Film Adaptation of Sony's Horror Success "Until Dawn" Gets a Release Date

Another gaming hit is being turned into a movie: there's finally a specific release date for the eagerly awaited movie adaptation of Sony's horror hit "Until Dawn"!

The horror movie will hit theaters on April 25, 2025. "Until Dawn" was directed by David F. Sandberg. Besides his "Shazam" films, he is known for horror flicks such as "Lights Out" and "Annabelle 2".

"Until Dawn" is about eight friends in a secluded mountain lodge who experience one night of horror - including a mysterious killer, dangerous monsters and a creepy mine. How exactly the film adaptation will stick to the original game is not known yet.

The film was written by Gary Dauberman, who was also responsible for the screenplays of "It" and "The Nun" - so he's a real expert in the genre. With the exception of Peter Stormare, the cast consists mainly of new faces, including Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino and Maia Mitchell. The 2015 game originally featured even bigger names such as Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek.

Filming has just been completed, which means that the first "Until Dawn" movie trailer shouldn't be too long in coming. Of course, you'll be able to watch it on our channel as soon as it drops!

An Overview of the Career of David F. Sandberg

David F. Sandberg is a Swedish filmmaker best known for his work within the horror genre and has gained recognition through his impressive career in both short films and major Hollywood productions. Born on January 21, 1981 in Jönköping, Sweden, Sandberg began his career as a self-taught filmmaker, gaining attention through viral short films before he made it to Hollywood. He is now known for some of the best-known horror movies of recent years as well as work in the superhero genre.

Early Career and Breakthrough with "Lights Out"

David F. Sandberg's first big success came with the short film "Lights Out" from 2013, which he produced together with his wife Lotta Losten. The movie, which is barely over two minutes long, quickly became a viral hit. The suspense and innovative use of light and darkness made the short film a favorite among horror fans and attracted worldwide attention. Sandberg shot the film on a low budget and released it on YouTube, where it received millions of views. "Lights Out" was praised as a prime example of how to create maximum horror with minimal effort.

Thanks to the success of the short film, Hollywood became interested in Sandberg, and New Line Cinema soon offered him the opportunity to turn the short film into a feature-length film. The same-titled feature film "Lights Out" (2016) became Sandberg's debut as a director of a major motion picture. The movie was a huge commercial success and grossed over 148 million dollars worldwide - on a production budget of a mere 5 million dollars. The success of "Lights Out" demonstrated Sandberg's talent for creating suspense and horror in a minimalist but effective way.

"Annabelle 2"

Following the success of "Lights Out", Sandberg was hired by producer James Wan to direct "Annabelle 2" (2017), which is a prequel to the horror film "Annabelle" (2014) and part of the "Conjuring" universe. In "Annabelle 2: Creation", Sandberg was once again able to prove his ability to create suspense and atmospheric horror. The movie received much better reviews than its predecessor and was praised for its dark mood, well thought-out shock moments and solid plot. The movie was also extremely successful commercially, grossing over 300 million dollars worldwide.

With "Annabelle 2", Sandberg finally established himself as one of the up-and-coming stars in the horror genre. He showed that he is capable of being part of a larger movie franchise while still preserving his own creative style.

Venture into the Superhero Genre: "Shazam!"

After his achievements in horror, Sandberg dared to switch genres and took over the direction of the superhero film "Shazam!" (2019), which is part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). "Shazam!" is about the adolescent Billy Batson, who transforms into an adult superhero by saying the word "Shazam". The movie is characterized by its humorous and light tone, which was a distinct deviation from Sandberg's previous works.

"Shazam!" was well received by both critics and audiences. Sandberg showed that he is not only a master of dark horror, but also of humorous and family-friendly entertainment. The film grossed over 366 million dollars worldwide and was praised for its charming and funny approach to the superhero genre.

"Shazam! Fury of the Gods"

After the success of "Shazam!", David F. Sandberg returned for the sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods", which was released in 2023. The sequel continued the adventures of Billy Batson and his superhero family, who had to take on new powerful opponents. However, it was unable to match the success of its predecessor at the box office.

Style and Influences

David F. Sandberg is known for his minimalist approach, which can often be seen in his early horror works. He uses simple but effective means to create suspense and fear, preferring to play with light, shadow and sound design to increase the fear factor. This can be seen in his short films as well as in his feature-length horror flicks such as "Lights Out" and "Annabelle 2".

Sandberg has often stated in interviews that he was influenced by classic horror movies and directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and John Carpenter. His skill at building intense atmosphere and suspense has earned him the respect of horror fans and critics alike.