If you liked playing Double Dragon on your Nintendo, you will love this movie! It's about the kind of blokes you'd have in the video game but now it's just about as psycho crazy and atmospheric as Abel Ferrara's Driller Killer. A street-brawler kid quits his gang to live with his girl, but off course it's not that easy to turn his back on the gang.. It's a very simple plot, but it has a certain style and intensity that make up for that lack of complexity. The style, to compare, is a bit between Driller Killer and Richard Kern's short films (The Hardcore Collection). A sometimes psychotic montage with lots of stylish and semi-shocking images and great action scenes with intense gore and a haunting musical score. Or maybe it was just really good weed. Who knows..
45 Reviews
Glorious violence fest!
HaemovoreRex1 July 2009
It's not hard to see why Jim Van Bebber's grimy expose of gang related turmoil has become such a cherished cult favourite; The film delivers equal dosages of OTT violence, blood letting, action and some highly commendable amateur stunt work and this all wrapped up in a grim and nihilistic tale of retribution. Of course, many independent films comprise and follow similar themes; However, this one further raises the bar with its incredibly bleak depiction of sheer hopelessness as experienced by our protagonist and those around him. The scenes featuring our hero returning home to his father and his obvious shock and disgust at the mental deterioration experienced by said parent are surprisingly powerful - far more so than one would expect from a film of this ilk.
Having said that, ultimately what really will stick with the viewer is the incredible ultra-violence on display; The finale especially is a suitably nasty affair and lets just say, the outcome pretty much negates the possibility of a direct sequel........
Given what Bebber gave us here with this diamond in the rough, it's even more of a shame that he never fulfilled his obvious potential by moving on to bigger things......oh well, even if he were to only be remembered for this effort, it's a heck of a reputation.
Having said that, ultimately what really will stick with the viewer is the incredible ultra-violence on display; The finale especially is a suitably nasty affair and lets just say, the outcome pretty much negates the possibility of a direct sequel........
Given what Bebber gave us here with this diamond in the rough, it's even more of a shame that he never fulfilled his obvious potential by moving on to bigger things......oh well, even if he were to only be remembered for this effort, it's a heck of a reputation.
An entertaining, low budget, 80s cult exploitation flick.
BA_Harrison24 January 2014
Goose (Jim Van Bebber), leader of tough Ohio street gang The Ravens, has only just renounced his violent lifestyle when his girlfriend Christy is brutally killed by members of rival gang The Spiders. Goose vows to avenge her murder, but finds himself caught in a self-destructive spiral of hatred and despair that leads him to attempt suicide. However, just as he is about to blow his brains out, Goose is confronted by Keith (Ric Walker), the current leader of The Ravens, who wishes to recruit him for an armoured car heist; the only problem is that The Ravens have since joined forces with The Spiders and Goose isn't about to forgive and forget...
Written, edited, directed by and starring Van Bebber, who also provides the film's stunts and make-up effects, Deadbeat at Dawn is a marvel of independent movie-making, one that belies its meagre budget by successfully pulling off several gruelling and very bloody set-pieces and quite a few dangerous looking action scenes, with the final 10 minutes or so going all out to shock with its brutal violence and a gruelling sense of nihilism. Where many an 80s horror/action flick ladled on the cheeze, Van Bebber goes for the full-on, gritty exploitation vibe and for the most part he succeeds, his film feeling suitably grubby and depressing throughout with vivid coloured lighting and retro kaleidoscopic scene transitions really adding to that authentic grind-house feel.
While some of the acting is admittedly a bit wobbly (the guy who plays Goose's father wins my award for funniest performance of the film) and the fight scenes aren't always totally convincing, it's easy to forgive these shortcomings when considering the almost negligible budget and Van Bebber's relative inexperience behind the camera (he was only twenty four at the time of the film's release); what he has managed to do for minimal money is most impressive indeed and his enthusiasm for the project shines through on every grimy, filth-ridden frame, especially those where he is putting his life on the line for his art.
Written, edited, directed by and starring Van Bebber, who also provides the film's stunts and make-up effects, Deadbeat at Dawn is a marvel of independent movie-making, one that belies its meagre budget by successfully pulling off several gruelling and very bloody set-pieces and quite a few dangerous looking action scenes, with the final 10 minutes or so going all out to shock with its brutal violence and a gruelling sense of nihilism. Where many an 80s horror/action flick ladled on the cheeze, Van Bebber goes for the full-on, gritty exploitation vibe and for the most part he succeeds, his film feeling suitably grubby and depressing throughout with vivid coloured lighting and retro kaleidoscopic scene transitions really adding to that authentic grind-house feel.
While some of the acting is admittedly a bit wobbly (the guy who plays Goose's father wins my award for funniest performance of the film) and the fight scenes aren't always totally convincing, it's easy to forgive these shortcomings when considering the almost negligible budget and Van Bebber's relative inexperience behind the camera (he was only twenty four at the time of the film's release); what he has managed to do for minimal money is most impressive indeed and his enthusiasm for the project shines through on every grimy, filth-ridden frame, especially those where he is putting his life on the line for his art.
Van Bebber is out of control
wytshark21 January 2000
Jim Van Bebber seems to be a man with absolutely no impulse control...and thank god for it. Moving with the brash logic of a couple of 12 year old boys playing army in the backyard, Deadbeat at Dawn is curious and compelling, trashy and brilliant. You want cult? You want guilty pleasure? You want guys getting throwing stars lodged in their heads? This movie has it all and then some. At first glance, you may dismiss this as cheapjack filmmaking (the thing looks like a drive-in movie), but trying to shut it off is near impossible. You will be sucked in; you will be fascinated. And if Van Bebber isn't a guy who deserves a shot at the brass ring with a real budget and a real crew, I honestly don't know who is. Not only does he shoot action sequences with some of the most urgent and alive camera work I've seen in awhile, he also does his own stunts--some of it crazy Jackie Chan level stuff. Watching him get dragged around by a car at the end of the flick, I just sat there wondering how this guy didn't end up in a hospital or worse.
SO MUCH MADE WITH SO LITTLE
kirbylee70-599-5261791 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
You can't talk about a movie like DEADBEAT AT DAWN without putting it into context as to when and how it was made. If you do then you make it far more difficult to describe just what a cult fan favorite the movie is and why. And if ever a movie deserved to be called a cult film this is it.
Made in 1988 as the midnight movie faze was petering out and the home video craze was peaking the movie found its way into the hearts and minds of its fans video VHS. Not just in the stores that were renting the film but in the numerous bootleg copies that were out there passed along from one anxious pair of hands to another. The word was out about this small film made on a meager budget with zero name brand stars that just messed with the minds of all who witnessed it. That made seeing the movie all the more desirable to those looking for something new and different.
The story in the film is simple really but what unfolds on screen is unique. Director/writer Jim Van Bebber stars as Goose, the leader of a gang known as the Ravens in Dayton, Ohio. Their arch rivals are the Spiders led by Danny (Paul Harper). When the film opens the Spiders are entering Raven territory, a huge cemetery. The two leaders face off in a hand to hand fight that leaves both battered and bloody but with Goose getting the upper hand.
Returning home Goose nurses his wounds with the help of his girlfriend Christie (Megan Murphy). Christie dearly loves Goose but knows that this lifestyle will lead him to certain death. She tells him that if he doesn't give up the gang then she's leaving. Realizing how much she means to him and taking her at her word he agrees to give up the gang. Before he leaves his life of crime behind he has one last thing to do, the sale of drugs to put himself and Christie in a position to leave.
But while he's out members of the Spiders show at their apartment. They brutally beat Christie to death with rape implied but not onscreen. When Goose returns he is torn by what he discovers. He takes Christie's body and places it in a giant trash compacter and goes on a drunken binge. With no place to go he moves in with his father, a PTSD Vietnam vet who's more concerned about his next drug fix and beer than his son.
Found by the new leader of the Ravens before he can kill himself Goose it hauled in because they need an extra man for a job they intend to pull off. The gang has joined up with the Spiders now and a huge heist is in the making. What this new leader doesn't realize is that Danny plans on double crossing the gang and taking them all out once the job is done. With nearly everyone in his life now gone only Goose is left to seek revenge on Danny and the remaining members of the Spiders.
The movie was the first feature film shot entirely in Dayton. To say it was made on a low budget is being generous. It was made for around $10,000 and shot over a four year period. Van Bebber not only wrote, directed and starred in the film he also edited, designed the effects, and did his own stunts. And the effects here are some of the goriest you will find between hands partially blown away and more. That he could reach his goal of making a feature film that contained his vision without studio interference and that we're talking about it now some 30 years later is an accomplishment.
There are certainly moments that could have had more polish added to them, stunts that professionals might have done better and certainly the film could look better than the grainy appearance that it has. But all of those things are what make up the charm of this film. It IS the grainy picture, it IS the slightly off punches, it IS the touch and go acting ability of those involved (and some moments are great when it comes to performances) that make up a movie that earned its cult status by being true to itself. This is the first movie of a 21 year old director and it shows but in a good way. The heart involved in the film makes up for the unpolished appearance.
Arrow Film is bringing the movie out for a 30th anniversary release. Said Van Bebber about the release last year "[It's] slated for a 4K transfer from the original A&B rolls (supervised by me) and a long overdue Bluray release on it's 30th anniversary." True to his word that's what you'll find in this new release of the film to blu-ray. And the extras are sure to make fans go crazy. They include a new audio commentary track with Van Bebber, Harper and Cody Lee Hardin moderated by Victor Bonacore who made DIARY OF A DEADBEAT: THE STORY, "Jim Van Bebber, Deadbeat Forever!" a new retrospective documentary on Van Bebber and the legacy of the film by Bonacore that includes rare footage, interviews and more, an archival 1986 behind the scenes documentary from VHS by Nate Pennington, outtakes, four newly restored shorts from Van Bebber ("Into the Black", "My Sweet Satan", "Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin" and "Gator Green"), a Van Bebber music video collection including never-before-seen director's cuts, "Chunkblower" a promotional trailer for an unfinished Gary Blair Smith produced feature, an extensive image gallery with never before seen still, a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain and for the first pressing only a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Scott Gabbey and Graham Rae. It will take longer to get through the extras than the movie itself!
As with all things Arrow they've outdone themselves with this release. Fans of the film will now have the chance to have it in the best possible format available with all of the extra goodies to keep them entertained and watching for several hours. If you're a fan of the film you'll love this edition of it. If you've never seen it prepare to have your senses blown away and your stomach churned.
Made in 1988 as the midnight movie faze was petering out and the home video craze was peaking the movie found its way into the hearts and minds of its fans video VHS. Not just in the stores that were renting the film but in the numerous bootleg copies that were out there passed along from one anxious pair of hands to another. The word was out about this small film made on a meager budget with zero name brand stars that just messed with the minds of all who witnessed it. That made seeing the movie all the more desirable to those looking for something new and different.
The story in the film is simple really but what unfolds on screen is unique. Director/writer Jim Van Bebber stars as Goose, the leader of a gang known as the Ravens in Dayton, Ohio. Their arch rivals are the Spiders led by Danny (Paul Harper). When the film opens the Spiders are entering Raven territory, a huge cemetery. The two leaders face off in a hand to hand fight that leaves both battered and bloody but with Goose getting the upper hand.
Returning home Goose nurses his wounds with the help of his girlfriend Christie (Megan Murphy). Christie dearly loves Goose but knows that this lifestyle will lead him to certain death. She tells him that if he doesn't give up the gang then she's leaving. Realizing how much she means to him and taking her at her word he agrees to give up the gang. Before he leaves his life of crime behind he has one last thing to do, the sale of drugs to put himself and Christie in a position to leave.
But while he's out members of the Spiders show at their apartment. They brutally beat Christie to death with rape implied but not onscreen. When Goose returns he is torn by what he discovers. He takes Christie's body and places it in a giant trash compacter and goes on a drunken binge. With no place to go he moves in with his father, a PTSD Vietnam vet who's more concerned about his next drug fix and beer than his son.
Found by the new leader of the Ravens before he can kill himself Goose it hauled in because they need an extra man for a job they intend to pull off. The gang has joined up with the Spiders now and a huge heist is in the making. What this new leader doesn't realize is that Danny plans on double crossing the gang and taking them all out once the job is done. With nearly everyone in his life now gone only Goose is left to seek revenge on Danny and the remaining members of the Spiders.
The movie was the first feature film shot entirely in Dayton. To say it was made on a low budget is being generous. It was made for around $10,000 and shot over a four year period. Van Bebber not only wrote, directed and starred in the film he also edited, designed the effects, and did his own stunts. And the effects here are some of the goriest you will find between hands partially blown away and more. That he could reach his goal of making a feature film that contained his vision without studio interference and that we're talking about it now some 30 years later is an accomplishment.
There are certainly moments that could have had more polish added to them, stunts that professionals might have done better and certainly the film could look better than the grainy appearance that it has. But all of those things are what make up the charm of this film. It IS the grainy picture, it IS the slightly off punches, it IS the touch and go acting ability of those involved (and some moments are great when it comes to performances) that make up a movie that earned its cult status by being true to itself. This is the first movie of a 21 year old director and it shows but in a good way. The heart involved in the film makes up for the unpolished appearance.
Arrow Film is bringing the movie out for a 30th anniversary release. Said Van Bebber about the release last year "[It's] slated for a 4K transfer from the original A&B rolls (supervised by me) and a long overdue Bluray release on it's 30th anniversary." True to his word that's what you'll find in this new release of the film to blu-ray. And the extras are sure to make fans go crazy. They include a new audio commentary track with Van Bebber, Harper and Cody Lee Hardin moderated by Victor Bonacore who made DIARY OF A DEADBEAT: THE STORY, "Jim Van Bebber, Deadbeat Forever!" a new retrospective documentary on Van Bebber and the legacy of the film by Bonacore that includes rare footage, interviews and more, an archival 1986 behind the scenes documentary from VHS by Nate Pennington, outtakes, four newly restored shorts from Van Bebber ("Into the Black", "My Sweet Satan", "Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin" and "Gator Green"), a Van Bebber music video collection including never-before-seen director's cuts, "Chunkblower" a promotional trailer for an unfinished Gary Blair Smith produced feature, an extensive image gallery with never before seen still, a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain and for the first pressing only a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Scott Gabbey and Graham Rae. It will take longer to get through the extras than the movie itself!
As with all things Arrow they've outdone themselves with this release. Fans of the film will now have the chance to have it in the best possible format available with all of the extra goodies to keep them entertained and watching for several hours. If you're a fan of the film you'll love this edition of it. If you've never seen it prepare to have your senses blown away and your stomach churned.
Inspirational white trash masterpiece!!!!!
youngvagabond16 February 2005
This film could change your life. A friend introduced me to this movie a couple weeks ago, and not a conscious hour has gone by that I have not thought of it. If this seems remotely like your type of film (low-budget action gore) then you MUST see this. It immediately became one of my all time favorites. The cover does not do it justice. Think 'Mad Max' meets 'Polyester' meets 'Cannibal Apocalypse'... and you're sort of on the right track. Really, it's like nothing you've ever seen. I have never reviewed any films on IMDb before, with this movie I felt I had no other choice but to shout it's praises to anyone who will listen. It deserves to be legendary. Prepare to have your mind blown away.
amazingly good for no budget
movieman_kev28 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Goose, the leader of the Ravens is convinced by his girlfriend to leave the gang cause she fears for him life. But quiting isn't that easy as the leader of the rival gang, the Spiders, start smarting from a recent fight between the two gang members decides to take it upon himself and one of his gang members to off the slut. This sends Goose into an endless see of drugs and despair in a endlessly downward spiral, but not before disposing of your now deceased girlfriend in a trash compacter (she he DOES care, and doesn't litter, what a environmentalist). Anyways he soon finds himself up against the new combined ultra-gang (the new leader of the Ravens combined forces with The Spiders) and all-out carnage ensues. This little no budget movie goes a long way on sheer manic energy alone even though the acting leaves much to be desired. And overall I did find myself enjoying it very much.
My Grade: B-
Eye Candy: 2 pairs of breasts, and Jim Bebbers ass for the ladies
DVD Extras: Commentary by writer/director/actor Jim Van Bebber, producer/director of photography Michael King, British cult film distributor David Gregory, and actor Marc Pitman; Jim Bebber filmography; soundless Outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage; "Chunkblower" promo film; and"My Sweet Satan" short film
Easter Egg: On Side A, highlight a hidden pentagram in the center of the gravestone for a music video of Skinny Puppy's "Spasmolytic"
My Grade: B-
Eye Candy: 2 pairs of breasts, and Jim Bebbers ass for the ladies
DVD Extras: Commentary by writer/director/actor Jim Van Bebber, producer/director of photography Michael King, British cult film distributor David Gregory, and actor Marc Pitman; Jim Bebber filmography; soundless Outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage; "Chunkblower" promo film; and"My Sweet Satan" short film
Easter Egg: On Side A, highlight a hidden pentagram in the center of the gravestone for a music video of Skinny Puppy's "Spasmolytic"
Ravens! Spiders! Come out to Play!
Coventry31 July 2019
Okay, judging by the extremely favorable rating (6.9/10 momentarily) and the amount of exclamation marks in the subject lines of other users' reviews (I love this movie!!!!!!!), it's abundantly clear that "Deadbeat at Dawn" has a rather large base of devoted fans. Then probably my two-cents won't become too popular and quickly will collect a few dozen non-useful votes, because all I saw was an irritatingly cheap and practically intolerable amateur home video. People always refer to "The Evil Dead" when they've seen a low-budgeted horror/cult movie they liked, but let's be honest, the genius and superiority of Sam Raimi's landmark never gets reached. Jim Van Bebber's debut is far more reminiscent to Tim Ritter ("Killing Spree", "Creep") and Nathan Schiff ("Weasels Rip my Flesh", "Long Island Cannibal Massacre"). In other words, painfully inept amateur guff in which the overenthusiastic writer/director desperately mobilizes his friends and family members to star in his dream project, but nobody actually dares to shatter his illusion and say to his face that his film sucks.
"Deadbeat at Dawn" admittedly features a few brief moments that are decent and a plot that could have been compelling if it were handled by a slightly more competent director with a budget. The set-up is comparable to Walter Hill's "The Warriors" - a personal favorite - and opens with a depiction of the intense rivalry between two street gangs. Goose, leader of the Ravens, and Danny, leader of the Spiders, practically cut each other to pieces during a macho-showdown at the local cemetery, and for Goose's spiritual girlfriend it means the ultimatum to choose between her or his gang. After a long and deep reflection, Goose realizes he really loves her and decides to drastically turn his life around. The Spiders then savagely kill the girlfriend and Goose is bent on revenge; - especially when he finds out that the two gangs are merging together behind his back. "Deadbeat at Dawn" is mostly infamous and loved for its excessive gore and violence. I'll be the first to gladly admit that the brutal massacres are sick and twisted in a delightfully entertaining fashion, but they are also badly spread throughout the film. For every gore highlight that lasts for three seconds, there are several overlong and tedious sequences in which absolutely nothing remarkable happens. Van Bebber tends to stretch every ingenious aspect endlessly, by the way. The encounter with Goose's alcoholic father, who goes berserk because the son drank his last can of beer, is funny at first but not for 7 minutes. The first lines of the "I-hate-people" rant by a maniacal gang member named Bonecrusher is also hilarious, but the full four minutes are insufferable.
In the nineties, Jim Van Bebber made excellent (and extremely sickening) short films, namely "My Sweet Satan" and "Roadkill". I strongly believe they were fantastic just because they were shorts, and thus Van Bebber didn't need to add filler footage. He returned once more with the highly acclaimed (among genre fans) biopic "The Manson Family", but personally I think that's also one of the most boring and undeservedly hyped horror films ever.
"Deadbeat at Dawn" admittedly features a few brief moments that are decent and a plot that could have been compelling if it were handled by a slightly more competent director with a budget. The set-up is comparable to Walter Hill's "The Warriors" - a personal favorite - and opens with a depiction of the intense rivalry between two street gangs. Goose, leader of the Ravens, and Danny, leader of the Spiders, practically cut each other to pieces during a macho-showdown at the local cemetery, and for Goose's spiritual girlfriend it means the ultimatum to choose between her or his gang. After a long and deep reflection, Goose realizes he really loves her and decides to drastically turn his life around. The Spiders then savagely kill the girlfriend and Goose is bent on revenge; - especially when he finds out that the two gangs are merging together behind his back. "Deadbeat at Dawn" is mostly infamous and loved for its excessive gore and violence. I'll be the first to gladly admit that the brutal massacres are sick and twisted in a delightfully entertaining fashion, but they are also badly spread throughout the film. For every gore highlight that lasts for three seconds, there are several overlong and tedious sequences in which absolutely nothing remarkable happens. Van Bebber tends to stretch every ingenious aspect endlessly, by the way. The encounter with Goose's alcoholic father, who goes berserk because the son drank his last can of beer, is funny at first but not for 7 minutes. The first lines of the "I-hate-people" rant by a maniacal gang member named Bonecrusher is also hilarious, but the full four minutes are insufferable.
In the nineties, Jim Van Bebber made excellent (and extremely sickening) short films, namely "My Sweet Satan" and "Roadkill". I strongly believe they were fantastic just because they were shorts, and thus Van Bebber didn't need to add filler footage. He returned once more with the highly acclaimed (among genre fans) biopic "The Manson Family", but personally I think that's also one of the most boring and undeservedly hyped horror films ever.
It's funny when you're too close to the screen......
NoFleshShallBeSpared2 March 2014
My return to the world of movie critique has put me at 10 years of life experience to where I have to be as objective as possible when reviewing things. I state this because I had the dubious honor of personally meeting Jim Van Bebber during a screening of this movie. As much as I hope for more from his particular flavor of cinema, I still didn't get to tell him that I think this movie is downright the best piece he ever made. This is his heart and soul, readers.
I've seen just about everything JVB has made, but the perfect storm energies and circumstances that made this movie are still something that's evident to cinephiles and the like. I can't say it's sheer brilliance (this is style, not substance {Oh, the 80's}, and I don't think that JVB is big on messages anyhow), but I'm hard pressed to find anything as endearing by him as this movie.
Gutterpunk culture abounds, JVB's love of Dayton's microcosmic abysmal atmosphere of a bankrupt rust-belt town that's falling apart at the mid-line, and you get Deadbeat at Dawn. Very precise scheduling and editing, (it's what ya gotta do if you have no budget for film and man-hours) give this a somewhat frenzied pace, as well a feeling of Goose as kind of a mythological character consecrated to the street life. The soundtrack and dialogue keep the tension to a steady hum until the end sequence.
The story is basic, simple chop-socky territory, but you be hard-pressed to find as stylish as this as far martial-arts flicks go. All the character development is beautiful in that is serves to paint a very dismal world where everyone (even the well-off ones we don't see in the movie that often), has that next moment to live for and nothing else. You have drugs everywhere, you have an indifferent and ignorant populace, you have gangs armed with no real direction and all the trappings of a late 80's Midwestern society sharpened to a point. I always liked the martial arts sequences in this one, JVB studied Benny The Jet and it shows.
The odd thoughtfulness of Deadbeat At Dawn give it the heart it has, you see scenes of how violence can drive one to insanity at rationalizing indifference to it's nature. You see someone who had to fight for literally everything in his life and how it would just keep him spinning his wheels faster than everyone else until he couldn't stop. You see fleeting glory and permanent indolence. It's gritty to the core and that's why I love it. ****1/2
I've seen just about everything JVB has made, but the perfect storm energies and circumstances that made this movie are still something that's evident to cinephiles and the like. I can't say it's sheer brilliance (this is style, not substance {Oh, the 80's}, and I don't think that JVB is big on messages anyhow), but I'm hard pressed to find anything as endearing by him as this movie.
Gutterpunk culture abounds, JVB's love of Dayton's microcosmic abysmal atmosphere of a bankrupt rust-belt town that's falling apart at the mid-line, and you get Deadbeat at Dawn. Very precise scheduling and editing, (it's what ya gotta do if you have no budget for film and man-hours) give this a somewhat frenzied pace, as well a feeling of Goose as kind of a mythological character consecrated to the street life. The soundtrack and dialogue keep the tension to a steady hum until the end sequence.
The story is basic, simple chop-socky territory, but you be hard-pressed to find as stylish as this as far martial-arts flicks go. All the character development is beautiful in that is serves to paint a very dismal world where everyone (even the well-off ones we don't see in the movie that often), has that next moment to live for and nothing else. You have drugs everywhere, you have an indifferent and ignorant populace, you have gangs armed with no real direction and all the trappings of a late 80's Midwestern society sharpened to a point. I always liked the martial arts sequences in this one, JVB studied Benny The Jet and it shows.
The odd thoughtfulness of Deadbeat At Dawn give it the heart it has, you see scenes of how violence can drive one to insanity at rationalizing indifference to it's nature. You see someone who had to fight for literally everything in his life and how it would just keep him spinning his wheels faster than everyone else until he couldn't stop. You see fleeting glory and permanent indolence. It's gritty to the core and that's why I love it. ****1/2
Boring, Slow and Cheap
darad13 November 2020
Deadbeat was a good name they chose. Very "no budget" wannabe gang movie with awful acting, no story, poor fight scenes and the fakest blood ever used. Looks like most of it was shot between a graveyard and deserted, run down part of town. It might be a cult classic to some and maybe it was from the laughs for being so bad, which made it watchable. All that was missing was old video tape noise and distortion to set the mood. This needs to be buried deep in the ground as far as it can go or crush every copy going into that trash compactor shown.
Legendary independent film from Jim Van Bebber
Bogey Man13 July 2002
Deadbeat at Dawn is directed, written and created by Jim Van Bebber, a film student who decided to make a low budget feature film in the tradition of Evil Dead and other drive-in blockbusters that were hugely popular in the 80's and made a lot of money. He created Deadbeat at Dawn with his fellow students and friends, and finally his first feature film was completed in 1988, and what a film that is!
Bebber himself plays Goose, a leader in street gang who decides to quit the violent and dangerous gang life and start a peaceful life with his girlfriend Christy. Goose's gang is Ravens and the rival gang is Spiders. Spiders don't like Goose quitting the gang life and they arrange Goose's murder. That doesn't succeed, instead, they murder Christy in brutal way while Goose is on his final drug deal somewhere in dirty streets of Ohio. When he finds her beloved girlfriend killed and savagely mutilated, he starts the savage fight for life and only one thing in mind: revenge.
I had extremely high expectations on this film, and then I finally ordered the expensive DVD and watched the film. I must say I'm not disappointed, but still the film is not as great as I hoped. My all time favorite US underground film is Buddy Giovinazzo's incredible and ultra disturbing masterpiece Combat Shock, which is still far more powerful and relentless than Van Bebber's film. Deadbeat at Dawn is very grim and dirty, but it is not as relentless and emotionally powerful as Combat Shock or Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Deadbeat at Dawn relies on savage brutality and the result is interesting and definitely works in its own genre.
The settings are very dirty and scummy as there are drug users, prostitutes and all kinds of diseases found in big cities and modern society. Goose is only little "better" than the bad guys in this film, and the bad guys are REALLY bad and revolting, and all the actors (mostly amateurs) made incredible job in this film as the most fierce moments were improvised and developed when the camera was already rolling. The scene, where Bonecrusher swears how he hates people: "I hate people!! I really fu***n' hate people!!" is very menacing as this guy is really nuts and dangerous and he is equally bad as the film's main villain, Danny, the leader of the rival gang. The only positive characters in the film are the two females, Christy and her sister, and according to director Van Bebber, that is one of the film's themes: Goose had the possibility to start a better life with the help of this element of peace and beauty, Christy, but since he didn't understand it in time and couldn't realize its/her value, he finally lost Christy and had nothing left, only anger and willing to revenge. He knew this all might end badly for himself, too, but that didn't matter since he had lost the light of his life; after the revenge there would be nothing.
The film has also bits of social commentary. Van Bebber has said that at least the scenes at the garage and little boys pretending to shoot at each other have a meaning and criticize our society and world in different ways. The garage scene says something about how easy it is to get a gun in US as everyone seems to have one, even old people and seemingly peaceful persons. This film depicts the world and society that has been created this horrible and ugly by its inhabitants themselves. This film is very rough as it shows the ugliest sides of modern day life and things that we and films in general (especially mainstream) don't usually want to accept or talk about.
The various fight scenes are shot and edited pretty stylishly. Couple of scenes have perhaps little fast edits and thus become too restless, but mostly this film is greatly mace with the very low budget. The soundtrack is also very menacing and ominous at times, and it adds much to the atmosphere. This film proves the talent of Jim Van Bebber, and shows what kind of results can be achieved with talent and innovation.
Not only this film is grim and ugly in its scenery and world it takes place, it is also ultra violent and graphic. The gang fights are as bloody as possible and nothing has been left to imagination. All strokes of nunchukas and knifes are visible and they hurt as if the viewer was hit himself. Only act of violence that's left to imagination is the beating and killing of Christy, and Van Bebber said that it was intentional as "sometimes less is more" and he definitely didn't want to make this horrible scene graphic and full of on screen blood, and I think it is now as brutal as possible. The violence in Deadbeat at Dawn is very strong especially during the film's last fight, when Goose finally gets face to face with the gang members who killed his girl and caused this mayhem. People are sliced with blades, hurt with throwing stars, blasted by guns with ultra gory wounds, beaten to shapeless, killed by ripping off a throat/larynx - a scene that is perhaps even more graphic and off putting than the finale in Japanese Sonny Chiba's legendary Street Fighter (1974), a film which has also a similar throat ripping scene. Deadbeat at Dawn is so over-the-top violent and gory piece of independent cinema, I think this will and alienates many fans of marginal cinema, too, as I know many so called film fanatics specialized in B films and underground, that simply HATE Deadbeat at Dawn and speak very badly about it! Deadbeat at Dawn is so gritty and violent (mentally and physically) that it is far too hard to take for most of the people. Of course it's true that cinema this underground has always small audience so it's not any surprise so many hate this film. I don't hate this, but don't like it as highly as I wanted to. Maybe I had too high expectations after experiencing Combat Shock so many times before Deadbeat.
Deadbeat at Dawn is pretty immoral film since the violence and act of revenge feels pretty gratuitous at times, but that can still be interpreted as a very brutal bit of commentary about life and society. This film is so full of hate and anger, it definitely means something and shocks the senses of the viewer. Still, the film is somewhat shallow and relies maybe too much on these fierce scenes of violence, and if the film had such a strong message and emotional elements as Taxi Driver, for instance, this would definitely be a great masterpiece of independent cinema. Therefore I give this 8/10 instead of more, and recommend this film ONLY for very tolerant film fans and people who like and understand underground cinema of Jörg Buttgereit and Abel Ferrara, for instance, and films like Combat Shock, Baise-Moi, Last House on the Left and other extremely grim and depressing films, films that demand a lot from the viewer.
Bebber himself plays Goose, a leader in street gang who decides to quit the violent and dangerous gang life and start a peaceful life with his girlfriend Christy. Goose's gang is Ravens and the rival gang is Spiders. Spiders don't like Goose quitting the gang life and they arrange Goose's murder. That doesn't succeed, instead, they murder Christy in brutal way while Goose is on his final drug deal somewhere in dirty streets of Ohio. When he finds her beloved girlfriend killed and savagely mutilated, he starts the savage fight for life and only one thing in mind: revenge.
I had extremely high expectations on this film, and then I finally ordered the expensive DVD and watched the film. I must say I'm not disappointed, but still the film is not as great as I hoped. My all time favorite US underground film is Buddy Giovinazzo's incredible and ultra disturbing masterpiece Combat Shock, which is still far more powerful and relentless than Van Bebber's film. Deadbeat at Dawn is very grim and dirty, but it is not as relentless and emotionally powerful as Combat Shock or Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Deadbeat at Dawn relies on savage brutality and the result is interesting and definitely works in its own genre.
The settings are very dirty and scummy as there are drug users, prostitutes and all kinds of diseases found in big cities and modern society. Goose is only little "better" than the bad guys in this film, and the bad guys are REALLY bad and revolting, and all the actors (mostly amateurs) made incredible job in this film as the most fierce moments were improvised and developed when the camera was already rolling. The scene, where Bonecrusher swears how he hates people: "I hate people!! I really fu***n' hate people!!" is very menacing as this guy is really nuts and dangerous and he is equally bad as the film's main villain, Danny, the leader of the rival gang. The only positive characters in the film are the two females, Christy and her sister, and according to director Van Bebber, that is one of the film's themes: Goose had the possibility to start a better life with the help of this element of peace and beauty, Christy, but since he didn't understand it in time and couldn't realize its/her value, he finally lost Christy and had nothing left, only anger and willing to revenge. He knew this all might end badly for himself, too, but that didn't matter since he had lost the light of his life; after the revenge there would be nothing.
The film has also bits of social commentary. Van Bebber has said that at least the scenes at the garage and little boys pretending to shoot at each other have a meaning and criticize our society and world in different ways. The garage scene says something about how easy it is to get a gun in US as everyone seems to have one, even old people and seemingly peaceful persons. This film depicts the world and society that has been created this horrible and ugly by its inhabitants themselves. This film is very rough as it shows the ugliest sides of modern day life and things that we and films in general (especially mainstream) don't usually want to accept or talk about.
The various fight scenes are shot and edited pretty stylishly. Couple of scenes have perhaps little fast edits and thus become too restless, but mostly this film is greatly mace with the very low budget. The soundtrack is also very menacing and ominous at times, and it adds much to the atmosphere. This film proves the talent of Jim Van Bebber, and shows what kind of results can be achieved with talent and innovation.
Not only this film is grim and ugly in its scenery and world it takes place, it is also ultra violent and graphic. The gang fights are as bloody as possible and nothing has been left to imagination. All strokes of nunchukas and knifes are visible and they hurt as if the viewer was hit himself. Only act of violence that's left to imagination is the beating and killing of Christy, and Van Bebber said that it was intentional as "sometimes less is more" and he definitely didn't want to make this horrible scene graphic and full of on screen blood, and I think it is now as brutal as possible. The violence in Deadbeat at Dawn is very strong especially during the film's last fight, when Goose finally gets face to face with the gang members who killed his girl and caused this mayhem. People are sliced with blades, hurt with throwing stars, blasted by guns with ultra gory wounds, beaten to shapeless, killed by ripping off a throat/larynx - a scene that is perhaps even more graphic and off putting than the finale in Japanese Sonny Chiba's legendary Street Fighter (1974), a film which has also a similar throat ripping scene. Deadbeat at Dawn is so over-the-top violent and gory piece of independent cinema, I think this will and alienates many fans of marginal cinema, too, as I know many so called film fanatics specialized in B films and underground, that simply HATE Deadbeat at Dawn and speak very badly about it! Deadbeat at Dawn is so gritty and violent (mentally and physically) that it is far too hard to take for most of the people. Of course it's true that cinema this underground has always small audience so it's not any surprise so many hate this film. I don't hate this, but don't like it as highly as I wanted to. Maybe I had too high expectations after experiencing Combat Shock so many times before Deadbeat.
Deadbeat at Dawn is pretty immoral film since the violence and act of revenge feels pretty gratuitous at times, but that can still be interpreted as a very brutal bit of commentary about life and society. This film is so full of hate and anger, it definitely means something and shocks the senses of the viewer. Still, the film is somewhat shallow and relies maybe too much on these fierce scenes of violence, and if the film had such a strong message and emotional elements as Taxi Driver, for instance, this would definitely be a great masterpiece of independent cinema. Therefore I give this 8/10 instead of more, and recommend this film ONLY for very tolerant film fans and people who like and understand underground cinema of Jörg Buttgereit and Abel Ferrara, for instance, and films like Combat Shock, Baise-Moi, Last House on the Left and other extremely grim and depressing films, films that demand a lot from the viewer.
Decent Late 80's U.S. Exploit Film
EVOL66626 January 2006
I see that this film seems to have many hard-core supporters, and although I liked it well enough, I was a little disappointed after actually seeing it. Not that DEADBEAT AT DAWN was a bad film by any means...It just didn't quite live up to what I thought it would...
Goose is the leader of a gang who's ready to quit the life and settle with his girlfriend. Other gang members don't find this acceptable, and end up killing Goose's girlfriend. Of course this doesn't sit well with our protagonist and revenge is sweet...sorta...
For a low-budget film, this one is pretty good. A good amount of violence and a decent straight-forward plot (along with Goose's AWESOME nunchaku skills...) make up for mediocre acting and dialog (and the plethora of horrible mullets and other hair-style infringements...). Overall, I would recommend this for anyone who digs gritty, exploit-style films as this one DOES deliver. The last fight scene is worth the wait. Worth a look, just don't expect TOO much...7/10
Goose is the leader of a gang who's ready to quit the life and settle with his girlfriend. Other gang members don't find this acceptable, and end up killing Goose's girlfriend. Of course this doesn't sit well with our protagonist and revenge is sweet...sorta...
For a low-budget film, this one is pretty good. A good amount of violence and a decent straight-forward plot (along with Goose's AWESOME nunchaku skills...) make up for mediocre acting and dialog (and the plethora of horrible mullets and other hair-style infringements...). Overall, I would recommend this for anyone who digs gritty, exploit-style films as this one DOES deliver. The last fight scene is worth the wait. Worth a look, just don't expect TOO much...7/10
If You Wanna See What Can Be Done with no Dough
jew_5910 August 2004
Deadbeat at Dawn is an excellent example of what you can do with a little ambition and special effects makeup. In this "drive-in" style gang flick, mindless violence and cheesy gore abounds. The only thing missing was the gratuitous sex, there was a topless stripper, but that's not enough to make it a classic of the genre.
The acting was interesting, not Srassberg, but in accordance with the genre, it's what you want. Obviously Van Bebber had little money, but what little he had was pretty well spent when it came to the action sequences and the gore makeup. The action, in fact, was very entertaining. The script was little more than a means to string the action sequences together so mission accomplished!
If you like the "Video Threat" type of flick, then this one is for you.
The acting was interesting, not Srassberg, but in accordance with the genre, it's what you want. Obviously Van Bebber had little money, but what little he had was pretty well spent when it came to the action sequences and the gore makeup. The action, in fact, was very entertaining. The script was little more than a means to string the action sequences together so mission accomplished!
If you like the "Video Threat" type of flick, then this one is for you.
Jack Daniels and Bush Beer
Alexander_Keith18 January 2005
While watching Deadbeat @ Dawn I was having a pretty difficult time trying to put a finger on what my feelings were about this film until Keith from the Ravens (I think that's who it was) took a swig of Jack Daniels and chased it w/ a mouth full of Bush beer. I laughed gagging (not the first and definitely not the last time while watching) because that was exactly the taste that this movie was leaving in my mouth : bitter/sour and cheap but a pretty wicked buzz after awhile. Producer/writer/director/actor/editor/stunt choreographer/ special makeup effects artist Jim Van Bebber pulls off some fairly excessive stylized screen violence w/ a minuscule budget but the weakly scripted directionless performances stretches it thin. It's amateur shines through in many scenes containing dialogue and lose editing (especially in the first half) throwing off the pacing; making a fairly short film seem long in the tooth. In the end it feels like Troma w/out any zaniness
Well a little zaniness. Ninja stars and golf club beatings are pretty zany.
Pretty brutal ultra low budget revenge actioner
dworldeater16 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I can't really think of another movie quite like Deadbeat At Dawn, think of The Warriors high on Angel dust listening to Venom on a violent rampage and you might get an idea. This cheapie exploitation action flick is very raw, viceral and quite nihilistic and street tough. The hero and title character is a guy named Goose, a leader of a street gang and all around violent hooligan. His girlfriend encourages him to leave the gang and she is brutally murdered. Like the case with most street gangs, it isn't that easy to get out and leads to double crossings and betrayals that have the violence escalate to the films conclusion. Deadbeat At Dawn may be low budget but is super tough and has bad ass heavy metal guys brawling, doing drugs and committing crimes. The action is ultra violent and very bloody and gory. This is one nasty piece of sleaze and Deadbeat At Dawn is hard as nails. In my opinion this film is a good time and one cool micro budget splatter action flick.
This Movie Will Kick your Ass
reverendtom26 April 2004
This is easily one of the most entertaining movies of all time. If you are sick. There is so much cheese, action, gore and just plain awesomeness here, I consider this a classic. Jim Van Bebber is the walking incarnation of Bruce Dickinson's voice. Must be seen to be believed. Let me count the ways: Awesome fighting in a graveyard. Jim Van Bebber yelling "YOU F*CKERS!!!!" at the city.
Jim conking a dude over the head and stealing his chopper. Bonecrusher's monologue about killin. 10/10
Jim conking a dude over the head and stealing his chopper. Bonecrusher's monologue about killin. 10/10
Deadbeat at Dawn, Noon and Dusk.
ElijahCSkuggs22 January 2009
I wasn't really looking for this movie in the terms of it being a really good independent film. I was looking at a pal's list of movies and I noticed the word "Deadbeat". I don't know what it is but the word Deadbeat just works. So, I told him to make me a copy. He then tells me that it's a pretty sweet independent film with some serious violence. Wahoo!
Deadbeat At Dawn is a very gritty picture that tells the tale of Goose and his story of vengeance on his ex-rival gang the Spiders. I could go deeper into the story-line of why he's seeking revenge but that's kinda ruining the story for you.
I was pleasantly surprised with this one. At first I was kinda wary, but with the over-the-top acting and violence, I was easily swayed into enjoying it. The film more than anything is very gritty. Filthy feeling. And actually kind of feels like the movie Street Trash in this way. Going back to the acting, I was happy with how most of the characters were portrayed, and you should be too if you're even slightly into exploitation movies of the 70s and 80s. Oh, it was also pretty funny too.
Deadbeat At Dawn was a pretty entertaining flick that delivered the goods in terms of a rough and tough gang flick mixed with 80s charm - our lead character is ace with ninja stars and nunchuks. Tie in an awesomely violent ending, you've got yourself 80 minutes of pure exploitation goodness.
Deadbeat At Dawn is a very gritty picture that tells the tale of Goose and his story of vengeance on his ex-rival gang the Spiders. I could go deeper into the story-line of why he's seeking revenge but that's kinda ruining the story for you.
I was pleasantly surprised with this one. At first I was kinda wary, but with the over-the-top acting and violence, I was easily swayed into enjoying it. The film more than anything is very gritty. Filthy feeling. And actually kind of feels like the movie Street Trash in this way. Going back to the acting, I was happy with how most of the characters were portrayed, and you should be too if you're even slightly into exploitation movies of the 70s and 80s. Oh, it was also pretty funny too.
Deadbeat At Dawn was a pretty entertaining flick that delivered the goods in terms of a rough and tough gang flick mixed with 80s charm - our lead character is ace with ninja stars and nunchuks. Tie in an awesomely violent ending, you've got yourself 80 minutes of pure exploitation goodness.
One of the best US-made Action flims of all time.
DKiller13 December 1998
Director Jim Van Bebber and his crew of film junkies have churned out what has to be one of the greatest Independent films of all time. Van Bebber makes movies that are aesthetically exciting, yet have a personal edge which makes them hard to ignore. This movie is a stone-cold classic, one deserving of much recognition from the Underground cinema naysayers. This is a fine example of regional fimmaking, announcing Van Bebber as a major talent to watch.
Deadbeat at Dawn
Groverdox3 March 2019
"Deadbeat at Dawn" is a low-budget late '80s flick which is notorious for its heavy violence. In only the first few minutes we see an attempted rape, and a scene in which another man grabs a woman by the throat. The action then moves to a bloody knife fight in a cemetery between rival gang members. It ends when a gunshot makes a man's fingers explode. The movie's final moments are so ridiculously violent that they reveal the movie for what it is: a must-see for anybody interesting in low budget gore effects and low budget gore movies... and of little interest for anyone else.
I expected the movie to be violent, but I didn't expect the target of the violence to so often be female. The main character is a gang member. He quits the gang, but doesn't seem to leave his criminal activities behind. His girlfriend is threatened with rape at one point, and severely beaten with golf clubs at another.
At one point, when a girl dies, he tearfully drops her body into a garbage compressor.
The dialogue in some scenes is poorly recorded, sounding as though the characters are mumbling when you can tell they are speaking clearly - the microphone just didn't pick it up. The movie is actually very well shot, though.
The plot follows the downward trajectory of a gang member who tries to go straight, attempts suicide, and is pulled back into the gang life.
There is really no attempt at all to make the protagonist likeable or interesting. They should have tried to make him someone we could care about. Other than that, "Deadbeat At Dawn" is an impressive piece of work, a must-see for low budget, cult-film fans.
I expected the movie to be violent, but I didn't expect the target of the violence to so often be female. The main character is a gang member. He quits the gang, but doesn't seem to leave his criminal activities behind. His girlfriend is threatened with rape at one point, and severely beaten with golf clubs at another.
At one point, when a girl dies, he tearfully drops her body into a garbage compressor.
The dialogue in some scenes is poorly recorded, sounding as though the characters are mumbling when you can tell they are speaking clearly - the microphone just didn't pick it up. The movie is actually very well shot, though.
The plot follows the downward trajectory of a gang member who tries to go straight, attempts suicide, and is pulled back into the gang life.
There is really no attempt at all to make the protagonist likeable or interesting. They should have tried to make him someone we could care about. Other than that, "Deadbeat At Dawn" is an impressive piece of work, a must-see for low budget, cult-film fans.
The kind of movie that makes you want to run out and make a movie
Aylmer27 August 2023
This is a particular dangerous movie for teenage boys to watch as it'll likely result in them squandering whatever industrial potential in favor of pursuing a lifetime in the arts. Jim Van Bebber somehow, with 80's technology, was able to write, direct, make special effects, choreograph the martial arts, and star-in this mini-masterpiece shot on a micro-budget.
Heavily inspired by a handful of films including THE WARRIORS and CLOCKWORK ORANGE, the film doesn't star anyone you would recognize and is set in a decaying rustbelt city Dayton, Ohio where you'll probably never go. It lacks the familiarity of Hollywood productions, or even of B-movies, and has an unrelenting ugly crudeness to it (including the acting and sound quality). It makes up for these numerous shortcomings though by being so insanely energetic and outrageous. Van Bebber's performance never wavers and his cinematographer Mike King does an excellent job capturing the fight scenes and urban blight.
This film has a lot of goofy scenes and nonsequiters but gives you the impression of some kind of underlying genius behind the whole affair. I think it's kind of a shame that Van Bebber never was able to make a big, mainstream film but then again I'm sure he would not have done well in the studio system. He comes off as something of an obsessive Orson Welles-type cinema savant who unfortunately peaked early, though his short films are even more expertly crafted.
The handmade, rough-around-the-edges quality of the film, coupled with its high entertainment value could easily inspire anyone watching the film to want to get their friends together and make a similar film. It makes the process look both fun and accessible, and personally I can say it heavily impacted my decision to get into the business (for better or worse).
Heavily inspired by a handful of films including THE WARRIORS and CLOCKWORK ORANGE, the film doesn't star anyone you would recognize and is set in a decaying rustbelt city Dayton, Ohio where you'll probably never go. It lacks the familiarity of Hollywood productions, or even of B-movies, and has an unrelenting ugly crudeness to it (including the acting and sound quality). It makes up for these numerous shortcomings though by being so insanely energetic and outrageous. Van Bebber's performance never wavers and his cinematographer Mike King does an excellent job capturing the fight scenes and urban blight.
This film has a lot of goofy scenes and nonsequiters but gives you the impression of some kind of underlying genius behind the whole affair. I think it's kind of a shame that Van Bebber never was able to make a big, mainstream film but then again I'm sure he would not have done well in the studio system. He comes off as something of an obsessive Orson Welles-type cinema savant who unfortunately peaked early, though his short films are even more expertly crafted.
The handmade, rough-around-the-edges quality of the film, coupled with its high entertainment value could easily inspire anyone watching the film to want to get their friends together and make a similar film. It makes the process look both fun and accessible, and personally I can say it heavily impacted my decision to get into the business (for better or worse).
Incredibly obscure
lucky_dice_mgt1 April 2006
I am shocked to see that only 1 other person has written a review on this film. There's no doubt that the lead actor is the true star of this film and the movie has a nice overall raw feel to it { reminding me a bit like Street Trash was with its rawness} I certainly would be curious to see this directors other films if he has any and I also found the guy that played Bonecrusher to be highly enjoyable. This film seems to be quite rare but thankfully I got it many many years ago and kept it in my collection.For anyone thats a fan of violent street gang bloody films,I would recommend they see this one.I think the guy that played Bonecrusher was also in Street Trash.H e might have played the lead role in that film as the bum that wears the hat .
"Be prepared to meet thy God."
Backlash0073 April 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Inspired by the drive-in success of The Evil Dead, Deadbeat at Dawn is disturbingly effective film-making. It's violent, gritty, and has shock value that's second to none. Jim Van Bebber is a madman behind the camera. He controlled every aspect of this film: he wrote, edited, acted, choreographed stunts and fights, created make-up effects, and directed. In Deadbeat, Van Bebber stars as Goose (or Goose Lee as he's known to my friends and I), the leader of the Ravens and the greatest anti-hero ever. The leader of the rival gang, the Spiders, orders his best goons to attack Goose at home. Instead of finding Goose, they find his girlfriend...and beat her to death. Goose returns home after a hard day of drug dealing only to find his girlfriend's mangled body. That's when Goose goes ballistic. And you better bring along a strong stomach. It's a standard tale of revenge and redemption but there's something special about it. It taps into the raw and savage power of film. The action and violence are unbelievable, but there are breaks in between to let the viewer slow down and take a deep breath. In these breaks, there are hints at social commentary. One scene sums this up: Goose watching two children shoot each other with toy guns. It's so short and there's no dialogue but it certainly says a lot. There's an unspoken element there that's missing from most action movies. I honestly expected all of the reviews I read to dog the film. To my surprise, it was actually well-received. It seems as though everyone who has experienced Deadbeat appreciates the awkward feelings it inspires. Deadbeat at Dawn is truly an American independent action classic.
Note: The Spider's outfits with the underwear on the outside were created as an homage to A Clockwork Orange.
Note: The Spider's outfits with the underwear on the outside were created as an homage to A Clockwork Orange.
Deadbeat-em-up at Dawn of the Dread
cwbellor30 June 2022
Oh man! The second you see the way the dudes are decked out in the first gang rumble, you know you're in for some goofy-as-fudge fun! I mean, we've already been introduced to a villain who exudes sexual deviant scumduggery and now he's in a friggin cemetery with a Batman mask that doesn't resemble a single DC character in existence. WHAT is going on? It's like you've stumbled onto a wastoid re-enactment of Highlander and when you witness the hero Goose sterilizing his own war wounds after the fight, I dare you to NOT think of Andrew W. K.! Then the tattered and torn Goose wakes up to his GF reciting a witchy incantation and snorts his breakfast off a HUGE mirror and he shows his bare ass and...you know what, I apologize for the blow by blow. I've got to calm down. I just can't believe what I'm watching. Now he's practicing his nunchuckery in that same cemetery??? Are you Karate Kidding me? What did I do to deserve this beautiful mess?
Deadbeat at Dawn is unmistakably grindhouse. This is some scrappy cinema, people! The vibe is apathetic angst with a hearty dose of druggy despair. Witness blonde bully Bonecrusher spout some wisdom after taking a sniff of cocaine. "Man, that ain't nothing compared to the rush you get when you're killin' somebody, man! Know what I mean? I HATE people, man!" The sets are appropriately dilapidated and the characters are burnouts without a cause. So it's kinda punk, I hear you ask? Punk? Did punks wear jockstraps over their leather pants? Think metalhead meets Miller Lite, only it's an empty beer can that you think is full because some white trash loner just pissed in it.
The shock of it all will surely have you shaken. I mean, for crying out loud, our anti-hero finds his pulverized GF and gives her a funeral service in a trash compactor. Like I said, druggy despair. This tale of retribution and rage could have easily been retitled Snuff N Stuff.
Tune in, trip out and take a shower when you're done watching this ride of retribution and rage.
Deadbeat at Dawn is unmistakably grindhouse. This is some scrappy cinema, people! The vibe is apathetic angst with a hearty dose of druggy despair. Witness blonde bully Bonecrusher spout some wisdom after taking a sniff of cocaine. "Man, that ain't nothing compared to the rush you get when you're killin' somebody, man! Know what I mean? I HATE people, man!" The sets are appropriately dilapidated and the characters are burnouts without a cause. So it's kinda punk, I hear you ask? Punk? Did punks wear jockstraps over their leather pants? Think metalhead meets Miller Lite, only it's an empty beer can that you think is full because some white trash loner just pissed in it.
The shock of it all will surely have you shaken. I mean, for crying out loud, our anti-hero finds his pulverized GF and gives her a funeral service in a trash compactor. Like I said, druggy despair. This tale of retribution and rage could have easily been retitled Snuff N Stuff.
Tune in, trip out and take a shower when you're done watching this ride of retribution and rage.
A masterpiece of splatter
Stevieboy66619 August 2023
Goose (Jim Van Bebber) quits leading the gang The Ravens at his girlfriend's request but when she is brutally murdered in a revenge attack he goes off the rails (dumping her corpse into a trash compacter (!), then moving in with his drug addict ex-Vietnam vet father), culminating in a wonderful display of ultra violence between him and Raven and Spider gang members. I can remember way back when Deadbeat came out and the controversy that ensued in Britain, the BBFC denying it a certificate. Thirty-five years on and I have recently purchased Arrow's blu-ray, restored and uncut. Was it worth the wait? Hell yeah!! Van Bebber wrote and directed this low budget movie in addition to playing the lead character, and he displays some impressive martial art and stunt skills. Shot in Dayton, Ohio, the film oozes that urban downtown grittiness, such a staple of Grindhouse movies. I think it would be fair to say that the cast is amateur but they all put in good and watchable performances, though they look older than the "teenage gang" that a TV reporter describes them as. I have watched thousands of movies but I was blown away by the amount of violence and gore within Deadbeat's 81 minutes, plenty here to satisfy any splatter fan. Bleak, bloody and brilliant. "Her intestines looked like snakes. Little snakes coming out of her skin!" Wow!
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