Until Dawn plays out as a passable slice of horror that’s buoyed by just enough intriguing story elements. Unfortunately, though, it's bogged down by a laundry list of clichés - beginning with the trope-heavy cast of teens we’re meant to root for. Let’s just say the character development barely scratches the surface, offering only the most basic details and thus making it tough to connect with anyone—let alone care whether they live or die. That said, the film does manage to (mostly) deliver on the scare front. If you’re in the mood for a few jump scares and some gnarly gore, Until Dawn surely delivers the goods. The problem is, there’s not much variety to the horror—it leans hard on the same beats as the picture rolls on. And yes, it is based on a video game. And yes, the film does include some familiar nods to the source material. Fans of the original IP might appreciate the riffs, even if they’re not exactly ground-breaking on the big screen. But while the "Groundhog Day"- horror style premise offers some potential and a nice ticking-clock tension, but the story never quite pushes far enough to distinguish itself in an already overcrowded genre. In the end, Until Dawn doesn't do much to stand out, but if you’re just here for a few cheap thrills and familiar horror comfort food, you could certainly do worse – a lot worse.