Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 26, 2018

Some fifteen years before Jim Van Bebber was finally able to get his long gestating The Manson Family completed and finally (kinda sorta) distributed, Van Bebber, then still supposedly a film student at Wright State University, utilized a loan from the college to finance Deadbeat at Dawn. This 1988 film about gangs in Dayton, Ohio (Dayton, Ohio?) may not have quite the visceral intensity as Van Bebber’s version of the horrifying Manson Family murders, but it’s a really interesting early effort from a pretty distinctive voice in the independent film world. Van Bebber may not invest this tale of warring youths with anything really innovative from a plot perspective, but there’s an almost hyperbolic energy running through this entry which may recommend it to those who don’t mind a fair amount of gore and some admittedly less than effectively staged hand to hand combat scenes.

Van Bebber himself portrays Goose, the leader of a gang called the Ravens, though the film actually begins with Goose’s girlfriend Christie (Megan Murphy), who is visiting a psychic reader of some sort. In just one of several probably unintentionally funny elements this unabashedly low budget feature offers, Christie listens to the psychic’s kind of dire warnings, and then prepares to leave, carefully blowing out all of the candles on the psychic’s table — and leaving about three dozen other candles burning around the apartment. In a probably predictable plot element, Christie is convinced Goose’s gang activities will lead to disaster, especially after she’s nearly raped by Goose’s main nemesis, Danny (Paul Harper). Suffice it to say there is danger afoot, but it’s not aimed at Goose.

The main part of Deadbeat at Dawn plays out like a lo-fi version of Death Wish, with Goose on a quest for vengeance. That’s really about it from a plot perspective, but perhaps surprisingly Van Bebber is able to invest this effort with some undeniably furious energy, even though some aspects of the film just as undeniably give off a “not ready for prime time” ambience. Still, there's an earnestness in this film which is appealing, weirdly even in some of the butt kicking action elements.

Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Deadbeat at Dawn is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.33:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the transfer:

Deadbeat at Dawn has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ration of 1.37:1 [sic] with mono audio.

The original 16mm AB negatives were scanned in 2K resolution at OCN Digital Labs, CT. The film was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master and restored at R3Store Studios in London. SOme instances of damage remain, in keeping with the condition of the original materials. The mono audio was remastered from the original magnetic reels.

Additionally, the insert booklet contains the following information about the short films included on this release:

Into the Black was sources from the original standard 8mm negative. The original soundtrack was comprised of uncleared rock music, so for the purposes of this release a new score was composed by Nate Seacourt, with the blessing of Jim Van Bebber.

Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin was sourced from the original 16mm AB negatives. The audio was sourced from Digital Betacam.

My Sweet Satan was sourced from the original 16mm AB negatives. The audio was sourced from Digital Betacam.

Gator Green was supplied as a ProRes file by the filmmaker, with additional grading work carried out by Arrow Films.

All scanning, grading and restoration was performed at R3Store Studios, London.

I saw the Synapse DVD of Deadbeat at Dawn years ago but frankly have no strong memories of the quality, but I have to say that with an understanding of the source, filming conditions and Arrow's comment about some still existing damage, this is a nice, gritty looking transfer that maintains the lo-fi origins of the piece while also delivering some at times surprising amounts of detail. There are some gruesome wounds that get close-ups here, and reds especially are vivid throughout a remarkably well preserved palette. There are still some variances in contrast, with some dim scenes looking slightly hazy at times, and grain, while prevalent and generally natural looking, can occasionally obtain a slightly chunky, yellow quality, as can be seen in some of the screenshots accompanying this review.

Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Deadbeat at Dawn's LPCM Mono track is generally clear, but it can't quite escape what were obviously some limitations in the recording process. There's a slightly tinny sound throughout, and just the hint of crackle at times in the upper midrange. Still, sound effects resonate well enough, if with again a slightly boxy quality, and there aren't any real deficits in terms of swinging amplitude or major damage.

Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deadbeat Forever (1080p; 1:19:36) is a really interesting retrospective that features Jim Van Bebber discussing the film and his history in general, along with a bunch of archival video and other material fans will find alluring. The style here may be a bit on the "arty" side for some, but content wise it delivers. There's some pretty funny stuff here from a neighbor and childhood friend of Jim's who tells about his early movies being screened at a Catholic school charity event. The clips from his childhood movies being shown during this anecdote are not exactly what most people would probably expect to see at a Catholic school charity event.


• Behind the Scenes Documentary (720p; 18:41) is an archival piece from 1986 that covers a failed shoot for the film.


• Outtakes (1080p; 2:59)


• Short Films all feature optional commentaries by Jim Van Bebber:

  Into the Black (1983) (1080p; 34:42)

  
  

  My Sweet Satan (1993) (1080p; 19:03)

  
  

  Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin (1994) (1080p; 14:17)

  
  

  Gator Green (2013) (1080p; 15:48)

• Music Videos:

  Pantera - Revolution is My Name (Director's Cut) (Long Version) (1080p; 5:00)

  
  

  Damien Storm - The Legend of Damien Storm (1080i; 27:41)

  
  

  Superjoint - F*** Your Enemy (1080p; 1:46)

  
  

  Superjoint - The Alcoholik (1080p; 2:35)

• Chunk Blower (1080p; 3:59) is advertised as a Jim Van Bebber directed promotional trailer for an unfinished Gary Blair Smith production that had copious amounts of gore. This also features an optional commentary by Jim Van Bebber.


• Image Galleries:

  Deadbeat at Dawn (1080p)

  
  

  Deadbeat Ephemera (1080p)

  
  

  My Sweet Satan (1080p)

  
  

  Roadkill (1080p)

  
  

  Roadkill Concept Art (1080p)

  
  

  Gator Green (1080p)

• Audio Commentary features Jim Van Bebber, Victor Bonacore, Paul Harper and Cody Lee Harding.

Deadbeat at Dawn Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is another rather interesting effort from Van Bebber, one that may not have the shock value of The Manson Family but which has an almost feral quality of its own at times. It's silly on occasion, and definitely the work of a young filmmaker, but there's an honest and unpretentious quality to Deadbeat at Dawn that helps it elide some of its issues. Arrow has really provided an excellent supplemental package, though, and even those who may not be huge fans of the main feature may well find other things to enjoy on this release. Technical merits are good (audio) to very good (video), and Deadbeat at Dawn comes Recommended.