It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I was drawn in by the fact it was filmed in Yorkshire, but didn't have high hopes but I really, really liked this. It starts slowly, which serves as a stark contrast to the violence to come, and gets very intense, very quickly. Tho not big budget the production values are outstanding, and it looks beautiful. The music is haunting, the cast is small and keeping the set/location small gives the house a claustrophobic feel. I'm not sure why people are saying it's "not really a zombie movie, it's a drama". Can there only be one kind of zombie movie? And there is enough zombie carnage in this for most people, surely. I have seen EVERY zombie film there is (ok most, not all) and this is very good - I found the undead rather unnerving, and the characters were flawed, sympathetic and believable. It required a bit more of the audience perhaps, but that is not a bad thing. It stayed with me long after it was over. Highly recommended.

First review I have ever written and felt compelled to do so in order to save other victims... sorry innocent viewers from exposing themselves to one and a half (plus) hours of sheer drivel! For a zombie movie to evade any zombie action for the first 40 minutes; I would expect and gladly welcome an alternate, strong intro, carried forward by engaging and relevant dialogue. Instead we are presented with two dimensional characters living lives I couldn't care less about and delivering banal dialogue that warrants a "can cause drowsiness" warning! Things only get worse as the (dare I call it) story? Attempts to move forward but is ultimately thwarted by stale performances, atrocious cinematography, lack of a sound engineer and on the whole, kamikaze film making. To get a film made is no mean feat and I have to applaud the film makers in that respect but why invest time, money and energy into a baseless project that exists for the sake of existing. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!

I don't find zombie horror scary... in the sense I never lose sleep after watching rabid humans munching down on peoples' gooey floppy bits. I do appreciate the art of a good zombie horror, though, the essentials for a successful one and I do enjoy them when these are met. This movie ticks all the boxes.It isn't overrun with gore, no, it's not a fast-paced knock-their-blocks-off brain splattering thrill ride from the off.Zombie horror should be made in England because we have that endless amount of empty rolling countryside that is bound to be hiding some unfavourables behind that hill or that well positioned tree. It's just a matter of when they'll violently flail onto our screen. Plus we have that blunt way of approaching doomsday, reflecting our own dismal repressed lives which we smooth off with an awkward gag.OK, Shaun of the Dead it isn't, but when it picks up tempo the last half of the film runs beautifully according to the rules of good zombie flicks. You get the important bits - you can connect to the main character, you get the uncomfortable survival moment which tests human nature, you get the tidbits of end of the world humour and one or two gooey floppies. I don't know what else people want from this kind of movie..."Nana's here."

What Before Dawn has managed to do is give a well needed dose of life and energy into a sub-genre which has been faltering somewhat of late. The tone, pace and aesthetic of the film are all marvellous. The relationship between Alex and Meg is so engrossing and believable that it draws you right in. This is very much an examination of human interaction, in which the zombie apocalypse just so happens to be occurring in the background. It's too easy to make the Mike Leigh and Ken Loach comparisons, because they are very unique filmmakers, thankfully, so is Dominic Brunt.The pathos which is generated by the shambling, partially alcoholic Alex is a stark contrast to the energetic and productive Meg; however, an emptiness exists in them both, cleverly accentuated by sharp, penetrating dialogue. The subtle jibes which they make at each other, even in the midst of kind gestures will ring true to anyone whose relationship has passed the point of no return. Alex's strained interactions with this mother in law are also particularly well written and delivered. Nicky Evans' Alex is one of the finest examples of survivalist character to appear in many years. He manages to generate both suspicion and empathy simultaneously, his appearance climaxing in a particularly effecting manner. This is not to categorise the film as a kitchen sink drama with zombies either, for that would be an injustice. It is merely the fact that the richness and depth of the characters on screen generates a connection that is rarely seen in genre features. A marvellous combination of astute filmmaking and deft knowledge of the horror film, Before Dawn is a film which warrants multiple viewings to allow the multitude of subtleties to sink in.Where the film really succeeds is that it delivers on the gore front as well. The zombies are of a new ilk, one which manages to create a new strain of terror, just when we thought we'd seen it all. Their stripped, shorn faces, accentuated by blood red eyes and frantic lunges become terrifying and we begin to feel as edgy as the characters within the piece. Before Dawn is a rare treat, an intelligent genre piece which has so much to offer. The performances are a testament to all involved and certainly one of the most talked about movies at Grimmfest. If there is any justice in the, this movie will take pride of place in any discerning horror fans collection. I can only hope that this is merely the first that we've seen of Dominic Brunt and Joanne Mitchell. Colin McCracken also writes extensively for zombiehamster.com as well as a number of genre publications. He can be found on Twitter as @zombiehamster