JUST BEFORE DAWN [1981]

 

When I popped in the Code Red blu ray of JUST BEFORE DAWN, I had absolutely no expectations of anything but a low-tier "killer in the woods" movie from 1981.  I'd never heard of it and did no prior research before watching the film.  Boy, was I surprised.  This is a terrific backwoods slasher from the golden year of 1981 which should be a lot better known than it is.  Firstly, there's the incredible photography by Joel & Dean King which not only shows off the beautiful scenery of forests, rivers and sky but also clearly and deftly captures the movements of the cast (half the time at night) that leaves no doubt as to what's happening in a scene.  No "I can't see what's going on" here!  Jeff Lieberman (who also gave us the Cerpts favourite 'SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER') directs this film extremely well; I didn't feel like any scene dragged and the film rockets along with no opportunity for boredom.  And much of that can also be put down to a good script (by Lieberman, Jonas Middleton & Mark Arywitz) which provides nicely-written characters as well as an extremely likeable cast which brings those characters nicely to life so that you actually like and care about them.  Another high point for the film is the wonderfully atmospheric synth-score by Brad Fiedel which combines sinister growling low notes combined with uncanny whistling much in the vein of John Cacavas' score for HORROR EXPRESS.

Two bumpkin hunters Ty and Vachel are up in the Oregon mountains goofing around in an abandoned, derelict church when they are confronted by a uni-browed, brawny psycho. Vachel bites the big one and Ty runs for his life.  Meanwhile, a group of five "exciting young people" are heading up to the mountains for some camping; on the way, they encounter forest ranger Roy McLean who warns them not to go up in the woods as if he was a villager in the shadow of Castle Dracula.  Of course, our fivesome ignores the warning and heads on up there.  And eventually some backwoods slasher stuff happens.  That's about all there is to it but it's all in the execution.  Really everyone involved in JUST BEFORE DAWN is firing on all cylinders; from the direction to the writing to the cinematography to the score.  And then there's that cast!  

George Kennedy & Mike Kellin

Bumpkin hunter Ty is played by that great character actor Mike Kellin who is perhaps strongest in my mind for his haunted performance in my favourite hour-long TWILIGHT ZONE episode "THE THIRTY FATHOM GRAVE".  Kellin was also in a ton of other movies & TV shows and he brings a lot to his rather smallish role here. 

Then of course there's George Kennedy as Roy McLean who lovingly talks to his plant as he's grafting a new stem onto it and also carries on conversations with his horse Agatha.  Kennedy also brings a ton of bang for the buck to his supporting role with a kindness and perhaps loneliness that this solitary character calls for.   Kennedy never gives any indication of "slumming" in a bargain basement film and that's appreciated.  The actor made a deal with the producer that, instead of paying to fly him out to Oregon and pay for his hotel bills etc., just give him the money that would've been spent on that so that Kennedy could just drive to Oregon with his family and be able to combine filming with a family camping vacation.  When not required for filming, George Kennedy was camping with his wife and kids.  Good deal! 

L to R: Benson, Lemmon, Seymour, Rose, Henry

The "primary" couple of Constance & Warren are terrifically played by Deborah Benson & Gregg Henry respectively.  There's probably no spoiler in revealing that Constance will be our "final girl" and she has a spectacular final confrontation with the killer.  It is very interesting that Constance, who wore little or no makeup throughout the film, suddenly (when she and Warren are the only one's left alive) applies a TON of make-up to her face.  The best explanation for this great character moment is provided by letterboxd reviewer Claire ❤️ Diane who brilliantly describes this moment as "Putting on make-up like armor".  That's EXACTLY what it feels like!  Gregg Henry portrays Warren as pretty much a useless, snivelling coward and the actor fully commits to making Warren un-heroic.  Our "secondary" couple is Megan & Jonathan also nicely played by Jamie Rose & Chris Lemmon; both bring a likeability and charm to these characters which are meant to play the "wacky/zany" role but manage to do so without becoming tiresome or irritating.  The fifth wheel of the party is Daniel played by Ralph Seymour; the character is a rather introverted shutterbug but Seymour also manages to instill a genuine likeability into the character. 

John Hunsaker as our "threat" is suitably menacing.  Truly the entire cast is remarkably good.  JUST BEFORE DAWN is a thoroughly enjoyable film that deserves a place among the wonderful slashers of 1981 (and beyond).