Part of Midnight Movies: Bonkers! ‘80s Indie Action Insanity. See also: HARD TICKET TO HAWAII (Sat, May 4 at Midnight)
The absolute definition of DIY filmmaking, DEADBEAT AT DAWN is a cult classic that deserves the moniker -- an indie revenge movie with more thrills and bloody spills than all of Chuck Norris’ films combined. ‘80s visionary wunderkind Jim Van Bebber wrote, directed, did stunts and makeup FX for and starred in this raucous tale of Goose: a former gang leader whose girlfriend is slaughtered when he leaves the thug life behind. As he’s pulled back into the gang during an uneasy alliance with the murdering thugs, Goose exacts his head-crushing revenge… (Synopsis courtesy of American Genre Film Archive)
“Jim Van Bebber’s shot-on-16mm masterpiece came careening out of Dayton, Ohio in 1988 like a runaway lawnmower blade, setting the standard for all nihilist street-gang movies to follow. Visceral, unspeakably violent, and fearless, Van Bebber could have easily lost his life making this film. You may lose yours watching it.” —Austin Film Society