Just Before Dawn (1981)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jeff Lieberman

Writers:

Mark Arywitz (writer)
Jeff Lieberman (writer)

Release Date:

March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Will Anyone Survive Those Hours Just Before Dawn?

Plot:

Five campers arrive in the mountains to examine some property they have bought, but are warned by the...

Plot Keywords:

Forest | Mountain | Teenkill | Nudity | Transformation

Cast

George Kennedy	...	Roy McLean
Mike Kellin	...	Ty
Chris Lemmon	...	Jonathan
Gregg Henry	...	Warren
Deborah Benson	...	Constance
Ralph Seymour	...	Daniel
Katie Powell	...	Merry Cat Logan (as Kati Powell)
John Hunsaker	...	Mountain Twins
Charles Bartlett	...	Vachel
Jamie Rose	...	Megan
Hap Oslund	...	Pa Logan
Barbara Spencer	...	Ma Logan

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1982) | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity, Oregon, USA

Company:

Oakland Productions

Trivia:

Despite its authentic, weathered appearance the 'old' church house used in the film was actually built for the production.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Woods Have Eyes (2007)

Soundtrack:

Heart Of Glass

Slick backwoods horror, much sharper than your typical slasher!

1981's Just Before Dawn is one of the best tales of wilderness horror out there. It's one of the finest-made slashers of the 80's and it easily blows movies like The Final Terror, Don't Go in the Woods, or The Prey out of the water.

A group of young adults come to check out the mountain property that one of the group has just bought. However they are not alone in the wild. A hulking in-bred murderer, who seems to be in two places at once, is lurking and apparently hates trespassers.

Director Lieberman, who gave us such great B films as Squirm (1976) and Blue Sunshine (1977), does an excellent job with this smart thriller as well. The movie is nicely atmospheric, with a creeping sense of tension and some strong suspense. This film makes even the open wilderness seem frighteningly claustrophobic. The Oregon locations are beautiful and well captured by the crafty cinematography. The music score is a true original and awesome in contrast with the scenic visuals.

Deborah Benson makes for a great lead, her presence was captivating. Gregg Henry delivers a good performance as Benson's lover and Chris Lemon provides some occasional charisma. The supporting cast, especially veteran actor Kennedy, also does quite well.

A true gem of the slasher genre, that needs no gore to thrill. Definitely well worth seeking out for slasher fans and horror buffs alike. See it!

*** 1/2 out of ****