MovieChat Forums > Just Before Dawn (1981) Discussion > Gorgeous location wasted on crappy plot ...

Gorgeous location wasted on crappy plot and bad acting

posted 9 years ago by henrimaine
6 replies | jump to latest

I really liked the look of this movie. The locations were well chosen. And the way it looked on screen was very impressive. It really created the feeling as if I was myself in these woods. But the plot - unfortunately it was as stereotypical as it could get. Stupid stereotypical characters being killed off, in a stupid manner, by stupid stereotypical killer(s). I'm not saying the movie should have come up with some highly intelligent and original plot. No, it's not necessary. If the movie had managed to keep the basic atmosphere of Deliverance and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it would have been enough. But instead it followed the stupid example of Friday 13. Instead of investigating the weird world on local hillbillies (which would have been interesting), it was mostly about some fat guy suddenly appearing from the woods and sticking his machete into people who don't bother to run away.

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 8 years ago

I feel like it could have been more too, but I still like it all the same.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] alucardvenom 8 years ago

I disagree. It's about your average slasher flick.

Sure, plot is nothing spectacular, it's just a bunch of people going into the woods to get killed, but I thought it looked great, it had great Deliverance feeling to it, characters are much more likable then cannon fodders in most of the movies of this type and the movie has great atmosphere, which is something you won't see often in slasher movies (they are mostly T&A and gore movies). Acting was also fine for this type of movie. It's nothing spectacular, but it's fairly descent for what it is.

I mean, you can go much lower just with backwood slasher movies. This was better then Final Terror and it's masterpiece compared to Don't Go in the Woods.

[–] panthersrulenfl69 8 years ago

It's a Slasher film what else would you expect?? Personally I think it's in the upper tier for stand alone 80s Slashers and the characters are 20 times better than those you get in this day and age, plus how about that excellent role reversal at the end. So I gotta ask are you in general a fan of 80s Slasher films?? Or was it just one you happened to come across?? Because if you're not a fan of the subgenre or that era this would never be your thing.

[–] missnat (1172) 5 years ago

I've seen worse.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Gorgeous location utilized to perfection with a superb atmosphere and good-for-it's-sub-genre plot & acting.

[–] HorrorMetal (833) 2 years ago

Could be worse.