David F. Samburg might be the most underrated film director of my generation. Since he burst into the scene with his first indie movie “Lights Out,” he has been quietly contributing great genre films that have gone under the radar. He has directed one of the better ‘Conjuring’ universe films, “Annabelle: Creation,” made arguably the most fun comic book movie since “Kick-Ass” -  DC Comic’s “Shazam!,” and now he’s landed another job directing Sony’s video game adaptation “Until Dawn.” It is my opinion that this film is underrated, unique, and most likely a cult favorite type movie. 

Although I knew it would be entertaining because David F. Samburg was directing, doesn’t make it a good movie. Far from it. In fact, the game itself was a homage to the horror genre to the likes of “Scream,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Nothing about the games setting screamed originality but instead relying on tropes that you have seen from horror films. So making a horror movie based on a horror game that is based on other horror movies is truly the creativity snake eating its tail.  

However, the movie does retain some game like qualities. For example the plot revolves around the mechanic of ALL the characters having to survive the night (or Until Dawn, ugh). If even one of them dies, they all die and the night starts all over. It feels a bit like playing a survival horror video game, where when you die you reload your save and then hope you make better choices. But this mechanic, although interesting at first, makes everything not matter. No death is significant, no stake matters, because they’ll die and start again. Even the characters are aware of this. So what is the point then of them getting chased, or murdered, or hiding? It’s fun to watch all the various death scenes, a fun highlight of the genre for sure, but at what cost to the story? If the flesh sacks are just gonna rise again like Jesus after a brutal murder, what’s the point? There is nothing to care about or invest in. 

In the game, the player is tasked at navigating their friends through various scenarios, with the idea of them hopefully staying alive based on your choices. The game allows you to sort of “choose your own adventure” and based on your choices, the game plays out with some brutal consequences. I always thought that the choice system was what made “Until Dawn” a creepy game. You can basically choose who to murder and how. Kind of giving the player the power fantasy of playing god which gives the game this sort of voyerism of watching your friends die and enjoying how they come to their end. While watching this movie, it seemed to make the severe missed opportunity to go the Netflix “Black Mirror: Bandersnstch” route. Henceforth, giving subscribers the choose your own adventure movie experience for those who didn’t play the game and as a result still achieve that voyeristic experience of sending characters to their deaths. 

Henceforth - good luck encoporating that into a work email. I challenge you. 

One of the more interesting aspects of “Until Dawn” the movie (gotta clarify which one now) is when the characters review footage that one of them shot on their cellphone. At this point the film essentially changes horror genres from a haunted house type film to a found  footage type movie albeit briefly. The film becomes more impactful as the camera shifts perspectives from third person to first person, making the film way more effective, scary, and fun. It feels like walking through a haunted house in real time, helping the audience to feel as if they are in the film themselves. I am glad this portion of the film is not that long as handy-cam footage films are quite nauseating but at the same time, it’s a nice touch and the movie is better served for it. 

The good news is that the movie is scary at times. Although the film wholeheartedly relies on jump scares, a few of them you will legitimately not see coming, with some not happening when you think they are going to. This shows remarkable restraint and craftsmanship on the part of David F. Samburg, for choosing and creating good scares despite the inflated genre trappings and tropes. Do I think that “Until Dawn” is a good game to movie adaptation? Or even a good movie? Heavens no! But it shines in places you wouldn’t expect. it’s a fun ride made with practical affects. It’s like going through a haunted house at a theme park. You’ve been through it before, but it’s forgettable fun anyways.