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| Images Courtesy of Screen Gems |
Video game
adaptations are for the most part doomed. With a few notable exceptions (Silent
Hill, Minecraft) most of the films in this genre are uninspired cash
grabs. David F. Sandberg's flawed, but inspired take on the critically
acclaimed horror game Until Dawn is such a rarity. Using a fresh
approach to a genre that has been done to death the final yield is an inventive
slasher that overcomes its prevalent flaws with creative production design and
loving homages, not just to the source material, but to the many horror films
that preceded it.
Clover and four of her friends are retracing her missing sister Melanie's last
steps, which ultimately finds them trapped in a strange Welcome Center in Glore
Valley, an accursed mining town. As night falls, the quintet are stalked by a
masked killer, however, as the body count begins to rise, something far more
sinister is revealed. Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler's script is the
greatest weakness. The characters are almost zero dimensional lacking any real
depth or audience connection. Despite this, cult character actor Peter
Stormare steals his handful of scenes with ease, chewing the scenery with a
vicious panache. The rest of the cast is passable, with Odessa
A'zion (Hellraiser, Fresh Kills) being the standout.
Maxime Alexandre's cinematography feels like a video game, and this is both a blessing and a curse. The shots of the meticulously crafted Welcome Center are crisp and claustrophobic, yet when the chaos begins, the darkness can often become overwhelming, and when combined with Michael Aller's rapid fire editing, the action is difficult to follow. However, the amount of detail in Jennifer Spence's production design is the unsung hero, conjuring memories of the video game while also adding to the mythology. Every set has personality and a history that sadly is not explored enough, as the narrative is eager to get to the next murder.
If there is a partner in crime it is the kill sequences, with a laugh out loud moment in a bathroom that is both repulsive and slapstick, and comparisons to Cabin in the Woods are unavoidable, and most likely welcomed. This is a horror film without big ideas, it is simply telling a story for fans of the game without making itself a big deal and this notion only enhances its charm.
Now playing in theaters and coming soon to digital on demand, Until Dawn does not reinvent anything, but it is a solid horror entry with over-the-top gory kills and a large amount of heart. While it cannot fully overcome its flawed characters and paper-thin plot, it ultimately succeeds at simply being a fun time at the cinema.
--Kyle
Jonathan