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Just Before Dawn

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
Just Before Dawn (1981)
Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
78 Photos
HorrorThriller
Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jeff Lieberman
  • Writers
    • Mark Arywitz(screenplay)
    • Jeff Lieberman(screenplay)
    • Jonas Middleton(story)
  • Stars
    • George Kennedy
    • Mike Kellin
    • Chris Lemmon
  • Director
    • Jeff Lieberman
  • Writers
    • Mark Arywitz(screenplay)
    • Jeff Lieberman(screenplay)
    • Jonas Middleton(story)
  • Stars
    • George Kennedy
    • Mike Kellin
    • Chris Lemmon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 112User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos78

    George Kennedy and Jamie Rose in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    John Hunsaker and Jamie Rose in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Chris Lemmon in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Deborah Benson and John Hunsaker in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Gregg Henry, Deborah Benson, Mike Kellin, Chris Lemmon, Jamie Rose, and Ralph Seymour in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Ralph Seymour in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Just Before Dawn (1981)
    John Hunsaker in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    John Hunsaker and Jamie Rose in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Chris Lemmon in Just Before Dawn (1981)
    Gregg Henry, Deborah Benson, Chris Lemmon, Jamie Rose, and Ralph Seymour in Just Before Dawn (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • Roy McLean
    Mike Kellin
    Mike Kellin
    • Ty
    Chris Lemmon
    Chris Lemmon
    • Jonathan
    Gregg Henry
    Gregg Henry
    • Warren
    Deborah Benson
    Deborah Benson
    • Constance
    Ralph Seymour
    Ralph Seymour
    • Daniel
    Katie Powell
    Katie Powell
    • Merry Cat Logan
    • (as Kati Powell)
    John Hunsaker
    John Hunsaker
    • Mountain Twins
    Charles Bartlett
    Charles Bartlett
    • Vachel
    Jamie Rose
    Jamie Rose
    • Megan
    Hap Oslund
    • Pa Logan
    Barbara Spencer
    • Ma Logan
    • Director
      • Jeff Lieberman
    • Writers
      • Mark Arywitz(screenplay)
      • Jeff Lieberman(screenplay)
      • Jonas Middleton(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Jeff Lieberman cited "Deliverance (1972)" as the film's primary influence.
    • Goofs
      At 50:19, When Daniel approaches the cemetery to take pictures a boom mic is visible for a few seconds in the top left of the screen before it is realized and then pulled out of the frame.
    • Quotes

      [after Warren and Jonathan scare the group]

      Daniel: I knew it was you guys all along.

      Jonathan: Oh come on Dan you were more freaked out than the girls.

      Daniel: I just wasn't sure it was you.

      Jonathan: So you peed your pants to play it safe, huh?

    • Alternate versions
      Interglobal Video released a cut version with most of the explicit gore removed. The uncut version was released by Paragon Video.
    • Connections
      Featured in Just Before Dawn: Lions, Tigers and Inbred Twins (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Heart Of Glass
      Written by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein

      Performed by Blondie

      ©(1979) Courtesy of Chrysalis Records, A Division of EMI

      Under License from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

    User reviews112

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A nightmarish hell pre dawn
    JBD has something that a lot of other horror films lack. I knew that the first time I saw it. It stands above many others. It's funny to think this when it's scenario here is nothing knew. The film even has better actors for this type of flick, none better than Gregg Henry, and it's great to see him play a good guy. The actress playing his girlfriend, looks like a female version of him. Are they related? Again, despite the warning of an old buzzard (horror icon, George Kennedy, who else) not to venture into these dangerous woods, of course they pay no heed. Henry and co proceed in their R.V. into this elevated terrain, below quite a drop, (kind of has you thinking of RV with Robin Williams). The killer family (cliched) are of course deformed, some of them giants, very much Wrong Turnish 1. As they trek out into the mountains, the movie takes it time to pick off it's victims (I like movies that work this way) they are picked off gradually. JBD, an unhurried frightener flick, maintains much suspense, throughout, which it never loses, some of it truly claustrophobic. This horror is one of those few, I've actually found truly and effectively scary. Some moments, truly jangle the senses. Violence is restrained here too. Although JBD with a lot of instances and happenings which are cliché'd, what it has great suspense, which a lot of other films lack this much in volume, it's story structured with a master disciplined touch. It has a less is more thing going for it. The unrelated ten minute opening too is one of grand suspense, in a movie that pushes all the right buttons. There is a warning, on the cover that the last ten minutes of the movie may be intense or disturbing. What an over exaggeration, you'll see what I'm talking about, when you see that image.
    helpful•15
    2
    • videorama-759-859391
    • Feb 21, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Blutige Dämmerung
    • Filming locations
      • Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood West Entertainment
      • Oakland Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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