On the surface, Just Before Dawn sounds just like dozens of other killer hillbilly slasher films. Whitebread Warren buys some property in the gorgeous Oregon mountains and takes his girlfriend Cowering Connie, prankster friend Jokey Jonathan and his girlfriend Makeup-obsessed Megan, and Jonathan's brother Danny (aka 5th Wheel) to visit the new digs. They're warned away from the area by a ranger, a prior survivor, AND a creepy mountain family but you know how it is...and they've got a deed! Anyway, things go wrong our cast members meet the wrong end of some sharp things. Typical 80s slasher, but Jeff Lieberman really manages to make it something special. The woods are both beautiful and ominous, the main characters actually seem like they'd be friends in real life, there's decent gore,a fun twist, and a nice example of a character finding some inner strength. Sure, I would have liked a higher body count but that's really my only quibble. Give this one a chance and you might like it.
Review of Just Before Dawn
