‘Until Dawn’ Review: The Interactive Survival Horror Video Game Becomes a Grab Bag of a Slasher Movie in Which Nothing’s at Stake

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The recent announcement of “John Wick 5” suggests that death in movies today isn’t as conclusive as it once was. It’s no longer a definitive end; instead, it seems more like a temporary setback. In the final scene of “John Wick 4,” John Wick appeared to meet his end, suggesting a permanent goodbye for the character, almost like taking the franchise off life support. However, as soon as the thought crossed your mind that this could be the end, the word “franchise” popped up in your head, you knew it couldn’t be. It would leave too much potential revenue untapped. The dramatic death of John Wick had to be undone to allow Keanu Reeves to reprise his role.

The movie “Until Dawn” is a crafty blend of horror and movie tropes, carrying an insouciant approach to mortality. (It doesn’t matter! Just start over!) Unlike many films in its genre, it doesn’t resort to the cliché of a surprise ending; instead, it weaves that element throughout the storyline. “Until Dawn” follows five college friends who find themselves trapped in a seemingly luxurious cabin deep within a mystical forest that resembles a cozy bed-and-breakfast. The film could be likened to a violent slasher movie adaptation of “Groundhog Day,” or more precisely, the satirical take on it, “Palm Springs” starring Andy Samberg, because in this one, each loop ended with the Samberg character getting killed, fully aware that he would wake up again.

In the “Groundhog Day” style, we witness the protagonist gradually changing circumstances to seize control of his fate. However, “Until Dawn” doesn’t aim for such intricate storytelling. Instead, it takes place in a haunted house filled with various psychopaths and terrors from the past three decades. An hourglass is used as a timer – once the sand runs out (approximately 20 minutes of screen time) signifying one night has passed. Unfortunately, this means that all characters will have met their demise by then. The killings are quite grisly, featuring stabbings, disembowelments, and even moments where bodies start to explode, covering everything in blood and gore. However, a mechanical device will reset the hourglass, allowing another night to begin, and the characters find themselves back at square one.

Instead of featuring a variety of reoccurring nightly events, each subsequent night becomes merely another predictable instance of senseless violence. These scenes often involve stereotypical slasher movie villains or supernatural entities. Essentially, the plot consists of this repetitive pattern, which leaves little to no suspense or tension as character deaths have minimal impact since they seldom result in permanent demise. This lack of real stakes diminishes the overall impact and interest of the film.

The movie ‘Until Dawn’ is derived from the widely acclaimed PlayStation 4 video game released in 2015. Although the recent triumph of ‘A Minecraft Movie’ has positioned video games as a significant element in Hollywood’s vision for the future, ‘Until Dawn’ serves as an exemplary case of what can go awry when transforming a video game into a movie. The game’s storyline was orchestrated by filmmaker Larry Fessenden (‘Wendigo’), in collaboration with Graham Reznick. They drew inspiration for the game’s haunted-house-ghouls theme from films such as ‘Evil Dead II’ and ‘Poltergeist’, along with movies based on games like ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Silent Hill’. Essentially, ‘Until Dawn’, as a movie, is adapted from a game that itself was inspired by movies, some of which were originally made from games. Is the potential for creative reinterpretation exhausted with this blend?

The characters arrive at a foreboding forest dwelling as they’re on a quest to find Melanie (Maia Mitchell), who vanished a year prior and is the sibling of Clover (Ella Rubin). If this film had a final girl, it would undoubtedly be Clover with her unyielding determination. Upon reaching the house, Cloer and her companions stumble upon a series of “Missing” posters, including one for Melanie and many others. However, these findings don’t prove particularly significant.

Initially, the characters face a menacing figure on their first night, dressed in overalls and a destroyed clown mask, with his teeth visible. Rather charming, but he’s quite typical for a slasher villain. In the following episode, they experience being taken over by “spirits,” which results in their bodies being flung about. Future events will include a witch, a spectral apparition, a haunting Victorian-era room filled with dolls and baby heads, an old cradle, and a rocking chair adorned with a stuffed clown – all hinting at the return of gnashing zombie creatures, apparently paying tribute to Fessenden’s 2001 film, referred to as wendigos.

As a movie critic, I found myself constantly yearning for clearer dialogue in “Until Dawn”. Instead, the characters seem to spend their time bantering or making crude remarks such as, “We’re dealing with some truly messed-up situations here!” While this film may rake in profits over the weekend, that doesn’t necessarily make it a successful horror movie. In fact, I find it monotonous, predictable, and downright dull. The movie’s portrayal of a nightmarish scenario leaves a bitter taste, not because it resembles a video game. No, it’s because it feels like a video game that lacks any engaging content.

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2025-04-25 05:16