Is this movie a direct sequel to the game?

No, it's a reimagining. It uses the same setting and some similar character archetypes, but the 'time loop' plot is a new addition specifically for the film.

How much gore is actually in it?

A lot. It’s a slasher movie where characters are 'horrifically murdered' multiple times. Expect blood, stabbings, and some fairly graphic practical effects.

Can I watch this with my 13-year-old if they like 'Stranger Things'?

Probably not. Stranger Things is more about adventure and '80s nostalgia; this is a pure slasher. The intensity and the focus on gruesome deaths make it a much 'harder' watch.

Does it have the same 'twist' as the game?

It keeps the core mystery of the valley, but the way it unfolds is different because of the time-loop mechanic. Fans of the game will recognize the 'vibes,' but the specific plot beats have been shuffled.

Until Dawn – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Until Dawn

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2025

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A time-loop slasher that swaps the game's famous 'butterfly effect' for a repetitive cycle of creative, bloody ends.

51%

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Until Dawn

movie

R, 2025

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A time-loop slasher that swaps the game's famous 'butterfly effect' for a repetitive cycle of creative, bloody ends.

51%

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Screenwise Verdict

Until Dawn (2025) is a middling adaptation that tries to fix the 'non-interactive' problem of a movie version by adding a time loop. It doesn't quite stick the landing. If you loved the game for its atmosphere and the 'butterfly effect,' you might find this version a bit hollow.

It’s a functional Friday night slasher for horror fans, but the low critic scores (51% on Rotten Tomatoes) are a fair warning: it’s more of a 'background noise' movie than a new genre classic. It’s safe to skip unless your teen is a die-hard horror buff who has already seen the better entries in the genre.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 16+ crowd. Between the slasher gore and the psychological weight of a 'death loop,' it’s way too intense for middle schoolers or anyone sensitive to repetitive violence.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a slasher movie centered on a 'horrific murder' loop. While there's a thread of friendship and sibling loyalty, the primary engine is creative ways to die.

Imaginative

The time-loop twist adds a layer of mystery beyond the source material's straightforward survival horror, but it ultimately leans on established 'Groundhog Day' tropes.

Safe

High levels of gore, intense jump scares, and a pervasive sense of dread. It’s a horror movie through and through, intended for mature audiences.

Enriching

Offers some light exploration of grief and 'what if' scenarios, but it's mostly popcorn horror designed for thrills rather than ethical or personal growth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Time-loop mechanics keep the standard slasher structure from feeling too linear by resetting the stakes every time a character dies.
Nostalgia factor for fans of the 2015 PlayStation classic, though it takes significant liberties with the plot.
Gore effects are high-quality, appealing to 'creature feature' and practical effects enthusiasts.
Netflix accessibility makes it an easy choice for a low-stakes horror movie night.

⚠

What to Watch For

The movie is significantly more graphic than the game, focusing heavily on the 'horrific murder' aspect of the loop.
A 15-minute sequence in the abandoned visitor center features sustained psychological terror and jump scares that might be too much for younger teens.
The 'reset' mechanic means you see the same characters die multiple times in increasingly gruesome ways, which can feel mean-spirited to some viewers.

Conversation Starters

"If you could reset the night every time you made a mistake, would you actually become more brave or just more reckless?"
"Why do you think Clover is so obsessed with finding the truth about her sister, even when things clearly turn supernatural?"
"How does the movie handle the 'rules' of the time loop—did they make sense or were they just a plot device?"
"In the original game, the player's choices mattered. Does watching a movie where the characters make the wrong choices feel frustrating?"

Deep Dive

From Quick-Time Events to Time Loops

The 2015 Until Dawn game was a masterpiece of 'playable cinema' because it made you feel the weight of every twitchy thumb movement. The 2025 movie adaptation faces the classic struggle: how do you make a choice-based story interesting when the audience has no choice? The filmmakers' answer was to turn it into a slasher version of Happy Death Day.

While the time-loop mechanic is a clever way to nod to the game's multiple endings, in practice, it just means we get to see the cast get slaughtered in a variety of ways before the 'real' plot kicks in. Clover, our protagonist, is a decent enough anchor, but the supporting cast often feels like fodder for the masked killer.

The Horror Factor

If your kid is asking to watch this because they saw a streamer play the game years ago, be aware that the movie leans much harder into the 'slasher' side of things. The game had a supernatural, folklore-heavy mystery; the movie stays firmly in the 'masked killer in the woods' lane for a long time. The gore is frequent and detailed. We aren't talking about cartoonish violence here—it's visceral, Netflix-budget practical effects that earn that 16+ rating.

Is it worth the watch?

Realistically, this is a 5.7/10 experience. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not Scream or Talk to Me. It’s a 'watch it because it's there' title. If you’re looking for a horror movie that actually has something to say about fate or choice, you’re better off looking elsewhere. But if your teen is looking for a well-produced, slightly repetitive slasher to watch with friends, it hits that specific, mediocre mark.

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