Until Dawn Review – A Stylish Yet Toothless Horror Game Adaptation - Review

Ella Rubin faces supernatural terror in the video game-inspired horror film Until Dawn.

Until Dawn – Great Vibes, Thin Scares for the Latest Video Game Adaptation

By now, most of you have either heard about or already caught a glimpse of Until Dawn, the new video game adaptation directed by David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Shazam!). A highly anticipated entry for horror fans this quarter, it aimed to show how narrative-driven horror games could finally bridge the gap between consoles and cinema. Sadly, despite some bright spots, it still leaves something to be desired.

Until Dawn follows Clover (Ella Rubin), a young woman who ventures out with her friends to find her missing sister, Melanie, only to become trapped in a deadly time loop. Alongside a cameo from Peter Stormare (a big nod to fans of the original game), the group must navigate supernatural forces, figure out a series of puzzles, and survive the night—or risk looping their deaths over and over again.

In a lot of ways, Until Dawn nails the video game experience: the branching narrative feel, the constant sense of decision-making, the puzzle-solving tension. Sandberg and his team clearly respect the source material, keeping the haunted woods vibe alive and making sure players-turned-viewers feel the echoes of their PlayStation memories. It even draws tonal comparisons to Happy Death Day, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and even Black Christmas, mixing teen horror with a supernatural time-twist.

But here’s the thing: while Until Dawn is slick, well-acted, and visually strong, it just isn’t scary. The film teases dread at every corner—like a haunted house where you keep expecting a jump scare that never comes. It’s missing the anxiety, the tension, and the gut-punch horror that elevated the original game experience.

The young cast brings plenty of energy, and the movie looks and sounds fantastic. But the scares feel like an afterthought. Without real terror, the movie leans too hard on nostalgia and gamer goodwill, leaving general horror audiences wanting more. You’ll recognize the tropes, you’ll enjoy the ride to a point, but by the end, you’ll realize it never took the risks it needed to make an impact.

Until Dawn isn’t a disaster—it’s competently made and even fun at times—but it’s the kind of film you expect to hit streaming pretty quickly, where it might find a more forgiving audience. For a title based on one of the most beloved horror games of its generation, we just hoped it would hit a little harder.

Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Worth a watch for fans of the game or narrative horror, but it won’t keep you up at night.