An adaptation does not need to be 100% faithful to be good. The Wizard Of Oz, for example, changes quite a bit from the original novel, but it captures the spirit and fantastical elements. The same can be said for the best video game-to-movie entry, Silent Hill. On the flip side, the live-action Super Mario Bros. made so many changes it doesn’t resemble the source at all while also being absolutely terrible on its own accord. With that in mind, let’s get this out of the way now: director David F. Sandberg’s Until Dawn, written by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, based on the Supermassive game of the same name, is not very faithful. But does it still work on its own terms, or is this horror film dead on arrival?
Clover (Ella Rubin) and her friends are on the final leg of their road trip. Max (Michael Cimino), Megan (Ji-young Yoo), Nina (Odessa A’zion), and her beau Abe (Belmont Cameli) hope this journey brings the Clover they all know and love back to them. Clover is hoping to find her missing sister, Mel (Maia Mitchell), who went away just weeks after their mom died. During a huge rainstorm, the group finds themselves trapped in the Glore Valley Welcome Center. That same night, they are all killed by a masked psycho. But then Clover, Max, Megan, Nina, and Abe find themselves back at the start of the night. Unfortunately, they only retained fragments of what happened but vividly remember dying. Even worse is that the second time, something else is murdering them. Why are the friends dying, and why are they coming back to relive the night over and over again?
“…they are all killed by a masked psycho. But then Clover, Max, Megan, Nina, and Abe find themselves back at the start of the night.”
Until Dawn is the worst-acted horror film since Blumhouse’s ill-fated Truth Or Dare, aside from Peter Stormare reprising his game role as the creepy Dr. Hill, no one gives anything resembling a good performance. Clover’s search for her sister should have some weight to it, but Rubin is wooden throughout, rendering that aspect moot. Cimino isn’t able to overcome the one-note writing for his role; therefore, he also comes across as bland. A’zion is clearly trying but is often too over the top to be believable, while Camelli is a blank slate from beginning to end. But the worst performance belongs to Yoo, who represents a new low in horror scream queen acting. If this was some indie production, her monotonous delivery and lack of chemistry with her co-stars could be chalked up to limited resources, etc. But, this is a big budget outing and has no excuse. Yoo’s portrayal of being possessed would be so bad it is funny if it weren’t so sad.
But a horror film is really only as good as its atmosphere and kills. In that regard, the film does not disappoint. There are stabbings, maulings, choppings, and so much more, murder-wise, and it all looks great. The viscera is off the charts, and most of it is practical. If one is a gorehound, then this is a fantastic watch, as every few minutes after the setup, someone is being killed in a new and gnarly way.
While Stormare gives the only good performance and the plot has as much to do with the game as much as a stuffed animal relates to stuffed peppers, there are good things in Until Dawn. The score is excellent and amps up the tension. Sandberg creates a creepy atmosphere, even if he doesn’t take full advantage of every new night/kill. Overall, the film will please horror buffs, but casual fans or game purists should look elsewhere.
"…will please horror buffs, but casual fans or game purists should look elsewhere."
