Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Dawn of the Beast’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Dawn of the Beast’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that mankind has made the impossible, possible, during its short time on this Earth. For not only have we become the dominant species through and through, but we have also created all kinds of incredible technology that has made our lives easier in every way imaginable. Because now we can traverse the globe in a matter of hours, and we can order a meal with the press of a button and we’ve even eradicated illnesses that once preyed upon us for generations. But truly, our shining achievement; are the discoveries that technology has allowed for us to make, since we now know so much about our world and the creatures that inhabit it.
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In fact, we’ve gotten to the point where our technology is so well refined that ancient mysteries that we once believed were unexplainable, have indeed been explained. Yet despite the fact that we live in an age of information and discovery, to the point where you can learn more about anything and everything on the very device, you’re reading this review upon, there are still a great deal of us… that believe in more than we can see. For so many still believe that ghosts are real, despite the fact that technology hasn’t proven their existence. Plus, some folks hold tight to the idea, that there are still unexplained and undiscovered creatures lurking in the shadows of the world. Leaving those that believe in such matters, to ponder upon what might happen in modern man encountered them at last, and it just so happens, that a new horror movie on the market, explores that concept in Dawn of the Beast.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a group of students that are heading into the heart of the Northeast during a dangerous time known as ‘The Dead Month’. And it is called that, simply because during this time of year, people go missing on a consistent basis… or turn up dead and the prevailing belief, is that mysterious forces, such as Sasquatch, roam this place and strike with impunity. A myth that these students are hoping to prove is a reality for the sake of science, and by a stroke of fate; some of the group is able to prove that he is indeed real. But at quite the cost, for these woods are also host to a great and ancient evil known as the Wendigo and it is eager to claim their souls, one by one, and now this simple investigation will evolve into a fight for survival as the Wendigo hunts them in the dead of night.

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So, it’s best we get this out in the open right now and declare this motion picture to be an outright refreshing surprise. Because this is actually quite the scary and unsettling picture, and what makes that so refreshing, is the sheer fact that a great deal of movies in this vein… tend to stick to shadows and routine scares to try and get under the viewer’s skin. But this one, well it holds nothing back in regard to the gore or the monsters, and the creatures that appear in this film are so well-done effects wise and so well utilized in the plot and the camera work… that they make your skin crawl, and they straight up make you jump when they appear out of the blue. Which is wonderful to find, since scaring an audience in this day and age is no easy task.
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But while the splatter and the scares are definitely a welcome treat, what truly makes this motion picture so magnificent, is that it features a complete and thoughtful plot. For there is a perfect three act structure to this film, and the script is so crisp and so well written, that the movie never wastes a single moment. That allows for the story to move along at a wonderful pace… one that brings the scares while educating the audience on who these characters are and what makes them tick, alongside offering up a complete re-telling of the legends of the Wendigo and Bigfoot. If anything, this level of quality writing, is a rare find for an indie creature feature and screenwriter Anna Shields (who also plays Lilly) deserves a round of applause, for doing such a wonderful job in laying down the foundation for this movie.

One that is an absolute delight through and through. Because Dawn of the Beast offers up everything that a horror fan could want and more. Because if you want buckets of gore, you’ll find that here no problem, and if you want quality special effects and amazing monsters, you’ll find that here too. Plus, you can never go wrong with a horror film that offers up a compelling story and fun characters and humor to change things up when the scares become too much to bear. So, if you’re in the mood for something wonderful and entertaining, then please give this particular motion picture a look when you have a chance. Because this one really is quite the special horror film, the kind that takes you on a breathless rollercoaster ride, and leaves you clamoring for more once it comes to an end.     

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