There are cult films, and then there are cult films. Jim VanBebber’s Deadbeat at Dawn falls into that second category, as does the filmmaker himself. This new Arrow release serves as a full tribute to the man and his work. Deadbeat at Dawn was made when, as the story goes, Jim dropped out of film school and used his student loan to finance finishing this project. It tells the story of Goose, a young gang leader in Dayton, Ohio. Goose is happy bumbling along having fights with other gangs and selling drugs, until his beloved girlfriend gives him an ultimatum: it’s her or the gang. When Goose tries to leave the life behind, it refuses to let him go and he is soon set on a path towards blood and violence.
And what violence it is, as VanBebber crafts a film almost cartoonish in its confrontation, but also sincere with emotion and almost surreal in the execution. It’s a wonderfully made film, brimming with confidence and ambition and heart, and stuffed with great quotable moments, performances and numerous wince-inducing fights. That he wrote, produced, directed and starred in it at the age of 23 is an incredible achievement.
For VanBebber completists, this release is superlative, stuffed to bursting point with extras and boasting a lovely 2K restoration. It’s a visually vivid film that deserves respectful treatment and this it gets here with a print that, considering the low budget and restrictions he was up against, is now beautifully sharp and clear. The major extras here are a lively commentary including VanBebber and cast members, and a new 80-minute documentary on VanBebber and his career, covering his high school experiments in film, Deadbeat at Dawn itself, his career after that and his short films. It’s slightly uneven, but for the director’s appreciators there’s a lot here. There’s archival footage that provides further context on the difficulties inherent in getting anything made. VanBebber is still going as well, and this release has four of those short films to show what he could do given the right conditions. It’s rounded out by music videos VanBebber shot, image galleries, a trailer for an unmade film and further writing on the main feature.
Deadbeat at Dawn is a great example of what someone can achieve when they have a clear vision and self-belief. It’s a generous package of extras that really does VanBebber’s achievement justice. For any committed fans of either this film or VanBebber in general you can up the score below by another point for two. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates low-budget creativity and passion.
DEADBEAT AT DAWN (1988) / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: JIM VAN BEBBER / STARRING: PAUL HARPER, JIM VAN BEBBER, MEGAN MURPHY, RIC WALKER / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
