs

“Some Of Those Connections Were Very Much A Team Effort”

In the game Until Dawn, you’ll find numerous Easter eggs and connections to other games, which should delight fans. When questioned about these additions, Sandberg was eager to give credit to his team, stating, “Many of those links were truly a collaborative effort – even details added by the production design team to create cohesion. There were elements from the script, design aspects, and ideas that simply evolved over time, such as, ‘Oh, we could include this to tie it together even more.’

Dauberman explained, “Excluding Dr. Hill, the mask was such an emblematic piece that we felt it necessary to include it. It served as a treasure trove of references for fans of the game and helped create a sense of immersion within the universe. Given the iconic status of the hourglass in the game, it seemed fitting to incorporate it too. Plus, it was entertaining to subtly include various Easter eggs. I’m not even aware of all the hidden gems because the art department was consistently adding them, which is exciting.

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2025-04-25 04:19