“YOU MOVE AND YOU’RE DEAD…”
We are all familiar with the words dead by dawn which were made famous in the late eighties by bloody battles and saw wielding leading men chased by demons…you already know that story. What is not yet known is a horror story from Uncork’d Entertainment along with Silver Spider Investments and Velvet Hammer Films aptly titled Dead by Dawn.
This film comes from the dark minds of Sean Cain and Wes Laurie and stars Drew Lindsey Mitchell (Tuesday Crowd),Kelcey Watson (Lucifer), Skylar Dominique and Bo Burroughs (All About the Money) Jamie Bernadette rounds out the team coming in with much experience in the horror genre with films like I Spit On Your Grave: Deja Vu – a sequel to the 1978 original film directed by Meir Zarchi. 4/20 Massacre and The 6th Friend which she co-wrote, produced and starred in. This cast as a whole worked well together to tell a story of loss, depravity, desperation and finding purpose and strength to press forward while getting chased by real life demons.
“A suicidal man in a remote cabin is suddenly faced with protecting a kidnapped woman from three killers and their sadistic games…”
The characters in this movie play off each other well and you can almost feel the realness come across the screen – they’re tapping into some hurt and pain thats there only serving such purpose. As the movie unfolds we find that there are a few stories within this film that could hold their own if given the chance – they let you peek into their baggage while not letting it all come unfolded and muddying up the main two stories going on within the film which is the hurt and pain both main characters are feeling and the uncertainty of the morning after. The cast all came together to tell a story from their respective sides. All the actors brought the intensity needed to help the film unfold with some rage and callousness mixed with comedic relief “peepee monster” and back to letting flashes shine through of past hurt and broken dreams.
My favorite part of the film is when they decide to not sit by and be victims and extend invitations to their assailants by making use of Dylan’s daughters prepper box and set out to take hold of the situation. We find out a lot more from all characters involved as the story unfolds and depending on where you sit by then, you’ll either love it or hate it.
“It’s a fight to the death where only the strongest will survive until dawn.”
The cinematography is in the hands of Eric A. Wahl and he helps you get immersed into the film- you feel as though you are in the same room kneeling down with the people in the scene, outside almost getting shot at or looking down at bullet wounds. the sound design by Mario Salvucci really gives you a score/soundtrack that helps auto select your emotions or level of anxiety for certain scenes. Really well done edits are key to letting this film flow in its intended purpose.
A big plus was the use of practical effects mixed with some CG helmed by Marina Coria and Eduardo Arambula. They married the best of both worlds to create scenes and a feel needed for the film. Subtle use and proper use whenever needed and it helped the film achieve realness in those facets.
“This is not fuck around time…”
From start to finish this film brings you on a wild horror ride of deceit, destruction, loss and the growth from having gone through hell and back.. you might not be the same person if you’re not Dead By Dawn! If you have the chance to put your peepers on this film once it hits the streets i’d say take the warrior way and hit play, ya shit-bird! – Angel L. @chaosmanis / @thatstrangeshow
Available on DVD and Digital April 7, 2020