Screen Gems, PlayStation Productions and Vertigo Entertainment’s Until Dawn (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; A) is a survival horror drama based on the 2015 video game, Until Dawn. It is set in the same universe as the game and features an original stand-alone story.
One year after her sister, Melanie (Maia Mitchell), disappeared mysteriously, Clover (Ella Rubin) and her friends — Max (Michael Cimino), Nina (Odessa A’zion), Megan (Ji-young Yoo) and Abel (Belmont Cameli) — head into the remote valley where she disappeared. They find themselves horrifically murdered, but alive again after some time and back at the beginning. Trapped in an endless time loop, all five of them are forced to die again and again in absolutely horrendous ways. They realise that their only way to escape is to survive until dawn and not be murdered.
Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman have written a story based on the Until Dawn video game, which is quite different from many other horror stories because of the time loop angle. Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler’s screenplay is pretty engaging and also sends chills down the audience’s spines. There are a number of scenes in which the viewers would shout, scream and shriek in horror. The thrill quotient is pretty high. Having said that, it must be added that the time loop angle may not be understood by a large section of the Hindi film-going audience.
Ella Rubin does a fine job as Clover. Michael Cimino is quite good as Max. Odessa A’zion makes her mark as Nina. Ji-young Yoo performs ably in the role of Megan. Belmont Cameli does a fair job as Abel. Maia Mitchell lends reasonable support as Melanie. Peter Stormare is wonderful as Hill.
David F. Sandberg’s direction is very nice. The narration keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Benjamin Wallfisch’s background music elevates the impact of the horror drama manifold. Maxime Alexandre’s cinematography is excellent. Michel Aller’s editing is sharp. Dubbing is excellent.
On the whole, Until Dawn is a terrifying horror drama and has the potential to do well among the classes, but lack of face value and very dull promotion will come in the way of realisation of its full box-office potential. In fact, so poor is the awareness about the film that it may go largely unnoticed despite some merits.
Released on 25-4-’25 at Maratha Mandir (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Sony Pictures Films India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was very dull everywhere. The original English version has also opened simultaneously.
