It's quite the cast that Jeymes Samuel has assembled for this piece, a fetching list of names that's worth consideration in and of itself. While 50 minutes isn't time enough to know every detail of the characters they inhabit, they are written with clear complexity and depth that allow space for all involved to demonstrate their craft as actors. With that said, there's a very restrained, hushed tone to the feature that demands like treatment of the roles - excepting, of course, occasional outburst and gunfire.
There's fine consideration of lighting in any given interior shot, and great costume design and set design. As no small part of the runtime is defined by repartee in the dialogue, such small details serve to fill our vision while our ears do most of the work. Of course that's not to count out the cast, offering up subtlety of expression and careful delivery that both emphasizes characters' personalities while keeping within the bounds of the air put on by the film as a whole. Scenes, as they are written, are executed very well.
The technical aspects of 'They die by dawn' are sound, and I think Samuel has ably illustrated ability as a director. From this alone, however, I'm not entirely convinced of his narrative writing. I have watched and enjoyed no shortage of films that are deeply understated, decline forthright active plot, and rely substantially on nuance in their storytelling. This feature would seem to echo that slant - save for that it feels very much that for all the time spent establishing characters, and setting up conflict and potential future story beats, we're not necessarily getting a complete, finished work. I don't feel that the ideas here are fully, concretely realized, including the climax. It's a bit of a shame, really, not just because I think all other constituent parts are quite solid, but because I recognize that though it pointedly cuts out rather curtly to the title card and end credits - we are, in fact, given an entire, unabridged tale, such as it is. It's an odd dichotomy that 'They die by dawn' occupies, further accentuated by the fact that it feels like a short film while technically (per the terminology of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) being a full-length feature.
Uncertain narrative writing inherently impacts the characterizations, and limits the assembled performers in their acting. For all the quiet intensity on hand, and the immense skills I've seen these folks exhibit elsewhere, they don't really get to spread their wings here. In regards to the cast specifically but also the film as a whole, the image comes to mind of the "bullet time" made famous in 'The Matrix': shots are fired; projectiles hang seemingly motionless in the air. Now what?
'They die by dawn' isn't outright bad. I just don't think it nearly reaches its potential. I find myself somewhat perturbed, because I want to like this more than I do; I'd like to think other viewers get more out of it than I do. I'll say this much, though: I greatly enjoy the music Samuel composed for his small feature, and I enjoy the sense of style he shows as a director. I would love to see what he can do given the opportunity to hone his command of the medium, both as a writer and behind the camera, and I hope we get to find out.
Not a bad way to spend 50 minutes if you come across it; just keep your expectations in check.
