Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows

Just Before Dawn

Play trailer Poster for Just Before Dawn R 1981 1h 30m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
60% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Ignoring a forest ranger (George Kennedy), Oregon hikers camp near inbred twins with pointed teeth and meat cleavers.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Alan Jones Starburst Just Before Dawn scared me in a way I haven't been scared for years. Jul 29, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins There's a steadiness to the pacing, a subtle realism to the attacks, and creative shots for suspense that set the film apart. Rated: 8/10 Sep 6, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Fans of slasher films should be drawn to the blood and gore that is so beautifully shot and is not as graphic as it could have been. Rated: C+ Mar 9, 2015 Full Review John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) The film's lush locations -- the mossy forest with its prehistoric ferns, huge trees, rocky cliffs and misty waterfalls -- add not just production value but a sense of urgency and conviction to the smart script's subtle environmental message... Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 6, 2014 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an exceedingly familiar premise that's been done countless times before... Rated: 2/4 Jul 12, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (123) audience reviews
Justin T This had a really bad picture quality. It looked like a bad VHS, maybe a DVD re-release is better quality. Anyway the film itself is a little more interesting than your usual slasher film. The story and characters and location are all a little different. Some of the ideas are really good. When they do get murdered it is a little uninspired whilst still looking quite brutal. If you can get over the poor image quality then this is a fair slasher movie that won’t leave much of a lasting impression. I quite liked it but certainly didn’t love it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/25 Full Review Carlos I A fun backwoods slasher flick. It can drag a little bit at times, but it is elevated by some solid performances and some great cinematography. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review Computey D Its one of the better backwoods Slashers that's worth the watch I guess Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review hayden m Needs editing. Too slow, poor script Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d It is just different and effective enough to work. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Very, weary, dark, and odly desterbed slasher. Attends to release a fear towards atmospheric pleasure, then the killer its self this is probably one of the scariest, horror films of its genre since the texas chainsaw, its so true. But the slow pacing is unsatisfying, but the last act hits the ball out of the park. 6.5/10 Classic Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Just Before Dawn

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

Jeff Lieberman

Director

George Kennedy

Roy McLean

Chris Lemmon

Jonathan

Deborah Benson

Constance

Mike Kellin

Ty

Gregg Henry

Warren
View All Just Before Dawn photos

Just Before Dawn

Just Before Dawn (1981) Just Before Dawn (1981) Just Before Dawn (1981) Just Before Dawn (1981) Just Before Dawn (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ignoring a forest ranger (George Kennedy), Oregon hikers camp near inbred twins with pointed teeth and meat cleavers.
Director
Jeff Lieberman
Screenwriter
Jonas Middleton, Mark Arywitz, Jeff Lieberman
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
May 3, 2004
Runtime
1h 30m