Secret Until Dawn Movie Easter Egg Exposed: Director’s Hidden Rune Twist

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Warning: Minor SPOILERS lie ahead for Until Dawn!

In the movie “Until Dawn,” there are numerous references to the popular horror video game of the same name, but one Easter egg was intentionally concealed by director David F. Sandberg. The film follows a unique path compared to the Supermassive Games original, suggesting it’s a sequel while incorporating several elements from the game as the narrative revolves around a group of friends who are trapped in a time loop. Throughout the story, they face various dangers, such as the Wendigos from the “Until Dawn” game and Dr. Hill, portrayed by Peter Stormare, who reappears in a sinister role reversal.

As “Until Dawn” hits the big screen, the director, Sandberg, sat down with Bloody Disgusting for an in-depth discussion about the movie’s ties to the game. When questioned about the game’s Butterfly Effect feature and its role in the film, the director disclosed that initially there was a version of the movie featuring a clearer representation of this concept within the film itself. However, they opted for a more subtle approach by inserting “subtle runes scattered throughout the film” to hint at this theme instead. Check out what Sandberg elaborated on below:

In a recurring pattern, each night would reset, offering various options that intertwined. Scattered subtly across the movie were intriguing runes, one of which symbolized dawn or a new day and resembled a butterfly’s wings. We incorporated this motif in various places, such as the witch’s house where you can find the bone-shaped design, and on the pickax, there’s the little rune, to maintain consistency throughout the production.

What The Runes Mean For The Until Dawn Movie

A Twist On A Core Game Mechanic

In the game “Until Dawn,” the Butterfly Effect is significantly impactful, as players encounter decisions that create a chain reaction, or ripple effect. For instance, these choices might involve positioning items for future use in chase scenes, or shaping the destiny of characters. The game’s journal allowed players to revisit key moments and observe where their choices led to divergent outcomes upon multiple playthroughs. This interactive aspect was a major concern among fans regarding how it would be adapted for the film, given its altered narrative.

In Sandberg’s design, using runes might be perceived as an alternate application of a fundamental gameplay aspect from Until Dawn – the Totems. These totems are found throughout the game and categorized into five types: Death, Danger, Loss, Guidance, and Fortune. Similar to the Butterfly Effect, these totems give players a prophetic insight into the consequences of certain decisions, allowing them to possibly prevent character demises and pave the way for future success.

In addition to serving as an Easter egg in the game “Until Dawn,” the locations where Sandberg placed the runes also highlight their role as the game’s equivalent of Totems. For instance, the pickax serves a dual purpose for the main characters, acting as both a savior and a fatal instrument. In one scene, Michael Cimino’s character Max uses it to immobilize a Wendigo during a chase, while in other instances, the masked killers use it to stab and kill several of the main characters at different points. Similarly, the witch’s house sets the stage for the cast to understand the rules of the time loop and learn how to break free from it.

Our Take On Until Dawn’s Rune Easter Egg

One Of Many Interesting Nods To The Game

In contrast to the film deviating significantly from its original content, Until Dawn incorporates several engaging Easter eggs for devoted gamers. Among these are Rami Malek’s patient file for his character Josh and what seems to be a reappearance of the game’s location. However, the runes stand out as particularly intriguing. These serve as a blend of Sandberg’s creative flair and a unique twist on the game’s Butterfly Effect and Totem mechanics, making it one of the most impressive instances where the movie forged its own path while remaining faithful to the game.

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2025-04-27 02:39