Until Dawn (2025) adapts the cult video game into a standalone horror film directed by David F. Sandberg, known for Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. Set to release on April 25, 2025, the movie follows a group of teenagers as they search for a missing sister in a remote valley—and become trapped in a deadly time loop full of shifting horrors.

Plot at a Glance

Clover (Ella Rubin) leads her friends Max (Michael Cimino), Nina (Odessa A’zion), Megan (Ji‑young Yoo), Abe (Belmont Cameli), and Melanie (Maia Mitchell) to Glore Valley to investigate Melanie’s disappearance. They enter the abandoned visitor station and are attacked by a masked killer. Each death resets the night—only this time, the killer changes genre: slasher, supernatural, body horror, even found footage and monster tropes.

Peter Stormare reprises his role as Dr. Alan J. Hill from the game, who manipulates the loop as part of his sinister experiments.

Cast & Crew Details

• Directed by: David F. Sandberg
• Written by: Gary Dauberman & Blair Butler
• Cast:
  • Ella Rubin as Clover
  • Michael Cimino as Max
  • Odessa A’zion as Nina
  • Ji‑young Yoo as Megan
  • Belmont Cameli as Abe
  • Maia Mitchell as Melanie
  • Peter Stormare as Dr. Hill

Cinematographer Maxime Alexandre, composer Benjamin Wallfisch, and editor Michel Aller complete the technical team behind this twisted horror feature.

Themes & Genre Exploration

Until Dawn spans multiple horror subgenres within a single narrative. Each time the loop resets, the viewers face a new kind of nightmare—slasher, paranormal, monstrous—which director Sandberg describes as an opportunity to explore horror in fresh ways within the same story.

The repeating cycle imposes limits: characters face only a limited number of deaths before permanent consequences, heightening tension and eliminating the usual “Groundhog Day” reset safety net.

Reception & Critiques

The film earned nearly $53.6 million worldwide on a $15 million budget. It holds a 53% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting mixed reception, while audiences gave it 67%.

Critics praised its inventive structure and gore effects but criticized its repetitive loop mechanic and thin character development. RogerEbert.com labeled it “slick but soulless,” and Cinema Express rated it 1.5/5 for failing to immerse viewers emotionally.

Forbes and Vocal.Media reviews highlight decent practical effects and premise, but called out pacing issues and repetitive storytelling.

Why Until Dawn Stands Out

While it diverges from the original game’s branching narrative, Until Dawn uses its time loop to offer multiple mini-genre experiences in one film—a bold experiment in horror structure. Its layered threats, combined with a limited number of lives, amplify dread in unexpected ways.

Peter Stormare’s return as Dr. Hill also bridges the adaptation to the game’s mythos, offering fans familiarity amid new characters and storylines.

Watch Until Dawn on YoMovies

If you’re ready for a horror film that pushes the boundaries of slasher, supernatural, and psychological terror all in one terrifying night, Until Dawn is waiting for you. Watch it in HD on YoMovies, and see if you can survive until dawn—only on YoMovies.