Product Details

• Actors: Stanley Anderson, G.W. Bailey, Kim Coates, Jensen Daggett, Cheryl Ladd
• Directors: Charles Correll
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Mac Filmworks
• DVD Release Date: January 23, 2007
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000K7UHIS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,727 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Based upon a true story this twisted tale of obsession and murder unfolds as the battered wife of a very successful yet violent and abusive husband through fear of his personal life embarrassing his clients has commissioned an assassin to murder her before the court date. Unfortunately for him the hired gun is an FBI agent working undercover who advises her that she must "pretend" to have been murdered in order to prove her husband's guilt.System Requirements:Running Time: 110 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/CRIME UPC: 879431000091 Manufacturer No: MAC09

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Docudrama, April 22, 2006

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Dead Before Dawn (DVD)

Based on a true case that took place in Dallas in 1987, "Dead Before Dawn" is about a woman caught in a viciously abusive marriage, who despite her fear and no resources of her own, files for a divorce. Her ambitious husband decides that a little more finality in their split would be less embarrassing for his real estate partners than a messy divorce, and hires a hit man for a "permanent solution." Unfortunately for the husband, the contractor he hires hands the job over to an "expert," but not the kind of expert anyone expects...as he works for the FBI.

The cast is fine, with the attractive Cheryl Ladd lovely as Linda, the bruised and frightened wife, Jameson Parker good as the horrible husband, and Kim Coates creepy as Zack the hitman/FBI agent. Matt Clark and Hope Lange do well as Linda's parents, who are helpful with her 2 children. Directed by Charles Correll with nice pacing and some intense moments, the plot is intriguing and keeps one's interest despite a few holes here and there, and if you enjoy true-life crime dramas, you'll find this TV movie quite entertaining.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lifetime's Best, March 4, 2010

By 

Annie Oakley "book worm" (Bonita Springs FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dead Before Dawn (DVD)

I have long been a fan of Cheryl Ladd and loved watching this movie on Lifetime. I was thrilled to purchase this DVD as you can no longer find Cheryl Ladd in movies as she is deemed "too Old" by today's standards. This is one of my favorites as it is based on a true story that is beyond belief. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who loves movies with women in them and not the kids of today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent performances, but I can't watch it again!, September 23, 2010

By 

J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dead Before Dawn (DVD)

Make no mistake about it -- Dead Before Dawn is a really good film. I always enjoy a good Lifetime movie about a woman who triumphs in the end, despite the most horiffic circumstances. And, although this film is based on a true story, like many other Lifetime movies that I adore, I do not believe that I will ever watch Dead Before Dawn again. The scenes of physical and psychological abuse are so extreme, so well-acted and intense, that I found myself getting physically sick at times -- and this is from a woman who loves horror movies!

However, this is a nicely paced drama that fans of crime stories will love.