- Director : Jordon Prince-Wright
- Actors : Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould, Travis Jeffery, Stephen Peacocke
- Subtitles: : French Canadian
- Language : English (DTS 5.1 Surround)
- Studio : Well Go Usa
- Aspect Ratio : 2.35:1
- MPAA rating : R (Restricted)
- Country of Origin : Australia
- Number of discs : 1
- Media Format : Blu-ray
- Run time : 1 hour and 41 minutes
- Release date : September 24, 2024
It is difficult
not to have respect for a lower budget film attempting to find a place in a
genre typically reserved for large studio productions with greater scope, but
admiration for ambition and good intentions does not guarantee that the
filmmaking will rise to the occasion. And the shortcomings of Before Dawn
are all the more apparent when comparing the smaller film to the grand scale of
recent war film releases like 1917 (2019) and All Quiet on the
Western Front (2022). While there are things to admire about Before Dawn,
lower production values and a narrative that often feels aimless prevents it
from reaching the same level as the films it seems to take inspiration from.
Utilizing a
narrative structure that could accurately be described as an Australian version
of All Quiet on the Western Front, Before Dawn follows a young teen from the
outback named Jim Collins (Levi Miller) who enlists to fight in World War I
with a group of friends. Despite an idealized perception of what life as a soldier
will be like, Jim is faced with the bleak reality as he is forced to face the monotony
contrasted by moments of extreme violence threatening the lives of everyone
involved. Days are spent in the trenches, enduring the harsh conditions and
limited supply, with the only thing to break the monotony being dangerous
missions threatening the safety of Jim and his friends from home.
One aspect of
the film that sets it apart from the typical tropes of war movies is the exploration
of moral obligation Jim feels towards the young men he grew up with. When
situations force Jim to choose between his own safety, following orders, and
making efforts to protect or save fellow soldiers, it opens the narrative up to
some interesting philosophical questions. Unfortunately, most of these scenarios
are utilized for moments of dramatic conflict rather than diving into the
morality of one choice rather than another. In all, Before Dawn has all
of the trappings of war film without offering much new to say.
The Blu-ray
release of Before Dawn includes a behind-the-scenes featurette about the
Australian production, which occasionally makes a better argument for the existence
of the film than the end result. There is also a trailer for the movie.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 3/10
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