If I Die Before I Wake (1998)

This film really caught me off guard. I didn't know much on it aside from the fact that it was from Brian Katkin, who directed the Roger Corman quickie "The Coroner," and that it had been shelved for almost three years until Artisan picked it up for distribution and released it straight to video. "If I Die Before I Wake" managed to surprise me; being both a highly disturbing and effective film that matches in tone with the '70s horror classic, "Last House on the Left."

The films story centers around an average suburban family who receive an unsuspecting visit from a group of thieves (led by Muse Watson) on the run from the law. They find the parents and son, who they tie up, sodomize and violently attack. The only ones they missed out on were the teenage daughter LoriBeth (Stephanie Jones) and her little sister. LoriBeth tries her hardest to get in touch with the police and outsmart the thieves, while finding herself stuck all around the house looking for a possible escape plan.

At a running time of 77 minutes (including a long final credits sequence), this film doesn't take its time at all cutting to the chase, and the movie keepsmoves at a frentic pace. We don't get much insight on the thieves, but makes up for it by keeping you on the edge of your chair. One element that worked quite astonishingly is how the film sums up the family well in one scene alone where the thieves watch their home movies in a perversly manner. It's a gutwrenching moment iand I found it hard to shake off after watching it.

Katkin directs this film with an effective subtle manner that is perfect for the material. I liked that he pulls no punches here and keeps us guessing throughout who is going to possibly live or die during the situation. Some of the lighting (notably during the second half) needed a little bit of work, but he pulls off a good job nonetheless.

The acting is very convincing and another strong point of the film. In the lead role, Jones is excellent as LoriBeth, displaying plenty of range through her facial expressions alone and she keeps us rooting for her to make it through. I really hope that she gets recognized and I'd like to see her around in future projects. Watson, Michael McCleery and Anthony Nicosia make very good impressions as the thieves, with McCleery standing out as the less crazed memeber of the group.

Sure, you gotta suspend disbelief at times and Katkin throws a little credibility out the window in a few spots, but the film still manages to succeed as a nail-biting sleeper that deserves to find an audience. Although weak-stomached might want to seek something, I give the film a thumbs up for being a gutsy and powerful horror film.

Rating: **** out of *****

Review by Adam Eshack - (c) 1/21/02