ehzimmerman
I expected an entertaining "B" movie, and got much more -- believable characters, down-to-earth dialogue, and a plot twist that genuinely caught me off guard. I find refreshing any film with an atypical hero -- in this case, an ordinary nice guy who could be your next door neighbor, His insecurities and temptations feel familiar and understandable. It's no wonder critics quibbled pointlessly over whether "Dead by Dawn" borrowed from "Consenting Adults." A more honest response might arouse uncomfortably close-to-home feelings about how any one of us, at any time, could face temptations more dangerous than we realize. As a morality tale, this film is far more effective than most I've seen (e.g., by comparison, the not-very-believable "Unfaithful.")
writermancali
Why don't they make movies like this anymore? What happened to B-movies, to erotic thrillers? Dead by Dawn is not a great movie, but it is a competently made, low budget thriller that Hollywood used to make and doesn't anymore.There is a scene in this movie that is so beautifully photographed and so evocative of film noir that I was blown away. It is the scene, shot at night by the pool, where the main character sneaks into a house via the pool area to have sex with a woman he has wanted for a long time. This is classic stuff. The main character looks a little like Robert Mitchum, and the nighttime shot is lit expertly and beautifully.Another writer has said that this movie is a ripoff of Consenting Adults with Kevin Kline. There are obvious parallels, but it is far from a rip off.
bdrinan
I liked this film... But I would have to say that it really isn't that sexy. The love scenes are rather boring, but the story rocks. The dialogue was great and the detective stuff was cool. It's a good murder mystery, but not your typical Shannpon Tweed movie.
squareday987
I throughly enjoyed watching Dead by Dawn on HBO Cinemax. As a someone who has read over 500 mystery novels this year alone, I was impressed by how involved I became with the characters of this psychological mystery.It was mostly because the characters were so well formed. They were very much like real people you might know socially in your neighborhood. The film is a must for those who love good dramatic acting. My wife and I have watched this film five times and we still enjoy picking out new clues.And although the film was very racy in some places it was tastefully done and was not sexist or offensive to my wife.
AD
