The following contains spoilers for Until Dawn, now playing in theatersUntil Dawn‘s ending is a surprisingly sweet finale for the film’s characters, but also teases how the game of the same name is connected to the film’s narrative. Based on the Supermᴀssive Games тιтle of the same name, Until Dawn follows a group of teenagers in a remote location as they contend with monstrous creatures like the Wendigo. The movie makes some major changes from the original, introducing new characters, supernatural elements, and mᴀssive lore changes to the universe.

However, the film also does find some novel ways to connect itself to the game that inspired it. In fact, one early cameo from a major actor in the game turns out to be a much more fleshed-out connection that lays the groundwork for cinematic follow-ups to the horror movie. Here’s how the ending of Until Dawn compares to the videogame that inspired it, and how the film’s final moments directly connect the two.

Is Dr. Hill Really ᴅᴇᴀᴅ In Until Dawn?

Dr. Hill Might Be More Mysterious Than Anyone Ever Suspected

One of the most mysterious elements of Until Dawn is the role of Dr. Hill and his apparent connection to the cycle of death that the protagonists end up trapped within. Initially introduced as a helpful figure at a local gas station, Dr. Hill turns out to be obsessed with the research of horror and the impact it can have on people. While Hill observes the group from afar, he offers commentary and even some tips on escaping the house. However, he’s still portrayed as an antagonistic force, rather than the more morally ambiguous role he had in the game.

This is what makes his apparent death at the hands of Clover all the more satisfying, as he becomes a victim of the exploding water. However, Until Dawn doesn’t necessarily suggest that Dr. Hill is gone for good. It’s entirely possible that he’s now a part of the death cycle and will be revived until he can escape the house. It’s also possible he may even be more directly connected to the supernatural elements than it initially appears, in which case the film’s connection to the original game in the film’s final moments is all the more harrowing.

How The Snowy Cabin On Dr. Hill’s Cameras Connects To The Game

The Movie’s Final Moments Suggest The Movie And Game Share A Universe

In Dr. Hill’s office are a number of camera feeds, revealing how he could watch the carnage that happened across the course of the film from afar. The final moments of Until Dawn have the cameras shift to a new setting, a snowy cabin in the mountains. This appears to be a direct reference to the Until Dawn videogame, which took place in that setting. This suggests that the cabin will become the next target of Hill’s experiments and analysis, making the film a direct prequel to the game.

It’s an interesting idea, as it also throws some new wrinkles into the game’s story. Besides some character names and a missing sister who turns out to have become a wendigo, the film and the game versions of Until Dawn are largely different stories. Dr. Hill appeared in that game as a framing device character speaking to the audience, as well as the in-universe psychiatrist to one of the characters, Josh. Still reeling from the apparent deaths of his sisters, Josh also hallucinates visions of Dr. Hill throughout the game narrative.

The film’s suggestion that Dr. Hill is somewhat supernatural adds a new dark layer to that reveal from the game, as it suggests Hill might not have just been a figment of Josh’s mind. In a similar way, Hill could have been merely appearing in front of Clover, which wouldn’t even be the only attack on perception that’s carried out in the film. The fact that Hill discusses the player’s fears during Until Dawn, coupled with revelations about his obsession with its effects, also pushes Hill against the 4th wall in an interesting way.

Are Until Dawn’s Characters Free From The Death Cycle For Good?

At the end of Until Dawn, all five members of the group — Clover, Max, Nina, Megan, and Abel — are able to escape the loop by surviving the night and making it until dawn. After barely evading the wendigos, breaking free from Dr. Hill, and escaping the masked killers in the collapsed town hiding underground, the five make it to their car and drive off. This suggests that the five have indeed done what no one else before them has and escaped the death cycle.

The interesting thing about the death cycle in Until Dawn is that it didn’t really exist in the game that inspired the film. Until Dawn, being a videogame means players can easily undo lethal events and redo certain actions, resulting in some characters suffering from a lot of deaths during a playthrough. As such, there’s no further lore attached to the death clock, as it was intended as a means of adapting the natural game mechanic of respawning. It’s a creative idea, but there’s no indication that the teens in the movie are still trapped in the death cycle.

How Until Dawn’s Ending Compares To The Video Games

The Until Dawn Film Ending Lines Up With The Best Ending From The Game

Part of the appeal of the Until Dawn game is that it’s very much a choose-your-own-adventure approach to interactive narratives. The player’s choices impact the plot, with the game’s “ʙuттerfly Effect” allowing for many possible endings. The happiest ending of the game is very similar to the climax of the movie, with the entire cast of endangered teens escaping the wendigos that are chasing after them. However, the flexible nature of the game plot means that in some playthroughs, only a few characters will actually escape.

In others, none of the teens can survive the storyline. However, the game ending does has two big changes from the movie. The videogame, regardless of the survivors, brings the police to investigate the apparent mayhem at the ski lodge. By contrast, the death cycle that the main characters of the movie experience doesn’t seem to attract any external attention. There’s also the presence of Hill in the film, who is a far more villainous figure than in the game and who is suggested to still be around in the aftermath of the story.

How Until Dawn Sets Up A Sequel

Until Dawn 2 Could Be A Direct Adaptation Of The Original Game

Until Dawn‘s main plot about Clover and her friends is fairly resolved by the end of the film, with the group fully united as they depart from the house. This suggests there really isn’t much cause to revisit them, unless more lore is revealed about the death cycle and how far it goes. While the cast were all entertaining in their roles, their arcs within the film and their personal growth as a group feel fulfilled by the conclusion of the narrative.

However, Until Dawn‘s entire set-up and final moments lay the groundwork for all sorts of sequels or prequels. It’d be easy to revisit any of the previous victims of the death cycle, which could explain the full origins of the masked killer, the decrepit witch, or the wendigos. Expansions of the franchise could delve further into the lore, offering a better explanation for what the mysterious giants in the rain are. The tease about the snowy cabin could also set the stage for a more direct adaptation of the original game, which could incorporate the death cycle.

The Real Meaning Of Until Dawn

The Power Of Friendship Is Strong Enough To Beat Horror Tropes

Until Dawn is a love letter to the horror genre as a whole, with the death cycle allowing the filmmakers to indulge in several different types of horror tropes and iconic archetypes. However, at the core of the story (in the game and the film) is an undercurrent of the importance of friendship. In the game, the characters often must rely on one another to escape dangerous situations or make it out alive. This is similar to the film, where Clover’s refusal to escape the loop if one of the five is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ showcases a deep sense of loyalty.

Despite the flaws and selfish moments of the characters, they ultimately refuse to turn on one another and work together. Because of that, they’re actually able to escape the death cycle with their souls intact. It’s a surprisingly sweet message amid all the gore and violence of the film, with the happy ending for Clover and her friends ensuring Until Dawn doesn’t end on too bleak of a note, even as it teases that the full horror of this world isn’t done yet.