The Wendigos Are the Main Villains in Until Dawn

While the Psycho killer initially seems to orchestrate sinister events on Blackwood Mountain, the greater danger facing the group throughout Until Dawn comes from the legendary Wendigos that inhabit the region. Players soon discover these supernatural beasts and their human conduit drive the real threat.

Josh Washington Seeks Elaborate Revenge

After his sisters Hannah and Beth disappeared a year prior, Josh falls into severe mental illness exacerbated by survivor‘s guilt. He blames Hannah and Beth‘s deaths on the prank their friends pulled which scared Hannah into running outside.

Consumed by vengeance, Josh decides to traumatize each friend by orchestrating staged deaths with horrific movie-inspired traps and special effects equipment from his family‘s fortune. He records reactions using hidden cameras across his property and elaborate pig, clown, and zombie costumes.

• Josh spends over $10,000 on elaborate staged traps and equipment
• He modifies the mountain estate‘s security system to trigger elements
• Each trap is designed to mimic famous horror movie kill scenes
• Josh plans to ultimately reveal it was a prank meant to punish them

While extreme, Josh acts out of grief and his distorted sense of vengeance comes from misplacing blame for his sisters that drives acute mental health crises. He shockingly shifts from villain to victim as the player unravels the full threat facing the group.

The Wendigos Are ageless, Cannibal Spirits

According to Cree legend, the Wendigo spirit possesses anyone who resorts to cannibalism in desperation on Blackwood Mountain. These skeletal beasts have lived for centuries, passed down through tribes that once dominated the region through the ages. Their curse is bringing the mountain alive with supernatural threats.

• They were once miners and settlers, trapped without food each winter
• Eating human flesh transforms victims into immortal monsters
• The Wendigo spirit drives insatiable hunger for human prey
• They display cunning intelligence in stalking targets across the land

The Wendigo spirit imbues its host with enhanced strength, speed, resilience, and claws capable of shredding flesh. Their scream can induce paralyzing dread through psychic torment. They can mimic human voices to lure victims using loved ones appearances.

Over decades, mountain tribes tried trapping Wendigos in mine collapse and performing rituals to contain them. But enough escaped to pass on their possession, making the region notorious for missing person cases over almost two centuries since.

Hannah Embodies the Wendigo After Eating Beth

While fleeing the killer prank that made her flee her friends 12 hours prior, Hannah falls with Beth over a cliff into an abandoned mining tunnel. Hannah survives injured in the dark cavern but soon discovers her dead twin sister‘s corpse. Out of desperation, she eats Beth‘s flesh.

This fateful decision activates the ancient Wendigo curse, transforming Hannah over months where she lingers near death into a vessel consumed by its insatiable hunger for human flesh.

• Last sighted fleeing an apparent killer deeper into the woods
• Presumed dead after failing to escape over a cliff in a blizzard
• Stranded injured alone in abandoned mines with Beth‘s body
• Resorts to cannibalism of her dead sister‘s remains
• Transforms into the emaciated Wendigo terrorizing her friends

Hannah begins hunting any humans who return to Blackwood Mountain estate, including her brother Josh and former friends. She retains glimmers of recognition toward Mike but tries claiming more victims to feed her endless hunger. She fully descends into the savage Wendigo persona.

The Stranger Works to Stop legend

A retired miner once rescued from the abandoned tunnels himself returned for decades trying vainly to stop the Wendigo possession by destroying them with fire before they create more monsters. He works to contain terror until an ultimate ritual he believes can break the curse. But he needs assistance from kids he encounters over the years in his crusade.

• Originally a miner trapped by collapse forced into cannibalism
• Managed to escape mines testing and perfecting Wendigo elimination
• Returned to mountain for 30 years trying to destroy them
• Guides latest group of teenagers in survival and capture efforts
• Believes Sam holds key to break curse as a pure potential sacrifice

He initially suspects teens caused new disappearances but commits to guide them with his experience combatting Wendigos once he realizes Hannah has transformed and taken Josh. He urges them to trap Hannah so he can perform an obscure ritual before G6 dynamite detonation meant to collapse the mines and finally contain the possession.

Key Antagonists Threatening Group

Conclusion: An Immortal Curse Haunts the Mountain

From delusional, vengeance-obsessed Josh Washington to the age-old Wendigo curse itself, Until Dawn shows friends haunted by threats both human and supernatural in nature. Their survival depends on wits to outlast a savage ritual of possession orchestrating chaos on Blackwood Mountain once again during their fateful winter getaway.