
The Until Dawn movie is set to hit theaters in 2025, following the success of other video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Arcane. Recently, the first trailer dropped, offering a fresh take on the iconic horror game. While not a direct adaptation, the film promises a terrifying new story with new characters facing supernatural dangers.
Directed by David F. Sandberg, the movie captures the chilling atmosphere of the game, but with a unique twist. The trailer hints at a gripping narrative with plenty of suspense, featuring teens trapped in a terrifying time loop. Fans of the original game are eager to see how this adaptation measures up.
As we await more details, there’s still much to discover about the cast, plot, and supernatural threats that will keep viewers on edge. With a spine-tingling premise and fresh twists, the Until Dawn movie promises to deliver a horror experience like no other. Stay tuned for more updates as we uncover more surprises along the way.
Until Dawn is set to hit theaters in the United States on Friday, April 25, 2025. The release date is just four months before the 10th anniversary of the original video game.
One year after her sister Melanie's mysterious disappearance, Clover and her friends travel to the remote valley where she vanished. But things go terribly wrong when in an abandoned visitor center, they’re stalked by a masked killer, brutally murdered one by one—and then forced to relive the same night again.
Trapped in a time loop, they face escalating threats, each death leading to a new, terrifying monster. With limited deaths remaining, they realize the only way to escape is to survive until dawn.
The film introduces a time-loop mechanic that heightens psychological tension, blending slasher thrills and existential horror. While the movie will honor the game’s essence, it diverges from the original plot. It centers on Clover’s journey as she and her friends must navigate a new narrative within the Until Dawn universe.
The film’s new direction was confirmed by Ashley Brucks, president of Sony’s Screen Gems, at CES 2025: “It’s a careful balance of trying to identify and incorporate what the fans love about the game and the experience as well as offering something fresh and exciting to entice newcomers.”
Writer & Producer Gary Dauberman said in the film’s first look teaser that, “I thought a lot about how we could continue the story without just giving the audience the same experience they got when playing the game.”
Unlike the game, where choices impact the outcome, the film takes a different approach with a time-loop mechanism similar to Edge of Tomorrow. When a character dies, time resets, and they must survive until dawn to escape. Director David F. Sandberg explained, “Every time they come back to life, it’s like they’re in a new horror genre. To survive, they have to make it until dawn”
Peter Stormare, who reprises his role as Dr. Hill, reassured fans that the adaptation stays true to the game’s spirit. He said (via IGN), "I have been lucky to be part of Until Dawn since the original, incredible, super terrifying game, and that’s why I’m so excited to be part of this film because the whole thing is a love letter to horror.” Stormare said.
He added, “The movie is going to be full of fresh characters and victims in a brand new story loaded with twists, so whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, get ready for Until Dawn as you’ve never seen it before.”
The Until Dawn movie trailer begins with a group of friends trapped in a time loop after heading to the site where Melanie disappeared a year ago. Each death leads to a new monster, including masked killers, a ghostly woman, a Wendigo, and a parasite taking over Clover’s body. The chilling line, “Survive until dawn, or you die again,” sets the stakes.
The trailer hints at fate and hourglass imagery, maintaining a dark, unsettling tone that leaves fans eagerly awaiting the film’s April release.
For those who haven't played the game in a while—or ever—here’s its trailer to help you catch up.
The Until Dawn movie trailer teases an array of terrifying monsters, blending familiar threats from the game with new horrors. Fans will recognize the Psycho, the game’s iconic masked maniac, known for his Saw-like traps and taunts. However, the trailer hints at something even more sinister, possibly a monstrous force designed to keep the characters trapped in the house.
New threats include a witch-like figure crawling over a character and using an oxygen mask, evoking eerie hallucinations tied to the Psycho’s tactics. A mysterious masked killer also emerges, suggesting the characters may face multiple tormentors in their recurring nightmares.
Additionally, a ghostly presence appears, reminiscent of the supernatural visions that haunted the game’s characters, though its exact nature remains unclear. The trailer also introduces fresh horrors like a parasite bursting from a character’s wound, hinting at gruesome transformations and creative deaths.
Fans of the original game will be thrilled to see the Wendigo make its return, stalking prey in the shadows and striking with deadly precision. Together, these creatures promise an unsettling mix of nostalgia and new nightmares for viewers.
The Until Dawn film builds on the legacy of the 2015 interactive horror game, which redefined the genre with its cinematic storytelling, branching narratives, and award-winning success, including a BAFTA Game Award.
While time loops aren’t new to horror, the movie adds its own twist by introducing varied killers and escalating threats with each reset, keeping the plot unpredictable and fresh. Additionally, Peter Stormare’s return as Dr. Hill, a fan-favorite from the game, brings authenticity to the adaptation, leaving fans excited to see how his character shapes the story.
The Until Dawn movie offers a fresh story rather than a direct adaptation, expanding on the game's universe. Director David F. Sandberg confirmed it keeps the horror essence while introducing new twists.
While the game focuses on friends facing a masked killer, Wendigos, and a shocking twist with Josh, the film follows a grieving group caught in a supernatural time loop. The trailer hints at callbacks like the Psycho, a Wendigo, and ghostly figures but doesn’t confirm familiar characters or a narrator.
Fans can expect a suspenseful, standalone story that honors the game while delivering fresh surprises, keeping them guessing who survives the night.
Filming commenced in Budapest on August 5, 2024, with Maxime Alexandre as the cinematographer, and concluded on October 4, 2024.
The upcoming film is directed by David F. Sandberg and the screenplay is written by Gary Dauberman, with an earlier draft by Blair Butler.
The film is brought to life thanks to the collaboration of major studios, including Sony Pictures Releasing, Screen Gems, Vertigo Entertainment, PlayStation Productions, Coin Operated, and Mångata Production.
Gary Dauberman serves as a producer alongside Mia Maniscalco, Lotta Losten, Roy Lee, Asad Qizilbash, and Carter Swan, who represent PlayStation Productions. Together, they ensure the project benefits from a wealth of creative and industry expertise.