Friday, February 18, 2011

Damned by Dawn and Removing Curses: A Movie Review

Director: Brett Anstey.

Writers: Rob Townshend, Brett Anstey, and Russell Friedrich.

The Australian shot Damned by Dawn was released on DVD and Blu-ray November 9th, 2010, through Image Entertainment. This film had an appearance at Frightfest this same year and director Brett Anstey's first foray into feature films is a horrifying pleasure. Full of flying skeletons, roaming zombies and, of course, screaming banshees, Damned by Dawn reminds viewers not to mess with ancient curses.

Renee Wilner plays Claire, the curse meddler and before you can scream cut, legions of undead hordes are offing Claire's clan. She did not listen to her mother's words of letting the banshee help her Nana into the afterlife. Not only did she not listen, but she impaled the helping spirit on a wooden spike. Now, all hell breaks loose!

Soon, skeletons with scythes are knocking down Claire's door. They do not stop here and before you know it, Claire is fighting a one woman battle against the evil netherworld. This character does not seem up to the challenge, as she hides in closets, shivers in fear and runs out on those who need her most. However, Claire is eventually putting chaos back in its place, by finally listening to her Nan's thoughtful words. But, what of future members of the clan?

Curses have been around since ancient Greek times, when fateful, God-created spells would follow entire families. Remember, Oedipus? Although the film ends in favour of the mortals, curses do not die quite so easily. The Amazing Krypto Bros. will surely bring back Claire in a future film, where the banshee's wail still promises to turn her good days into bad.

Step into a mythological underworld full of caverns to hell, in this excellent film from Anstey and others. Damned by Dawn promises curses, just hope they are not passed on to you!

Plot/story/believability/closure: 7 (some good mythology built here, not much believability, set in fantasy, the ending is a little too clean cut).
Setting/realism/surrealism: 8 (this reviewer enjoyed the CGI enhanced landscapes and haunting, others might not).
Acting/believability/consistency: 6.5 (independent first timers, Peter Stratford was great, hard-ass).

Overall: 7.1 wails out of 10 (great soundtrack and sound effects).

The film's official website is here:

The Damned by Dawn Homepage

Director Brett Anstey talked with central 28DLA.com writer, Michael Allen on this title:

Brett Anstey Interview on 28DLA

Purchasable:



Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA

 |  |  |  |  |  | 

Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis by Email

0 comments: