There is a catharsis in this film that can’t be beat – have you ever watched a horror film hoping cast members would die? I have. It’s not right, but this is fiction and if a character rubs me the wrong way, I’d just as soon a machete-wielding Jason would step in and do the honors.
Yeah, but what if you hate all of the characters?
Until Dawn has a solution: kill them again and again and again. I see the appeal on both a very base and “I hate most of this screenplay” level.
Five twentysomethings decide to avoid summer vacation and instead explore the forested region of Godknowswhere, Anystate. They’ve been dragged by Clover (Ella Rubin), who lost her sister Melanie in a tragic foosball accident last year. Seriously, she was last a year ago in these woods and presumed dead. No has heard from Melanie in that time, and her last post on social media traces to a gas station run by Peter Stormare, which should already frighten the piss out of you jerks.
Nevertheless, the twenty-teen-ie-somethings take their cruiser to a mining town called Glore Valley, where there is no longer mining, or a town. They meet a rainstorm which stops abruptly as soon as they hit town limits. The special effects here are kinda cool: there’s a halo of sunny valley surrounded on all sides by dark clouds and rain. The valley appears to be an impermeable environmental bubble. And look, there’s a guest inn. Well, isn’t that nice?
OK, so the inn seems to be completely empty, and dated. Why does the calendar say 1998? And what’s with self-moving sand-dial, or the fact that the guest book is signed over and over again by the same person? Hey, there’s Melanie’s name. She was here. And there’s a room with “MISSING” posters for dozens of people, including Melanie.
And there’s a freak with an axe. Five dead teeny-twenty-somethings. Well, that was fast. Maybe I’ll go see Sinners again.
Wait. What’s this? The five are alive again the next day? But living the same day just to die again? Well, this could be worth my time, especially if they keep dying. What’s the
deal here? They have to survive Until Dawn or end up being part of this dead creepy mining town forever. OK, good luck. Let’s see some blood.
Based on a video game that is probably fun to play, Until Dawn plays like a video game – the characters are distinct in background and appearance, but in dialogue … less. The rules and physics don’t make a lot of sense. The plot doesn’t make any sense; the solution doesn’t make any sense. The setting is real when it’s convenient and supernatural when it’s convenient. And the film hinted at a deterioration of body and mind to go with the constant regeneration of life, but there is precious little evidence of either when it comes right down to it. I kinda like the idea, but the execution lacks. I think the script needed another rewrite or two.
Five nothings stumble upon a ghost town
And endure a nightly beat down
For they can’t go away
Til they survive to the day
And the audience wears a big frown
Rated R, 103 Minutes
Director: David F. Sandberg
Writer: Blair Butler, Gary Dauberman
Genre: Groundhog Day, but with murder
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Horror junkies
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Reality junkies
