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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Before Dawn remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you are a completionist for old-school mystery flicks or really love seeing actors look nervous in dimly lit parlors. If you need pacing that actually moves, skip it. You will probably hate it if you get annoyed by people talking in circles while someone else hides behind a curtain.
The whole premise is simple enough. Joe Valerie dies, leaves behind a fortune in gold, and now every two-bit crook and distant relative is sniffing around his family estate. It is the kind of house that probably smells like dust and bad decisions.
There is a scene midway through where two characters just stare at a wall for what feels like an eternity. I checked my phone twice. It’s not atmospheric; it’s just boredom.
It reminds me a bit of the tension in Number 17, but without the actual momentum. You can tell they wanted it to be scary, but it mostly just feels like people walking in and out of rooms while waiting for the script to happen.
Jane Darwell is there, doing her best, but she gets saddled with some of the clunkiest dialogue I’ve heard all month. She has this way of looking at the camera that makes me think she knew the movie was a dud while she was filming it.
The ending happens so fast it gave me whiplash. One minute everyone is arguing over a floorboard, and the next, it’s all over and you’re left wondering if you missed a scene. Maybe you did. Or maybe it just didn't matter.
If you’re looking for a better mystery from the era, maybe go back and watch One Dark Night. It handles the 'creepy house' vibe with a bit more grace. This one just feels like a draft that someone decided to film anyway.
Anyway. It exists. That is the nicest thing I can say about it. 🏚️