Just Before Dawn

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Cast & Crew

George Kennedy
Roy McLean

Chris Lemmon
Jonathan

Deborah Benson
Constance

Mike Kellin
Ty

Gregg Henry
Warren

Ralph Seymour
Daniel

Katie Powell
Merry Cat Logan

John Hunsaker
Mountain Twins

Charles Bartlett
Vachel

Jamie Rose
Megan

Jeff Lieberman
Director

Jonas Middleton
Writer (Story)

Mark Arywitz
Writer (Screenplay)

Jeff Lieberman
Writer (Screenplay)

Dean King
Cinematographer

Joel King
Cinematographer

Robert Q. Lovett
Film Editor

Brad Fiedel
Original Music

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Critic Reviews for Just Before Dawn

Audience Reviews for Just Before Dawn

• Oct 01, 2011

  Just Before Dawn can be seen as an obscured gem in the Slasher genre. Released in the early 1980's, Just Before Dawn barely made a ripple in the thriving Slasher genre of the early 80's. I think this is a great shame because upon watching this film, you realize that Just Before Dawn is not like your typical Slasher film that relies solely on the blood and guts routine. Yes, there's some bloody killings, but it's pretty minimal stuff. What makes this Slasher film better than most is the fact that the director uses creepy atmosphere with a slow buildup to create the tension, and that is the key to why the film works so well. Just Before Dawn limits the violence the violence factors and uses more convincing tactics i order to build the horror in the viewer, that's where the eerie atmosphere, suspense and dark and creepy film score come into play. These are some of the elements that made Halloween such an effective horror film, and director Jeff Lieberman has crafted something that is quite frankly better than many of the big slasher films that came out during this period. Just Before Dawn, along with Halloween proves that you don't need massive amounts of blood and gore to create an effective, and terrifying Slasher film. With the right elements you can create something spooky that will deliver the thrills that horror fans crave dearly. A well crafted atmospheric slasher film that delivers good acting, great scares with good bloody kills, and doesn't try to go overboard either. A must see for Slasher film fans.
  Alex r Super Reviewer
• Jun 15, 2011

  A 1980 Slasher movie that has Drive-In written all over it. 5 young people take a camper into the mountains of California only to stumble upon a man running thru the woods claiming his buddy has been murdered. Does this turn them back, nope, even after park ranger George Kennedy tells them not to go up on the mountain, but one of the young people hold a deed to the property and he is going. So begins a want to be Jason running around the mountain killing people. Some beautiful scenes of 2 beautiful women of the 1980 era, Jamie Rose who we see topless shots of while in the lake and a got more beautiful as she grew older Deborah Benson. Its not the best slasher movie, might have been top notch in 1980 but I can only give it a 3 star rating today.
  Bruce B Super Reviewer
• Jul 17, 2008

  One of the many overlooked campers in the woods getting stalked by killer pics was released around the sametime as friday the 13th and in some circles this is considered the first before friday the 13th 2 couples against the sheriffs orders go up into the mountains to look at property left to one of the friends little do they know there is a family of inbreds up there too and they dont take kindly to strangers the usual slasher kills and very little plot keep this at a three star movie if bored and like 80's horror worth a watch
  ken j Super Reviewer
• Jan 31, 2008

  Wrong Turn without the action, blood and suspense. Good location and decent acting however I found myself bored a lot of the time. Not gory at all nor good slash just the opening death worth watching.
  John M Super Reviewer

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