Until Dawn movie review: David F Sandberg film loops in all the wrong ways

The basic storyline is that Clover (Rubin) and her friends are retracing a journey taken by her sister before she went missing the previous year. It’s a pleasant enough group, including Clover’s ex-boyfriend Max (Cimino), and their close pals Megan (Yoo) and Nina (A’zion). Poor Abe (Cameli) finds himself on this trip as he just hooked up with Nina, and only realises what he has signed up for just before their journey into hell begins.

You should ordinarily not mind spending 90-odd minutes with these all-American youngsters who, as the case is in films, have no one asking after them when they go missing. But these are not ordinary times, and director Sandberg wants to make sure you don’t forget that. There is no effort to establish any dynamics between the group, there is barely any tension but undying loyalty, and no one turns on Clover even briefly when they realise she may have led them to not just death but multiple ones. Abe attracts a shitload of outrage for even suggesting that they take what seem to be some sensible ways out of this vicious circle.

However, what would horror films be if people acted sensibly? So, Clover and company keep chasing noises, descending dark basements, walking into tunnels, and going down pathways only stupidly heroic.

There is a shot at an explanation of why this disaster has struck the five, by the horribly out-of-depth Stormare, playing Dr Hill. But you would do well not to be disappointed. After all, what would horror films be if they started seeking sense?

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But, one can still take offense at the Pysch Major’s shot at explaining why the house and grounds they find themselves in are bone dry as a storm rages just feet away. He says it is a phenomenon called Waterwall. It is wrong, and unnecessary.

Quite like Until Dawn. Unnecessary.

Until Dawn movie director: David F Sandberg
Until Dawn movie cast: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-Young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Peter Stormare
Until Dawn movie rating: 1.5 stars