Just Before Dawn (1981 film)

Did You Know?

• The eerie whistling motif in the score is a reference to the rescue whistle that Warren carries in the film.
• Many ominous sounds in the score were electronically altered audio clips of composer Brad Fiedel vocalizing droning noises.
• The film features the song "Heart of Glass" by Blondie in its opening scene.

Plot

In rural Oregon, drunken hunters Ty and Vachel explore an abandoned church. After their truck crashes into a tree, Vachel is castrated with a serrated machete by a chuckling assailant who takes his hat and jacket; Ty flees. Forest ranger Roy McLean encounters an RV carrying five college-aged adults—Warren, his girlfriend Constance, Jonathan, his girlfriend Megan, and Jonathan's brother Daniel—heading to inherited property. Despite McLean's warning, they continue. They hit a deer and meet Ty, who drunkenly warns of "demons." The group camps after the RV can go no further. At night, pranks frighten them. The next morning, they hike to a waterfall, where they see a girl named Merry Cat Logan, who runs away. Megan and Jonathan go skinny dipping; Megan feels hands touching her underwater, assumes it is Jonathan, but sees him on shore and panics.

Production

The original screenplay, based on a story by Jonas Middleton, was titled The Tennessee Mountain Murders and later The Last Ritual, with heavy religious themes for twin killers. It included a sixth camper named Eileen, a different fate for Megan (tossed off a cliff), and a climax involving Connie handling rattlesnakes before becoming a wife of the inbred villains. Jeff Lieberman, who had directed Squirm (1976) and Blue Sunshine (1978), rewrote the screenplay under the pseudonym Gregg Irving, inspired by Deliverance (1972). Filming took place in 1980 at Silver Falls State Park in Sublimity, Oregon, with 14- to 15-hour days due to the low budget. According to actor Chris Lemmon, the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens occurred during filming, though a June 1980 article stated filming was slated to begin July 7 on a budget of about $1 million.

Release

Universal Pictures initially expressed interest in distributing the film but backed out. It was instead distributed by Picturmedia, a small independent company. Just Before Dawn had a regional U.S. theatrical release starting November 27, 1981, in Miami, with screenings in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach the following week, and in Kingsport, Tennessee on December 11. It showed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 8, 1982. In the United Kingdom, it opened in Birmingham on August 15, 1982, with an X rating. In France, it was released as Survivance to capitalize on Deliverance's popularity. The film was released on DVD in 2005 by Media Blasters on their Shriek Show imprint, and later on Blu-ray and DVD by Code Red DVD in November 2013, featuring an uncut version with 12 minutes of additional footage. A deluxe Blu-ray followed on May 6, 2019, and Kino Lorber reissued it on January 21, 2021.

Reception

Jim Davidson of The Pittsburgh Press panned the film, calling it appalling and noting suspense only in anticipating the next stabbing, while criticizing the use of dark filters. Jim Vorel of Paste praised the location, calling the nature photography beautiful and elevating the story. TV Guide gave an unfavorable review, calling it a disappointment from Lieberman and comparing it negatively to The Hills Have Eyes (1977). Todd Martin from HorrorNews.net gave a positive review, praising the script, soundtrack, and bleak tone, calling it one of the most underrated slasher films. Dennis Schwartz awarded a C+, noting that fans of slasher films would be drawn to the blood and gore, while others might find it repulsive. Justin Kerswell from Hysteria Lives! gave 4/5 stars, praising acting, characters, cinematography, and direction. AllMovie's review was favorable, stating that viewers who find a copy will be richly rewarded.