Review: 'Until Dawn' is all setup and no scare!

There’s something timeless about a group of teenagers stumbling into the woods and finding more than they bargained for. Until Dawn (2025) tries to breathe new life into that classic horror formula by adapting the much-loved 2015 video game into a full-length film. Directed by David F. Sandberg and written by Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler, this survival horror movie spins an original tale set in the same myth-filled universe as the game. The film promises thrills, mystery, and mythology, but unfortunately, it never quite pulls the viewer into its nightmare.

A Chilling Setup That Melts Too Fast

The movie begins with Clover (played by Ella Rubin), a teenager haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her sister Melanie. One year later, Clover and her group of friends venture into the isolated valley where Melanie vanished, hoping to uncover the truth. What starts as a search mission quickly turns into a bloody horror show as the group is hunted and murdered, only to wake up again at the beginning of their terrifying night.

Yes, they’re trapped in a time loop. With every cycle, the killer changes, becoming more twisted and terrifying than the last. The only way out? Survive until dawn. It’s a clever premise that echoes the likes of Happy Death Day and Edge of Tomorrow, but the execution doesn’t carry the emotional weight or rising tension those films delivered.

Instant Awareness, Zero Immersion

One of the biggest missteps in the film lies in how quickly the characters realize they’re in a time loop. There’s no gradual build-up, no dawning horror. Instead, after dying once, they just know what’s happening. That kind of instant genre-awareness might seem smart on paper, but it completely breaks the illusion. It’s hard to feel scared with the characters when they behave like they’re already aware they’re in a horror movie.

At one point, a character literally compares their experience to a film they saw. These moments feel more like nods to the audience than real reactions. Instead of fear or confusion, the characters come off as overly self-aware, and that robs the story of the emotional punch it desperately needs.

A Horror Cocktail That Doesn’t Mix

The film throws everything at the wall, masked killers, witches, mythological creatures but never commits to any of them. Each element is introduced, teased, and then left hanging. The result is a jumbled mix of genres that never blends into something cohesive. The atmosphere is eerie at times, and there are a few creative kills and twisted visuals, but without a strong emotional core or consistent tone, the horror feels more like background noise than the main event.

Even the time loop mechanic, which should be the spine of the film, starts to feel repetitive and flat. The loop loses urgency when there’s no real progression, and instead of heightening the stakes, each death starts to feel more like a reset button than a consequence.

The Performances

Ella Rubin gives it her all as Clover, trying to inject emotion and depth into a role that brushes against trauma and loss but never really dives in. Clover’s grief over her sister and mother is mentioned, but it’s never explored meaningfully. The screenplay hints at psychological tension, even briefly playing with a Shutter Island-style twist, but again, it’s all surface.

The rest of the cast Michael Cimino, Odessa A'zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, and Maia Mitchell fill their roles competently but are given little room to grow. Peter Stormare’s return as Dr. Hill adds a nice link to the game, but it feels more like fan service than a necessity.

From Console to Camera- A Bumpy Transition

Adapting a game as cinematic as Until Dawn should have been a slam dunk. However, the film stumbles in translating the immersive experience of the original into a movie format. Fans of the 2015 game will remember the tense, fixed camera angles that added to the claustrophobia. The film version opts for a more standard over-the-shoulder perspective, inspired by modern survival horror games, but it ends up feeling more like a third-person shooter without the action.

Visually, there are moments of brilliance. The snowy, isolated setting creates a chilling vibe, and some of the killer designs are genuinely unsettling. But technical issues like jarring cuts, sluggish character movement, and inconsistent pacing work against the atmosphere. Some scenes drag on awkwardly, while others cut off too quickly, robbing the film of both suspense and rhythm.

The Verdict

Until Dawn had the potential to be a standout horror film. The source material is rich with mystery, scares, and emotional complexity. The idea of combining multiple horror genres with a time loop twist is ambitious. Unfortunately, the movie only skims the surface of its best ideas. The writing feels rushed, the characters underdeveloped, and the emotional impact barely registers.

What’s left is a film that flirts with greatness but never delivers. Instead of feeling trapped with the characters, the audience ends up feeling trapped by the film, waiting for it to do something that never quite comes.

Rating- 2.5 stars