The Biggest Flaw of the “Until Dawn” Movie: Diverging Too Far from the Game

This article includes spoilers for the Until Dawn movie.

I’ve been mulling over the puzzling task of adapting “Until Dawn.” Supermassive Games crafted a narrative that’s like a 10-hour interactive horror film, penned by indie horror legends Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick. So, turning it into a movie couldn’t just replicate the game’s genius. Yet, abandoning its distinctive “choose your own adventure” style didn’t sit right either. When Sony announced an adaptation, it seemed off. And having seen the film, it’s still perplexing.

The film, directed by David F. Sandberg, misses the essence of Supermassive’s “Until Dawn.”

Screenwriters Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler attempt to bring “Until Dawn” to life. But here, it morphs into a time-loop horror where five young adults are stalked by various threats, aiming to survive until sunrise. Their deaths trigger a reset when an hourglass empties, risking their transformation into wendigos—a nod to Dr. Alan J. Hill’s mad experiment. While the story retains the missing sibling plot—Clover, played by Ella Rubin, searches for her sister—we’re not on Blackwood Mountain, nor grappling with decisions that radically shift the narrative.

That’s… not the “Until Dawn” we know.

In the game, every death is significant, with far-reaching consequences. There’s no second chance, which enhances the tension—a nervous slip during a “stay still” event could spell doom for multiple characters. This nerve-wracking dynamic is lost in the translation to film.

At best, Sandberg’s take resembles a novice’s attempt at “Cabin in the Woods.” Glore Valley, storm-clouded except for an eerie sunny circle over the welcome center, feels controlled by a horror movie deity, echoing “Cabin in the Woods.” Dr. Hill, with his omnipresence, and characters quipping about horror tropes, all fall short of the game’s cohesive storytelling. The game weaves players into its web of suspense, while the movie shuffles through haphazard scenes linked to an hourglass.

The film does incorporate wendigos, a crucial element of the game. In the game, a mining accident leads to cannibalism and the creation of wendigos haunting Blackwood. Here, Clover and her friends undergo transformations due to Dr. Hill’s experiments in Glore Valley. While not a direct translation, the wendigos are overshadowed by a generic slasher villain. Witches, creepy dolls, and exploding water add to the chaos, diverging from the game’s creature-centric horror.

Peter Stormare reprises his role as Dr. Hill, the hallucination-inducing psychiatrist from the game, now reimagined as a gas station worker and secret experimenter. Clover’s encounter with Hill reveals her and Josh Washington’s profiles, hinting at a connection.

There’s brief alignment with the original, as prisoners become wendigos, but Clover quickly overcomes Hill. Or does she? The ending, with Hill exploding in his office while surveillance shows Blackwood, suggests he’s a hallucination, mirroring Josh’s experience. This leaves Sandberg’s movie as an inconclusive prequel, teasing a sequel focused on Josh’s possible revenge—if another film follows.

Shallow references don’t make up for an original story. Sandberg claims his film occurs after the game, but Blackwood’s reveal suggests otherwise. This uncertainty diminishes the film’s connection to “Until Dawn,” making its ties feel more obligatory than significant.

For fans, scattered nods attempt to rekindle the game’s thrill. Ji-young Yoo’s Megan, leading a silent hand-holding akin to a Quicktime event, and Clover’s close brush with a wendigo echo “Don’t Move” instructions—but such moments are sprinkled across an otherwise unrelated storyline. The movie struggles to honor the game’s inspiration while telling something new.

Recognizable elements like wendigo audio files or a character mimic Josh’s staged death might stand out. Werewolf sketches and radios echo the game, but still feel forced.

While one might appreciate a “spiritual successor,” it should still echo its namesake. “Until Dawn” isn’t a terrible film, just a disappointing “Until Dawn” film. It misses the game’s urgency and dread, which makes playing both fun and tense.

As it stands, the “Until Dawn” movie feels like a missed opportunity, its random horror elements pieced together without the game’s core thrill, even with Stormare’s presence. It’s an adaptation only in name, diverging too far to capture the game’s true spirit. Ultimately, this adaptation doesn’t do justice to Supermassive’s acclaimed game.