There’s a certain kind of commitment that comes with watching a foreign horror film. It’s not just pressing play and zoning out while scrolling your phone during the slower moments. You’re locked in. You’re reading every line of dialogue. You’re paying attention to tone, delivery and visual storytelling in a way that a lot of English-language films let you get away from. It becomes less passive and more intentional.
And honestly, that’s part of the appeal, at least for me.
So. when I sat down to watch Dead by Dawn, I knew right away this wasn’t going to be background-noise horror. It was going to require my full attention. The question was whether that attention would be rewarded… or tested.
Dead by Dawn is a Polish horror film from Dawid Torrone that follows a group of theater actors lured to a remote and secluded playhouse under mysterious circumstances. Invited by a mysterious playwright and promised the opportunity to rehearse a brand-new production, the cast arrives expecting opportunity but quickly finds themselves trapped in something far more sinister.
As rehearsals begin, an unsettling presence makes itself known. The actors soon realize they are not alone and a masked killer begins stalking the theater’s halls, picking them off one by one. With no clear motive and no way to call for help, the troupe must confront the growing terror around them or risk not surviving the night.
Dead by Dawn is not your typical horror-slasher film but instead leans heavily into the traditions of the giallo genre, a style of horror rooted in Italian cinema that blends brutal violence with mystery-driven storytelling. Giallo films are known for their striking visual flair, often featuring bold colors, stylized lighting and carefully crafted cinematography that turns every scene into something almost surreal.
At their core, these films usually follow a murder-mystery structure, with a central character, often an outsider or reluctant investigator, trying to piece together the identity of a masked killer while bodies begin to pile up around them. The tension comes not just from the kills, but from unraveling secrets, red herrings and the constant question of who can be trusted, making the journey to the reveal just as important as the horror itself.
You may have noticed I have not mentioned any of the names of the characters who are part of Dead by Dawn. The reason for that is simple: unlike most films, this one really does not care about who these people are, on an individual level. The cast feels almost intentionally anonymous, more like pieces on a board than fully fleshed-out characters with distinct identities. Even the film’s listing on IMDb reflects that approach, offering little to no insight into who these characters are supposed to be beyond their presence in the story.
It creates a strange dynamic where you are not necessarily rooting for specific individuals to survive, but instead watching the situation unfold as a whole.
In some ways, this actually works in the film’s favor, reinforcing the mystery and making the killer’s presence feel more dominant, almost like the characters exist purely to serve the unfolding nightmare. At the same time, it can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Without clear emotional anchors, some of the tension loses its punch because you are not as invested in who lives or dies. It is an unconventional choice that adds to the film’s stylistic identity, but it also keeps the audience at a slight distance, which may not work for everyone.
As I previously mentioned, giallo films typically embrace violence as part of their identity, and Dead by Dawn absolutely leans into that expectation. This is not a film that cuts away at the last second or leaves the worst to your imagination. When the violence hits, it is front and center. One victim is brutally dismembered with an axe in a scene that lingers just long enough to make you uncomfortable. Another is grotesquely sawed in half with a chainsaw, the kind of moment that feels like it was designed to make even seasoned horror fans wince. Then there is a shotgun blast that quite literally obliterates a character’s head in a spray of gore that does not hold anything back.
What really sells these moments is how tactile and grounded the effects feel.
Instead of looking overly polished or artificial, the practical work here comes across as messy and disturbingly real, the kind of detail that makes you instinctively look away for a split second before pulling your eyes back to the screen. It is excessive in all the ways a giallo-inspired film should be, but it is also crafted with enough care that the brutality never feels cheap, just relentlessly effective.
I give Dead by Dawn four out of five stars. It is a stylish and brutal entry into the giallo tradition, delivering strong atmosphere, striking visuals and unapologetic violence that horror fans will appreciate. It fully commits to its tone, creating a tense and memorable experience that stands out from more formulaic entries in the genre.
Its biggest drawback comes from its unconventional choice to not center on any one character, which makes it harder to form an emotional connection and lessens the impact of the kills. Even so, the film’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of international horror.
Just be prepared to give it your full attention… and maybe keep those reading glasses close by.