Just Before Dawn (1981) - 88 Films

[barrycameron]

Slasher Classics Collection No. 27
88 Films | 1981 | 90 min | Rated BBFC: 18 | Jul 24, 2017

Just Before Dawn (Blu-ray)

HORROR
THRILLER

Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio
TBA

Subtitles

Discs
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)

Playback
Region B (A, C untested)

Features Include:

- High Definition Transfer from the Internegative
- Uncompressed LPCM 24 Bit Audio
- Optional English Subtitles
- AUDIO COMMENTARY with author and critic Justin Kerswell and Calum Waddell, director of SLICE AND DICE: THE SLASHER FILM FOREVER
- EXTENDED CUT - Optional Oversea Version (102 Mins)
- JEFF BEFORE DAWN: Exclusive new interview with director Jeff Lieberman
- GRINDHOUSE ALL -STARS: Insightful new documentary in which Lieberman, Roy Frumkes (STREET TRASH), Matt Cimber (BLACK SIX) and Joe Ellison (DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE) share memories of the slime and grime of the grindhouse glory days!
- 2 Theatrical Trailers
- GALLERY of On-location stills from Jeff Liebermans's personal archive." "JUST BEFORE DAWN
- Collector's booklet by Calum Waddell

[Davidian]

Amazing Cover!

[barrycameron]

My most anticipated Blu-ray for years. I already own the Code Red Blu, but I always feel I need a UK version of my favourite movies.

[NeonStreetMelt]

But, what can they really do transfer-wise that Code Red didn't already? Also, are they even including the alternate international cut like CR did?

[Banach]

Originally Posted by NeonStreetMelt

But, what can they really do transfer-wise that Code Red didn't already? Also, are they even including the alternate international cut like CR did?

Better encoding is a possibility, the CR disc was an overfull BD25.

[hammerfan2]

The Code Red disc is fine.
A double dip requires 88films to add some substantial extras

[Member-167298]

So...no extras?!

[hammerfan2]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

So...no extras?!

Doesn't appear to be although 88 probably think its not worth bothering as they'll sell to most UK fans interested in the film.

Very few are likely to have jumped through the hoops necessary to get the Code Red release. And assuming you can actually locate one to buy its 2-3 times the cost of what the 88 version would be anyway.

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by hammerfan2

Doesn't appear to be although 88 probably think its not worth bothering as they'll sell to plenty of people interested in the film.

Very few are likely to have jumped through the hoops necessary to get the Code Red release

Good call.

I don't have the CR release, and I'm just about interested enough to pick up this version.

Extras would be nice, but for me, wouldn't sway me either way.

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by hammerfan2

Doesn't appear to be although 88 probably think its not worth bothering as they'll sell to most UK fans interested in the film.

Very few are likely to have jumped through the hoops necessary to get the Code Red release. And assuming you can actually locate one to buy its 2-3 times the cost of what the 88 version would be anyway.

From 88 Films Facebook:

July Lineup Announcement #5 - 24/07/17

Just Before Dawn - Slasher Classics #27

Features Include:

- High Definition Transfer from the Internegative
- Uncompressed LPCM 24 Bit Audio
- Optional English Subtitles
- AUDIO COMMENTARY with author and critic Justin Kerswell and Calum Waddell, director of SLICE AND DICE: THE SLASHER FILM FOREVER
- EXTENDED CUT - Optional Oversea Version (102 Mins)
- JEFF BEFORE DAWN: Exclusive new interview with director Jeff Lieberman
- GRINDHOUSE ALL -STARS: Insightful new documentary in which Lieberman, Roy Frumkes (STREET TRASH), Matt Cimber (BLACK SIX) and Joe Ellison (DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE) share memories of the slime and grime of the grindhouse glory days!
- 2 Theatrical Trailers
- GALLERY of On-location stills from Jeff Liebermans's personal archive." "JUST BEFORE DAWN
- Collector's booklet by Calum Waddell


A bit of research always helps guys come on. OP's post is disc specs from this site

[GasmaskAvenger]

Yup, I don't need the Code Red release now. This sounds like the perfect version of the film to date.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Sounds good, but all really depends on the end result for me. I hope it looks good, too. If it does, I'll definitely be double-dipping.

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Sounds good, but all really depends on the end result for me. I hope it looks good, too. If it does, I'll definitely be double-dipping.

Honestly, it would be seriously difficult for them to put out a worse release than Code Red, even if it was bare bones. Code Red took the two transfers and encoded them separately onto a BD25. Even with the bonus features and both cuts, if this is a BD50 (which it almost certainly will be), then it'll already have a massive improvement, especially in the darker scenes

[barrycameron]

Originally Posted by NeonStreetMelt

But, what can they really do transfer-wise that Code Red didn't already? Also, are they even including the alternate international cut like CR did?

Even if Code Red was a perfect release (which it is not), a UK company should be able to release the movie for the first time without hassle.

So it doesn't really matter what 88 Films can or cannot do. They are releasing it for us. Enjoy!

[lilboyblu]

The guy has a valid point. If one release is better than the other, then the best one should be acknowledged as being the best regardless of where it was released. Jury is still out on this one though since 88's isn't out until July.

[barrycameron]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

The guy has a valid point. If one release is better than the other, then the best one should be acknowledged as being the best regardless of where it was released. Jury is still out on this one though since 88's isn't out until July.

I wouldn't see it as valid. Some (most) people don't order movies outside their own country. So a lot of people probably don't even know Code Red version exists. Heck, some people don't even buy online. They just go to the shop to see what's out.

The UK won't take into consideration what other countries have released. And rightly so.

Technically, as far as the UK is concerned, this is the first Blu-ray release of Just Before Dawn. I have the Code Red release to be fair and I like it a lot. But to squeeze all that onto a BD-25 disc was a bit lazy.

[fuzzymctiger]

Originally Posted by barrycameron

I wouldn't see it as valid. Some (most) people don't order movies outside their own country. So a lot of people probably don't even know Code Red version exists. Heck, some people don't even buy online. They just go to the shop to see what's out.

The UK won't take into consideration what other countries have released. And rightly so.

Technically, as far as the UK is concerned, this is the first Blu-ray release of Just Before Dawn. I have the Code Red release to be fair and I like it a lot. But to squeeze all that onto a BD-25 disc was a bit lazy.

Not only this, but if anything, things should be going the opposite way. Just Before Dawn is difficult to acquire no matter where in the world you are.

The blu ray release wasn't a massive run, had no distribution, available only directly, or through places given left over stock like Diabolik and Screen Archives, where it costs $30 USD before exorbitant international shipping from all retailers. On top of this, for the many years it was originally available only from Bill, I would call it's availability schizophrenic. Some days it's there, some days its's gone, some days the whole shop is gone, when it goes up there's only a few copies at a time, some weeks Bill will ship internationally, some days (and absolutely currently for a while) he won't ship internationally.

On top of this, it should be extremely difficult to make a worse disc. Bill's disc is poorly authored on a BD25 with two separate cuts, leading to the transfers suffering from compression artifacts, which are exacerbated by the soft focus of the film. On top of this, the bonus international cut with the extra scenes has 0 colour correction and excessive damage, and if not for the extra material in it, would be little more than a novelty. Also, if it matters to people, no subtitles.

With 88, we already know we will receive a nice range of extras, both cuts, subtitles, better audio format, and a BD50 disc allowing for far better compression. It would be very very difficult for this release to be worse, or even equal.

[barrycameron]

Originally Posted by fuzzymctiger

Not only this, but if anything, things should be going the opposite way. Just Before Dawn is difficult to acquire no matter where in the world you are.

The blu ray release wasn't a massive run, had no distribution, available only directly, or through places given left over stock like Diabolik and Screen Archives, where it costs $30 USD before exorbitant international shipping from all retailers. On top of this, for the many years it was originally available only from Bill, I would call it's availability schizophrenic. Some days it's there, some days its's gone, some days the whole shop is gone, when it goes up there's only a few copies at a time, some weeks Bill will ship internationally, some days (and absolutely currently for a while) he won't ship internationally.

On top of this, it should be extremely difficult to make a worse disc. Bill's disc is poorly authored on a BD25 with two separate cuts, leading to the transfers suffering from compression artifacts, which are exacerbated by the soft focus of the film. On top of this, the bonus international cut with the extra scenes has 0 colour correction and excessive damage, and if not for the extra material in it, would be little more than a novelty. Also, if it matters to people, no subtitles.

With 88, we already know we will receive a nice range of extras, both cuts, subtitles, better audio format, and a BD50 disc allowing for far better compression. It would be very very difficult for this release to be worse, or even equal.

I couldn't have said it better myself...

[cakefactory]

I'm very disappointed that they didn't get the extras from the DVD, particularly the audio commentary from the director, which everything I've read about suggests was very good. That DVD also had a 67 minute making-of with interviews with several of the actors. Guess I'll have to buy a used copy. This clearly looks like the vastly better option to the Code Red, though.

[barrycameron]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I'm very disappointed that they didn't get the extras from the DVD, particularly the audio commentary from the director, which everything I've read about suggests was very good. That DVD also had a 67 minute making-of with interviews with several of the actors. Guess I'll have to buy a used copy. This clearly looks like the vastly better option to the Code Red, though.

I have that DVD. Upgrade needed though to Blu-ray.