Photo credit: venturebeat.com
In 2015, I reviewed the horror game Until Dawn, hailing it as my favorite of the year and praising it as a significant collaboration between Hollywood and the gaming industry. Unfortunately, I cannot express the same enthusiasm for the film adaptation.
The live-action movie Until Dawn is set to be released in theaters on April 25. I had the opportunity to preview it in San Francisco, courtesy of Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions. This film is part of a larger trend this year, where several games are being adapted for the big screen, coinciding with discussions about the intersection of games and cinema at our upcoming GamesBeat Summit 2025, scheduled for May 19-20 in Los Angeles.
For instance, Microsoft’s Minecraft film has already made waves, grossing $726 million in box office sales within just 19 days. Meanwhile, Sony’s adaptation of The Last of Us has thrilled audiences with two exceptional episodes released recently on HBO. However, I worry that the Until Dawn film may not live up to expectations, particularly because it lacks a sense of ambition.
Visually, the film gives the impression of being shot on a backlot.
Directed and produced by David F. Sandberg, known for works like Annabelle: Creation and Lights Out, and written by Gary Dauberman (responsible for It and the Annabelle series), Until Dawn operates within the same universe as the game but introduces new characters and an original storyline.
A year after her sister Melanie’s mysterious disappearance, Clover and her friends venture into the isolated valley where she vanished, seeking answers. As they explore an abandoned visitor center, they are hunted by a masked killer, who gruesomely picks them off one by one, forcing them to relive that same dreadful night repeatedly. Each iteration presents a different threatening scenario, ramping up the terror. They quickly realize their chances of survival are dwindling, and the only path to freedom lies in making it until dawn. This concept echoes the gameplay experience, where players repeatedly tried to safeguard eight teenagers from peril in a haunted setting.
However, there are noticeable signs of budget constraints; reports indicate the film cost around $15 million. The luxurious lodge depicted in the game contrasts sharply with the decaying Welcome Center in the movie’s setting, which has a dark history as a former sanatorium. Furthermore, rather than the eight main characters from the game, the film features only five youths.
Notably absent from the film are the standout voice actors from the game, Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere, whose likenesses and performances were pivotal to the game’s success. While I understand the writers’ intention to create a distinct narrative, the deviations often come across as implausible—such as the inexplicably skewed weather patterns where rain pours everywhere but at the house.
The film does offer a few bright spots, including darkly comedic moments amidst the gore, though I refrained from spoiling specifics. Some characters effectively unravel the mystery of their survival in the film’s premise. Despite my critiques, I hope Until Dawn achieves success for the PlayStation community. Just as Minecraft received mixed reviews yet found an audience, so too can this film. However, I remain disheartened by the adaptation. I encourage fans to revisit the game and strive to ensure that all characters survive the night using the strategies I shared years ago.
Source
venturebeat.com