When I was invited to a screening of UNTIL DAWN, I was excited to check out a movie I had never heard of until that point. To me, it was new and original sounding! It wasn’t until the film started that I realized it was based on a PlayStation game. So I wasn’t the target demographic, but I was rolling with it, and I’m glad I did. UNTIL DAWN is not a good movie. I could have easily thrown it a 🤮 reaction, written a few sentences, and hit publish. But I reset my expectations and had a lot more fun than I thought I would.
Based on everything I know about video games that rely on moving through a story by solving problems to level up, UNTIL DAWN is cookie-cutter. Like an escape room that resets every time the participants reach a certain point. UNTIL DAWN reminds me of the ESCAPE ROOM movies. If you like those, you’ll enjoy this.
At the story’s center is a time loop in which our 5 main characters are stuck. But unlike films like GROUNDHOG DAY or PALM SPRINGS, the characters in UNTIL DAWN are stuck in a tiny town they can’t leave, and there’s much more horror happening to them and around them. I am unfamiliar with any of the actors in the film; the release company, Sony, eschewed known talent and instead relies on fans of the game to support what I assume is a somewhat low-budget feature (Variety says its budget was $15MM). Longtime character actor, Peter Stormare (FARGO), reprises his role as Dr. Hill from the game.
As each new challenge in the game, I mean movie, is introduced, the over-arching mystery of the film unfolds, and it makes absolutely zero sense. That’s the difference between a game and a movie. Twists like these exist in a video game, allowing players to overcome things and move ahead. When a game is adapted for film or TV well (such as THE LAST OF US), characters and plots are fleshed out to keep audiences immersed in the storytelling. There is none of that here. Time loop > solve a problem > reset > and repeat it. So you’re probably thinking I hated this movie, but I didn’t at all. I jumped, laughed, reset, and did it all over again.
UNTIL DAWN is currently playing in theatres.
