Just Before Dawn Review

Review of Just Before Dawn (1981) by screenqueeen: 👍 4.5/5

HOOPTOBER 8.0 DAY 0 31 DAYS REMAIN

This crosses between multiple different worlds in the slasher genre with a grace that feels almost accidental. In part a DELIVERANCE/RITUALS spiritual successor but with some adolescent carefree attitudes that only FRIDAY THE 13TH could have informed, down to the introduction of George Kennedy's character in the first act. It weaves between the sleepy world of hangout features and wilderness survival horror films.

The remote location is far more brutal than the simple act of killing that takes place in this, however the sheer amount of distance the kids put between themselves is as good as sealing their fate of impending death.

The moments of encounters with others on the mountain range are based loosely on the events of Homer's Odyssey with Mary Kat singing next to the stream and even a cyclopean machete-wielding maniac. When things get down to the wire the tension really mounts up (pun intended!) and the final struggle to survive results in a sequence that can only be described as jaw-dropping.

If you enjoy slashers with backwoods settings I implore you to seek this one out.