Just Before Dawn (1981)
Directed By: Jeff Lieberman
Tagline: Will Anyone Survive Those Hours Just Before Dawn?
This is definitely one of the lesser recognized slasher films from the '80's. 'Just Before Dawn' is about a group of friends who set out on a camping trip to the plot of land that has recently been passed down to one of them. On the way to the grounds, they are warned, not once, but twice, to stay out of the mountains where they are headed. Demons are said to live in them there hills. I guess drunken old men consider demons to be fat, killer, inbred, hillbilly kleptomaniacs. That's besides the point. One by one the friends get picked off in very ungorey but very effectively scary and creative ways. Jeff Lieberman does an amazing job creating a very creepy atmosphere. He really uses the environment to reinforce the fact that the woods these kids are camping in are really isolated and there is no help for miles. One thing I have to complain about is how unbelievably stupid this group of young adults is. Oh well, that's how slasher films usually are. Another complaint I have is the music score. Gah! Plug your ears. Sometimes the music helps to make the atmosphere feel that much more creepy and it helps to create suspenseful moments; but otherwise it's annoying and feels uninspired. Overall, I'm glad that I have finally viewed this movie after it has been collecting dust on my shelf for a while. I blindly bought it probably two years ago, not knowing anything about it, but I'm glad that I took the plunge. 'Just Before Dawn' gets a solid 3/5.
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