MOVIE REVIEW: UNTIL DAWN

 

One year after her sister disappeared, Clover and her friends head to the remote valley where she vanished to search for answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they soon encounter a masked killer who murders them one by one. However, when they mysteriously wake up at the beginning of the same night, they're forced to relive the terror over and over again.

Director: David F. Sandberg

Cast: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A'zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Peter Stormare

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Genre: Drama, Horror

Rated R for strong bloody horror violence, gore and language throughout.

Runtime: 1h 43m

Review:

Until Dawn is a fun horror mashup of countless 80's slasher tropes paired with a gorier version of Edge of Tomorrow's rinse and repeat conceit.  Since I'm not personally familiar with the game this film is based on, I can't speak to how this works as an adaptation but as a horror film it has a wickedly fun tone that embraces the bloody carnage on display.  Once the film sets up the general premise, director David F. Sandberg moves the action along at a steady pace by delivering a string of effective jump scares and inventive kills.  A handful of those moments are truly inspired and sure to make old school gore hounds grin with glee as the splatter hits the screen.  There are a few that don't work quite as well but the film moves by them so quickly that it doesn't negatively impact on the overall experience too badly.  The cast of fresh-faced actors is well aware of the kind of film they’re in and lean into their roles with a knowing wink and just have fun with it.  The script is a bit clunky in spots with cast doing their best to deliver convincing reads of slow rolled realizations and revelations.  Ella Rubin makes for a fine lead while the supporting cast is capable even if the script doesn't give them a ton of depth. There isn't much to them and if any of the characters annoy you too much there's the fallback of watching them die multiple times. Odessa A'zion with her raspy voice, green eyes and messy hair leaves the most noticeable impression of ensemble that feels vaguely reminiscent of late 90's slashers like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legend.  Long-time character actor, Peter Stormare feels terribly underutilized here, which feels like a misstep since he could have brought so much more to his role.  Missteps aside, Until Dawn is like cinematic fast food that makes for a bit of a mindless treat for horror fans. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS

 

Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.

Director: David F. Sandberg

Cast: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Grace Caroline Currey, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, Helen Mirren

Release Date: March 17, 2023

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, and language

Runtime:  2h 10m

Review:

David F. Sandberg's original Shazam had a sort of goofy charm captured perfectly by Zachary Levi's performance as the titular superhero.  The follow up still has that energy even though its more frenetic and unfocused than the first go around.  This film is clearly shooting for a more family friendly angle than the majority of the superhero with a lighter tone even with the assortment of action set pieces on display.  Those set pieces are decidedly bigger than the first go around which are fun, but they may turn off people who aren't fans of heavy CGI usage.  Levi is still the focus, but the story does expand a bit to include more of his adopted siblings/superhero team with Grace Caroline Currey and Asher Angel getting the biggest chunks of the spotlight.  Currey and Angel make the most of the opportunity as they flesh out their particular characters.  Sadly, the rest of the ensemble only gets a few passing moments leaving Meagan Good's fun performance  being terribly underutilized.  Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou have fun in their roles with Mirren proving more than capable of bringing back some of that classic Morgana energy from Excalibur.  Rachel Zegler is appropriately wide eyed throughout but her character is thinly written not terribly interesting which doesn't do the film or story any favors.  It doesn't help matters that the film could have used some trimming here and there to make it a more enjoyable experience.  Ultimately, Shazam! Fury of the Gods falls into the cliched sequelitis where everything is bigger and louder but it’s not as effective as the original.  

C+