‘Until Dawn’ – Review
Sony PlayStation officially levels up in a big way with the release of Until Dawn, the first feature film under the new banner of PlayStation Productions. The result? A bonkers, blood-slicked rollercoaster of survival horror madness that’s part haunted house, part slasher freak-out, and all adrenaline-pumping fun. If this is the shape of things to come, horror fans and gamers alike are in for a twisted treat.
One year after her sister disappeared, Clover and her friends head to the remote valley of Glore Valley where she vanished to search for answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they soon encounter a masked killer who murders them one by one. However, when they mysteriously wake up at the beginning of the same night, they’re forced to relive the terror over and over again.
At the helm is David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation), and he’s like a mad scientist behind the lens, fusing classic horror tropes with video game-style storytelling to gnarly effect. With Until Dawn, Sandberg channels the player’s chaotic energy into pure cinematic chaos, grounding the story in the eerie, brunt out ghost town of Glore Valley — a place soaked in shadows and crawling with secrets. Time loops? Check. Jump scares? Hell yes. Brutal, body-crunching violence? You’d better believe it. It’s all here, and it’s a gnarly watch!
What makes Until Dawn such a delight for genre fans is its unpredictable energy. Just when you think you’ve figured out the rules, the film resets the board and tosses you into a whole new level of terror. It’s got that “choose-your-own-adventure” spirit baked into the bones of its narrative, and Sandberg isn’t afraid to play dirty. One moment you’re holding your breath in suspense, the next you’re laughing out loud at some gory slapstick gag that hits harder than it should. This thing is twisted in the best way.
Front and center is Ella Rubin as Clover, our reluctant heroine, and she’s a brilliant subversion of the Final Girl archetype. No passive victim here; Clover is over the BS, pissed off, and ready to take an axe to the supernatural hellscape she finds herself trapped in. Rubin brings grit, charm, and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude that makes her impossible not to root for.
But let’s talk about the man, the legend, Peter Stormare. Returning as the deeply unsettling Dr. Hill, Stormare slides back into the role like a ghost from the console, and every time he’s on screen, it’s a full-on event. Cryptic, creepy, and just a little too into your trauma, Dr. Hill is the film’s secret weapon, and Stormare devours the screen with every scene he’s in.
Until Dawn feels like a love letter to the horror films of the late ’90s and early 2000s — a time when horror was fun, freaky, and full of attitude. There’s a nostalgic charm to its ghostly vibes, grisly kills, and twisty storytelling. Think Scream meets The Evil Dead with a PlayStation controller jammed in the mix.
In short? Until Dawn absolutely delivers. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the game or just here for the thrills, this is one hell of a night at the movies. It’s creepy, creative, and chaotic in all the right ways. Welcome to Glore Valley. Good luck making it out.
Image: Sony Pictures
