Until Dawn Review:… I Wished It Ended at Midnight

The Until Dawn movie tries to bring the eerie, choice-driven horror of the beloved game to the big screen—but stumbles almost immediately into a pit of clichés, shallow characters, and baffling plot choices. What made the original game so gripping was the sense of agency and tension, both of which are lost here in favor of formulaic jump scares and predictable twists.

The cast, though talented on paper, are wasted on a script that offers little depth or development. Everyone feels like a hollow version of the game’s characters, with motivations and relationships that are rushed or poorly explained. The film leans heavily on nostalgia for fans of the game, but instead of honoring the source material, it treats it like a checklist.

Visually, the movie does have its moments. The snow-covered mountain lodge setting still evokes a creepy vibe, but the horror is undermined by laughable creature effects and some truly strange editing choices. Worst of all, it commits the ultimate horror sin: it’s boring. Tension rarely builds, and when it does, it fizzles out quickly.

Ultimately, Until Dawn fails as both a horror film and a video game adaptation. It lacks the tension, emotion, and impact that made the game a cult classic. This should have been a terrifying thrill ride. Instead, it feels like watching someone else play the game poorly—with the controller unplugged.