We’re a week away from the wide release ofUntil Dawn, the popular survival video game-turnedhorrormovie, and while reactions to the trailer were mixed, those that saw an early preview of the film last night say it’s in the running to be one of the best genre movies of the year. Directed by David F. Sandberg,Until Dawntells the tale of a group of friends trapped in an endless time loop being murdered over and over again by a different killer each time. The only way to break the cycle is to figure out the mystery, and survive the night.
Following a special screening ofUntil Dawn, reactions to the film on social media have been swift, with horror royalty Barbara Crampton calling it “a good time at the movies.” She adds that the “kills are fantastic,” and that it has “some nice jump scares and surprising moments.” Amy West from GamesRadar+ also shared her thoughtson the video game adaptation, saying that if fans are able to separate it from the source material, then they’re in for a great experience:
“If you’re open to it deviating from the game, you’re in for a great time with Until Dawn. Premise is super fun, with a likeable ensemble cast and tons of surprises, gags, and gnarly gore. Feels like a 2000s horror movie in the best way. I didn’t want it to end.”
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Critic Courtney Howard also had high praise forUntil Dawn, calling it “one of the most delightfully ingenious horror films of the year,” while also adding that it’s “a crowd-pleaser with well-crafted scares, sneaking in some sincerity through the backdoor.” Critic Jeff Ewing went so far as to say that despite the film “playing fast and loose” with the lore established in the video game, it’s still a worthy entry into the horror genre thanks to how much thought went into it:
“I had a BLAST. It plays a little fast and loose with the lore, but so much care is paid to the scares and kills, keeping them fresh and novel. Strong cast performances, slightly nostalgic ‘teens in trouble.'”
‘Until Dawn’ Is the “Horror Movie of the Year”
Thus far, 2025 has delivered a few notable horror movies, withCompanion,The Monkey,Heart Eyes, and Ryan Coogler’sSinnersbeing some that are worth mentioning. When it comes to which one is the “best” of them all? Well, apparently that honor goes toUntil Dawnif you’re Junior Felix fromThat Hashtag Show:
“WOW #UntilDawnmovie is my surprise Horror film of the year. @ponysmasher [Sandberg] takes a video game and turns it into a gloriously bloody and gory film full of combustible scenes and funny moments. The deaths are fresh and the cast have incredible chemistry. This film is so much fun!”
Writer/critic Bill Bria adds that it’s “a meta horror blast,” noting thatUntil Dawnis “chock full o’ creatures, beasties, creepy production design and an ensemble of game actors.” His words, and those of the critics above, have been music to the ears of horror fans everywhere, who are even more excited to see the film now that the word is out about how good it is. You can see for yourself ifUntil Dawnlives up to the hype when it opens nationwide on April 17 from Sony Pictures Releasing.
Until Dawn
