Inspired by the Until Dawn videogame, director David F. Sandberg and writer Gary Dauberman set out to create a thrilling homage to horror. The film’s time loop structure allows for endless creativity, with each night resetting the story into a new horror subgenre. “Every night feels like a new chapter in a different story,” Sandberg explains, reflecting on the excitement of exploring various horror styles.
“For me, Until Dawn was the perfect project,” says Sandberg. “It combines slasher, supernatural, and creature features—it’s several horror films in one. It was a dream to dive into the entire horror toolbox, and every night the story changes.”
In Until Dawn, a group of friends investigates the mysterious disappearance of Melanie (Maia Mitchell) and Clover’s (Ella Rubin) sister, only to be killed off one by one at an abandoned visitor center. Stuck in a time loop, they must survive until dawn to escape.
The film blends genre tropes, letting the creators have fun with shocking character deaths. “It was a blast. We could say, ‘Let’s just kill him,'” says Dauberman.
Fans of the game will find plenty of Until Dawn references in the movie, including hidden Easter eggs. Asad Qizibash, producer and SVP of PlayStation Productions, praises how the film captures the essence of the original game while offering a fresh experience for newcomers.
Catch Until Dawn in Philippine cinemas on Friday, April 25.
