Before Dawn is a new WWI epic drama, directed by Jordon Prince-Wright who co-wrote the script with Jarrad Russell. The film stars Levi Miller as Jim Collins, the son of an outback sheep farmer who decides against the wishes of his father to join the ANZAC Corps in the fight against the Nazis in France.
The result is a cataclysmic journey of tragedy, dark reflection and bravery chronicling the near-900 day endeavor as we watch Jim tackle the dogs of war, measuring his own courage and ideal school of thought against an environment encumbered by a survival-first instinct. This aspect of the story is explored aptly through brewing tension between Jim, and Thomas Nickles (Travis Jeffery) following a mission gone wrong resulting in the death of Travis’s brother, Harry.
The impasse eventually reaches a boiling point under the stewardship of their superiors, including the dogged Sgt. Beaufort (Myles Pollard), even as the threat of war surrounding them looms. This and all the events there in among the battalion culminate with the climatic battle at the Hindenberg Line, serving as the pivotal test of unity between the soldiers, as well as Jim’s own resolve and endurance against the odds.
I like what Prince-Wright accomplishes with Before Dawn as a dramatic war thriller that delivers a sumptuous war epic with visuals aplenty, rich backdrops, set pieces and visuals to capture the grit and desolation of life in the trenches. One aspect about the film, however, is the near three-year timeline among which the cast hardly ages or differs in look in any measure. It’s a bit of a nitpick though, and less concerning than the film’s overall formulaic storytelling approach, lending some familiarity in its elements to viewers hoping for something a little new and more than inspired for the reverence it aims for.
At any rate, Before Dawn is a film that accomplishes in large part what it sets out for from start to finish. It’s an explosive and compelling war epic with most of the trimmings and it’s lined by cast performances that irrevocably measure up.
Before Dawn was previously released in theaters in the U.S. and is also set to arrive on Blu-Ray and DVD on September 24. They include 2.0 and Dolby 5.1 audio, as well as the film’s trailer and trailers for other Well Go USA titles, and a raft of behind the featurettes totaling roughly seven minutes with words from the cast and crew on their inspiration for joining the film, the challenges they faced on set, and Prince-Wright’s hopes in making the film a reality.
