Just Before Dawn (1981)
Directed by Jeff Liberman
Slashers, how can I explain em, some of you like the hate em, I’m happy that they all made em. Idk what the fuck that was but hey, I rewatched Just Before Dawn and yeah I’m gonna talk about it.
Just Before Dawn is about a group of friends that go hiking and camping in the middle of the woods and then two big goober hillbillies start hunting them down and killing them. Sounds cliche? Well, it kind of is, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad right? I love slashers, yall know that. Just Before Dawn is one of the diamonds in the rough. While the 80s were heavy with the genre pouring directly into your face for about 3 years. MOst of the early 80s fair is watchable. Just Before Dawn is one that isn’t talked about as much as the sequel heavy Friday the 13th or even gems like The Burning. In 1981 the movies were still pretty fresh, by the time 1984ish came along it was played out until Freddy gave it a shot in the arm it needed.
The acting in this is pretty solid, including a young Chris Lemmon, son of Jack Lemmon and years away from costarring in Thunder in Paradise with Hulk Hogan! THATS THE THUNDER!!!! IN PARADIIIIIIIIIIIISE. Damn that theme is great…ly bad. The George Kennedy plays the token recognizable actor that the genre started with Halloween and Donald Pleasance. Kennedy is great, he always is! Whether it is Cool Hand Luke or this, he gave it his all. The killers are two big hicks that are imposing for sure but not overly scary. Shit they look like two good ol boys you’d see in a bar in the thumb of Michigan drinking Natty Light on a tuesday night. The scenery is great, but sometimes the lighting is a little rough, it happens with outdoor slashers, see the Final Terror for that example. The gore is a little subdued and nothing too crazy but the suspense keeps you interested.
It is a shame that this movie is somewhat forgotten, aside from the recent Blu Ray release. It does a lot right, while some of it is formulaic. If you enjoy 80s slashers and even early 80s slashers, you’ll like this. I enjoyed it better the second time around. I give this a B, it is a campy run through the woods type of slasher that deserves another look.
