Await the Dawn

So did writer and director Pablo Macho Maysonet IV just recently watch "From Dusk Till Dawn" when he was coming up with the concept idea for the 2020 horror movie "Await the Dawn"?

Not only was parts the plot rather similar to the parts of the plot in Tarrantino's "From Dusk Till Dawn", but even the movie's title was bearing a resemblance as well.

And it should be said that the 2020 movie "Await the Dawn" doesn't even manage to reach the 1996 movie to the knees. Nay, these two movie are in very two different leagues.

While "Await the Dawn" was watchable, it just wasn't an impressive movie; not in terms of story, plot or events in the movie. The movie was simply too mundane and slow paced, and it was also a bit too predictable. So that left very little for the audience to gorge upon - pardon the pun.

"Await the Dawn" does have a rather good ensemble of actors and actresses, with the likes of Dee Wallace, Bruce Davison and Vernon Wells as some of the more recognizable. But even with these on the last list, whereas Davidson and Wells were actually hardly in the movie, then "Await the Dawn" didn't really live up to what it could have been.

Sure, there were an abundance of opportunity and possibilities readily available within the grasp of the writer and director for "Await the Dawn", but sadly the movie never rose above mediocrity.

The special effects in the movie were, for the most parts, actually good enough. However, they weren't over-the-top impressive displays of CGI or practical effects. But the special effects team managed to do their jobs well enough, as the effects served their purposes. The creature, though, well that felt sort of anti-climatic when it was revealed.

Ultimately then "Await the Dawn" wasn't all that and a bowl of gore. Nay, the movie was watchable, but it is hardly an outstanding movie, nor is it a memorable addition to the horror franchise. My rating of "Await the Dawn" lands on a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.

...and it was very unloved and abused and mistreated and cast off a cliff like a malformed Spartan baby.

This isn't a good movie. The acting is awful (though Dee Wallace did seem to take it serious, thus put in effort), which goes right in hand with the terrible script. The "interior" of the RV is such a bad set and obviously not the same as the vehicle in the exterior shots. Family melodrama keeps trying to take over from the horror and monsters, but in such a cliched trope of a melodrama. Every time one of the possessed/zombies/mind controlled popped up, I waited for them to say "Dead by dawn. We'll swallow you're soul."

Also, had no one involved in this movie ever seen a heroin addict? I'm sorry, "drug" addict...because being specific about substances would have involved knowing anything about anything.

I did like the creature and blood effects (in a B-flick way). There's even an extra star floating around for that, but you need to activate your pineal gland to see it. And I DID get a tiny smirk out of a monster flick having Drs. Cronen and Berg...because, Cronenberg, get it? Thankfully, the "writer"/"director" spared us the insult of actually pointing it out.

What we WEREN'T spared was the bludgeoning of a character named Howard Philips who worked for Miskatonic Labs. The movie was already based on From Beyond (movie or story, take your pick), so it would have been more appropriate to have him be Crawford Tillinghast. Then the people who know would know, and anyone else would just think it was a strange name in the modern era. But noooooooooooooooo.....couldn't let it slip past the viewers that this is a Lovecraftian horror. Just cram the old H. P. down everyone's throats and pretend you're clever.

And as bad as most of the movie was, the ending was three times as bad. It plodded along being a rip-off that even SyFy wouldn't produce, then took a sharp left turn into horrendous and stupid.

Watch this if you want to see how bad it truly is, but it really is better off never wasting your time. I don't think it could even be a good drinking game with the friends kinda movie.

No pun intended - the movie may not be everyones taste. And I can see that some may not like the simple setup ... and the characters that have to act weird to say the least. Not logical for sure - also the changing characeristics ... and people not thinking of certain things to do ... when they lay there ... open to them.

Still there is suspense and there is quite the neat effects horror wise. The make up is quite good for the low budget this probably had. If you are able to suspend your disbelief ... there is some "fun" ahead for you. The ending almost breaks everything ... or takes everything apart. It feels like they weren't sure how to end it ... or did not have enough money to shoot anything else ... whatever the case, hopefully it won't ruin the viewing experience for you ...

This movie is cheesy, the acting quality is mostly poor and the overall plot is dumb. Yet it's somehow still entertaining. But don't come with high expectations. The special effects are good and gory, and there is plenty of suspense while the characters make one dumb decision after another and then become all melodramatic over the consequences. In other words this is a typical, fun B-horror movie.

Many aspects of this movie overlap with Tales from the Crypt and Demon Knight, which is a great movie by the way. If you like that style, meaning the non-seriousness and campy gore, you probably will like this movie, as long as you adjust your expectations, because it's not nearly as good as Demon Knight.

The concept of this film was ok. Had strong potential. Felt at times it was too slow kind of boring dialogue but understanding for fillers. Most of the actors need to take acting classes or some. The director of this film needs to focus on getting good quality actors such as Dee Wallace, Bruce Davidson which were there etc.. The little girl wasn't the best actress but the "creature" looked pretty cool. Atmosphere was really good with music and sound effects. That Steven father was the worst actor along with the daughter? Overall not that good but not that bad. Only gave it a fair good rating cause of Dee Wallace since I'm a fan and of course I support film artists and the director did somewhat pretty decent. I'm sure he will only get better here on after...hopefully! Check it out though!

My opinion these actors really really need acting classes..they brought the movie down with their over acting and bad posture etc:

Gregg Christie Caitlyn Fletcher Josh Server Jonathan Stoddard

Best Actors: Dee Wallace (of course) Bruce Davidson Courtney Gains Gabriel Stone Lovlee Carroll.