A group of friends are trapped in an old town’s time loop and killed endlessly, but they must find a way out before the night ends, or it will be their last one.
Huge misfire!
The formula is instantly recognisable: a gruesome atrocity unfolds, only for the narrative to cut to a diverse group of standard underwear-model type of youngsters, unknowingly heading straight toward the site of the initial carnage. It is a structure deeply embedded in the DNA of all-American horror, reminiscent of films such as Wrong Turn (2003), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The House of Wax (2005), and The Hills Have Eyes (2006), to name but a few. Yet, while those predecessors delivered agonising brutality and genuine terror, Until Dawn raises an essential question: does it achieve the same visceral impact?
Produced by Sony Pictures through Screen Gems and PlayStation, the film functions as an indirect adaptation of the homonymous video game, seemingly targeting a younger generation that may not have experienced the genre’s earlier milestones. While it retains fragments of the game’s core qualities, it discards many others – arguably most of them – resulting in a potentially disappointing experience for devoted fans. For newcomers, however, the film offers an enjoyable slasher with an intriguing Groundhog Day-style temporal loop.
Director and producer David F. Sandberg, alongside writers Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler, deliver a technically competent audiovisual experience. The dark cinematography, well-paced narrative, and satisfyingly brutal deaths demonstrate a clear understanding of genre mechanics. Nevertheless, the film’s central weakness lies in its characters. Written as largely expendable, they fail to inspire empathy; rather than fearing for their survival, the audience may find themselves anticipating their demise, hoping that each death at least justifies the price of admission (I couldn’t have said it more delicately if I tried). By the time the narrative reaches its conclusion, a deeper sense of narrative incoherence further diminishes its impact.
What ultimately distinguishes Until Dawn from its genre predecessors is the absence of relatable or likeable figures whose survival genuinely matters. In films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, suspense is heightened because viewers emotionally invest in at least one or two characters, wishing to stand beside them and escape the nightmare. Here, emotional dissociation replaces tension. When the audience ceases to care, suspense evaporates, leaving only a passive wait for the end credits – perhaps with the tempting urge to start scrolling on a phone.
And all that, I guess, makes a film mediocre or, even worse… OK.
Thanks for reading!
Please, don’t forget to share. If you enjoy my work and dedication to film, please feel free to support me on https://www.patreon.com/kaygazpro. Any contribution is much appreciated and valued.
Solidarity for all the innocent lives that suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
