Until Dawn’s Ending Turns Trauma Horror Into a Joke

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Spoilers ahead for the plot and ending of Until Dawn.

If you haven’t experienced the 2015 survival horror game “Until Dawn”, the 2025 film adaptation could leave you puzzled. Even if you have played the game, the movie might still perplex you due to its unique narrative. David F. Sandberg’s “Until Dawn” draws inspiration from its well-known forerunner, but the script, penned by Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler, crafts an entirely new tale that may not be straightforward to grasp. Initially, it follows a typical slasher setup, but eventually, it transforms into something unexpected, with a barrage of concepts that risk overwhelming the movie. Despite this, by the end, “Until Dawn” manages to redeem itself through its humor, showcasing similarities with “Cabin in the Woods” rather than contemporary heavyweight horror titles. While it deluges the audience with backstory, the film satirizes the modern trend of serious, symbolic horror, suggesting that even in the face of real trauma, laughter is still an option.

Before things take a turn for the unexpected, it’s worth noting that the game “Until Dawn” seems rather predictable at first. The characters, including Clover (Ella Rubin), Max (Michael Cimino), Megan (Ji-young Yoo), Nina (Odessa A’zion), and Nina’s boyfriend Abel (Belmont Cameli) are on a trip to investigate the region where Clover’s sister Melanie (Maia Mitchell) disappeared a year ago. A gas station attendant, played by Peter Stormare, who you know is up to no good, warns Clover about disappearances linked to Glore Valley. This sets the stage for a masked killer, and it feels as though his arrival was only a matter of time. As expected, not long after the friends reach an abandoned visitor center, filled with unsettling clues such as a board covered in missing person flyers, including one for Melanie, the inevitable psychopath makes his appearance. In no time, he utilizes the film’s R rating to brutally slay all five of them.

Instead of wrapping up like the finale of “Until Dawn”, this is merely the start. The unfortunate group encounters a twist reminiscent of “Groundhog Day” or “Happy Death Day”. In this predicament, once they’re all dead, the night resets. Abel remarks, “I have a feeling we’re in deep trouble, guys.” An hourglass tracks their progress; if there are no survivors when the sand runs out, it flips and starts another timer. Unlike regular time-loop tales, however, things don’t remain constant. Firstly, the friends exhibit signs of damage from their fatal injuries, with scars and other indications their bodies are transforming. Secondly, the dangers of Glore Valley go beyond a single masked killer. The five soon learn that there’s an abundance of things trying to kill them, ranging from witches and wendigos to parasitic worms and a monstrous creature lurking in the woods.

In essence, the film “Until Dawn” presents a monotonous yet creative premise that’s often brutal, with a relentless stream of kills. However, it also offers a good dose of humor, some derived from the characters’ self-awareness and meta-commentary, while the rest comes from the absurdly violent situations they find themselves in. One particularly striking scene involves the group accidentally recording their grisly deaths on their cell phones, which they later watch as a chilling montage. It’s worth noting that this film may require you to suspend your disbelief regarding certain plot points, such as the cell phone conceit. The most memorable deaths occur when the friends foolishly decide to wait out the night in the bathroom and drink water from the sink. In a gruesome twist, they explode like burst water balloons filled with blood and organs, serving as a grim reminder that no one in Glore Valley is safe.

In essence, they’re following the pattern common in time-loop narratives, found in movies and video games like “Until Dawn”. They’re exploring their environment to determine why they’re trapped there and how to endure the night. Interestingly, Glore Valley was once a mining town that met a tragic end, which might explain the eerie atmosphere, although it doesn’t account for the recurring deaths. Eventually, the group encounters Dr. Alan Hill, a psychiatrist disguised as a gas station attendant (a character played by Stormare in the video game). It appears he is the source of their misfortune. In his past records, they find footage of him treating a patient who believes he’s trapped in a loop of repeated deaths caused by his worst fears. Over time, Hill seems to be transforming, not just dying but becoming more monstrous. This transformation mirrors a warning given to one of the characters (Clover), when she was briefly possessed by a witch: “You either survive the night or become part of it.

In Glore Valley, individuals caught in a terrifying loop find themselves transforming into something monstrous, such as wendigos, after repeated deaths. This scenario leaves the five friends scrambling to break the cycle. On their last night, number twelve, Clover discerns that she must confront Hill. To reach him, she navigates through the subterranean passages that were once the town, overcoming and vanquishing her transformed sister along the way before reaching the mental health facility. Eager to divulge information since she’s persevered this far, Hill shares his insights on fear. He has been observing these friends through surveillance cameras because he specializes in studying terror. When people are subjected to traumatic events (like Clover’s mother’s demise and Melanie’s disappearance), their minds generate horrors. Essentially, Clover’s psychological struggles serve as the driving force behind the endless wave of adversities she and her companions face.

In simpler terms, the movie “Until Dawn” might not excel in logistics, but it stands out by acknowledging itself as a trauma horror rather than just another typical slasher film. Many modern horror movies delve into deep themes and symbolic monsters, often overshadowing the fear factor. However, “Until Dawn” focuses on enjoying the genre’s tropes, similar to its predecessor, “Cabin in the Woods.” Furthermore, the movie uses a self-referential horror approach to make the twist about trauma feel like a humorous wink to itself. This movie seems to be poking fun at slasher films and contemporary horror’s tendency towards explicit emotions and melodrama. For instance, the idea that contaminated water causing explosions represents a character’s self-destructive nature is meant to be taken lightly, along with the supposedly profound analysis. Is it really that heavy?

In essence, it’s important to note that the game “Until Dawn” isn’t devoid of genuine emotions. Ultimately, it’s a story about survivors coping with and overcoming trauma. Clover, for instance, bravely faces her sister’s death (even though it was in wendigo form), which eventually leads to her rediscovering the will to live again. The subtle action of moving Hill’s coffee cup to create a drop of water is symbolic and well-known among viewers. After the evil doctor’s demise, Clover reunites with her friends who miraculously emerge from the ground as the hourglass empties. They are indeed survivors, but so, surprisingly, is Hill. The movie concludes with him observing a fresh batch of victims arriving at the visitor center, which might imply a poignant closing message about the persistence of trauma. However, it could also be that “Until Dawn” is merely positioning itself for a sequel where more appealing 20-somethings can meet grisly ends in creative ways – something that, ironically, could be seen as a form of healing.

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2025-04-26 01:54