Repetitive, Predictable, and Unscary: A Critical Look at Until Dawn (2025)

David F. Sandberg’s latest horror film, Until Dawn (2025), has generated a whirlwind of reactions. Known for his success with Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation, Sandberg seemed an unexpected yet intriguing choice to bring the concept of a time loop to the big screen. Based on the popular video game Until Dawn, the film takes viewers on a terrifying journey where a group of teenagers, trapped in a mysterious mansion, must repeatedly relive the same night—facing death, danger, and monstrous threats with each cycle. While the concept sounds promising, the execution leaves much to be desired. Critics and audiences alike have pointed out that while the premise had potential, the film ultimately loops in all the wrong ways.

The film follows a group of teens who, after a tragic and grisly series of events, find themselves stuck in a time loop, forced to replay the same night over and over again. The only way to break the cycle is to survive the night until dawn, avoiding death at the hands of the malevolent forces that haunt the mansion. In theory, this concept—reminiscent of the iconic Groundhog Day—should provide an interesting opportunity for character development, tension, and thrilling horror moments.

However, it quickly becomes apparent that the movie misses an opportunity to build emotional depth. Instead of allowing the characters to evolve as they learn from their repeated deaths, the film often falls into repetitive patterns, offering little more than a series of violent deaths without much consequence. The stakes, at least emotionally, never feel as high as they should. The constant loop of death and resurrection becomes a tired formula, leaving viewers yearning for something deeper than just jump scares and gore.

Narrative Overload and Lack of Identity

One of the major criticisms of Until Dawn is its overloaded narrative. By attempting to blend multiple horror subgenres—slasher, supernatural, psychological thriller, and even a hint of body horror—Sandberg’s film struggles to define itself. The mixture of horror tropes leads to a cluttered storyline that is unable to focus on what it does best.

Rather than exploring the psychological impact of living through the same traumatic events over and over, Until Dawn tries to juggle too many competing ideas. While the tension and fear of being trapped in a loop could have been explored in fascinating ways, the film ends up simply rehashing the same scenes without adding anything new or significant. The audience is subjected to repetitive, almost mechanical sequences, which take away from any real sense of danger. Rather than feeling like an escalating nightmare, it feels more like a sequence of disconnected events.

Lack of Character Development

In a film where the time loop plays such a central role, one of the most crucial aspects of the plot should be character development. Unfortunately, the characters in Until Dawn feel underdeveloped, and their repeated deaths have little emotional weight. The audience is left with stereotypical portrayals of teenagers—the jock, the shy girl, the rebellious one—but these character types don’t evolve as the film progresses.

The horror genre, particularly one based on a time loop, could be an excellent opportunity for characters to grow, reflect on their choices, and face their fears. Unfortunately, Sandberg doesn’t fully capitalize on this potential. The characters appear to learn little from their numerous deaths, reducing the emotional impact of their eventual fates. This lack of meaningful change makes it difficult for the audience to become truly invested in what happens to them.