First let me say that this movie left me feeling weird. I was rolling right along with it until Jason's Mom found out. It's was like enjoying a bike ride with decent weather and a pretty nice pace and then- CRASH! It just went off course in a really unbelievable way. I believe the relationship was realistic- he's 17 almost 18 and she's probably around 22 or 23 (4 years is a big deal between a student and a teacher but 4 years fast forward is not). I could believe that. But everything else happened too fast to be believable. In the span of about a week they fell in love, everyone found out, she gets raped by a colleague and she leaves him in an awful situation (albeit of his own making) because "she loves him" and then she takes the train to somewhere? Where is her car for starters? Why does she leave him knowing he's in a bad way (she doesn't know the details but she's guessed what he's been up to)? Part of Jason's charm is his passion and energy for Lila. So his Mom pretty much shatters his world with Lila and he says nothing beyond "she's leaving"? And the mother's response of a cliched "this too shall pass" speech rounded off by an offer to make him food? She said more to her husband about why it was wrong than what she said to her son that she feels was in danger from this woman. It's just really uneven and the end betrays what the actors tried to build in the beginning. It was a very poetic end, a very "Stay Gold" and keep your chin up type of ending; which would have been fine if it had a different beginning and middle (say if she'd never acted inappropriately with him and left before it got out of hand for his sake). The end needed to be fleshed out a whole lot more to have balance. If there was a sequel (and there have been smaller way less theatrically pleasing movies that have gone on to have sequels) then please give the people that spent their time watching it a better ending! It doesn't have to be happy- just more. Show Lila 5 years down the road still unable to be in a relationship (because between her ex-husband and her student, her picker is definitely flawed) and show Jason finally graduating from college in a normal relationship or with a job (maybe a teacher himself) or getting out of prison and needing a fresh start like Lila did when she first met him. But don't show us how good they could be but leave them more damaged than before, because where is the story telling in that? I'll tell you where- disappointing for the characters that in the beginning took so much time developing. I didn't feel like I was left wanting more from this ending, I felt disappointed like it just stopped in a bad way. Unfinished.
91 Reviews
Mediocre at best
WhoMadeYouGod7 November 2019
I had to write a review about this after reading all the 10/10 reviews already on here - now, forgive me for being cynical but I'm calling BS on the majority of them. There is absolutely no way this is a 10/10 movie, get a grip... clearly people involved in the production/ actors etc.
The storyline is so so but rather poorly done, as another reviewer stated it glamourises and romanticises a serious subject matter - which IMO is in poor taste. The actors I think do what they can but they aren't particularly engaging. Poor acting, poor writing, poor direction.
A typical TV/Prime low budget movie. Giving it a 6 is being generous.
The storyline is so so but rather poorly done, as another reviewer stated it glamourises and romanticises a serious subject matter - which IMO is in poor taste. The actors I think do what they can but they aren't particularly engaging. Poor acting, poor writing, poor direction.
A typical TV/Prime low budget movie. Giving it a 6 is being generous.
This is a difficult one to review......
skpn12320 October 2019
I really find nothing more descipable than student teacher relationships and I think an unstable woman like the lead character Lila should clearly not be teaching at all. However young Jared Scott does a stellar job as Jason and despite my strong views on this subject I could not help wondering by the end if Jason might be better off heading for the hills with Lila - he is in a serious pickle that will be hard to escape......
Good drama with reprocussions
thejhorton29 April 2020
On the surface it's kinda a lifetime movie. Teacher has an affair with her troubled student. But this is handled with a lot of care and features a really strong lead performance by the teacher and even a bit of suspense. Extra points for the score.
Straightforward teacher student affair
phd_travel10 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This isn't a Lifetime thriller type movie about a student teacher affair. Not a wacko stalker movie. Basically an affair, the discovery and it ends. No Mary Kay LeTourneau complications. Except a crazy teaching colleague rapist that seems out of place.
The teacher played by Alana de Freitas reminds a bit of Anne Heche. Her character sounds silly at times. That's quite realistic I guess since only a silly teacher would sleep with her student repeatedly. The student may be a slightly familiar face for Lifetime viewers.
Ok movie to watch but didn't quite get the point of the story if there was one.
The teacher played by Alana de Freitas reminds a bit of Anne Heche. Her character sounds silly at times. That's quite realistic I guess since only a silly teacher would sleep with her student repeatedly. The student may be a slightly familiar face for Lifetime viewers.
Ok movie to watch but didn't quite get the point of the story if there was one.
Delicate subject handled well
lindapalmer25 June 2020
OMG Serious fake reviews
nituaggarwal13 January 2020
Interesting teacher-student affair story
directortim20129 October 2019
An illicit affair, done with "class." OK, given it's an affair between a teacher and a student, that was kind of pun. But it's true! Given the premise, I kind of expected something like late-night Cinemax fare. But this film gave me way more than that. The affair in the story plays out in a very real, un-soapy kind of way. I believed in the reality of the characters and I felt for them. That's not to say the film isn't sexy... it is. But it's done with more sophistication and aplomb than one might expect. Well shot and especially well acted, by two very beautiful young actors. (The student kind of reminded me of a young Johnny Depp.) A very enthusiastic recommend for this movie!
interesting
KimmyTKA12 October 2019
Saw The Boy Next Door with JLo a few years ago. This actually plays the idea straighter and I thought the acting and camerawork is good. Some people might not like it because of the subject matter but I thought it was cool.
What the actual...
fatima-a-umar12 October 2019
A movie faced with actors who cant act. Glorifying a student teacher relationship. At times I felt like I was watching an Ex rated movie! I watched the best part of 30 minutes before I fell asleep to wake up to them in bed. What the actual eff... want my 30 minutes back please!
FORBIDDEN LOVE BUT SUPER INTERESTING
catfanatic88823 January 2020
I didn't expect much from this movie but it is actually a hidden gem. It is an intriguing film all the way by a great cast of somewhat unknown actors. It feels real not like a normal potboiler. The dialogue is believable and I Found myself anxious waiting for what happen next. It was really exciting and not a dull moment. And I found myself feeling compassionate towards the two leads as they seemed to have a genuine connection of love.
Low budget but good story
missrri15 August 2022
Hear me out. Yes, this is a low budget production, yes, it is a bit cringe in some places, yes, it can feel a bit forced to some, BUT it is nonetheless a good story with good dialogue throughout. The two main actors are VERY attractive (especially the young man) and I would go so far to say that Jared Scott (Jason) plays his character a lot better/more genuine than the writer of the movie herself (Lila). The dialogue is quite genuine and realistic and it makes for an enjoyable movie. If this was a Netflix -backed production, it would've been very cringe and fake and unwatchable. This movie however delivers a powerful story and it does have a seed in reality I think. I really enjoyed the story and the development of the plot. Very good work!
Awful waste of time!
nishil-patel13 January 2020
Great Forbidden love story!
moviemarkwilson-796-70625717 November 2019
A well acted melodrama dealing with a forbidden high school love between student and teacher. An interesting dynamic created between the two leads and the relationship felt very believable. The production value was great, check out this film!
Interesting...
twwarrior14 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It was an ok movie I give it 6/10. But some very stupid things that make it interesting to read reviews and see how others saw this movie, what am I talking about? Well, the teacher gets raped by another teacher, she does not report it to the police, she says because he will tell police about the student-teacher relationship. And then the movie ends without the rapist ever being brought to justice.
Am I seriously the only one who finds this extremely stupid or does this seem normal to you? Even if the rape did not happen, the movie ending would still be pretty damn stupid. (She leaves to protect him, and the boy goes on to commit crimes like his brother anyway LOL)
I said it was an ok movie but with what I said above, I change my rating to 1 star.
Am I seriously the only one who finds this extremely stupid or does this seem normal to you? Even if the rape did not happen, the movie ending would still be pretty damn stupid. (She leaves to protect him, and the boy goes on to commit crimes like his brother anyway LOL)
I said it was an ok movie but with what I said above, I change my rating to 1 star.
Dull, over-complicated and questionable
jillanniefranklin6 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Really did not particularly enjoy this film. It felt more like something you see on the Hallmark Channel than at the Indie Arthouse cinema - particularly during the "erotic" scenes.
The plot was far too complicated and at times seemed unrealistic - brother in jail, drug dealing (with the most cliche looking/talking gang ever). It was like they were trying to cram every single dramatic idea into one messy film. A lot of the reactions, particularly of the mother went totally out of character.
The two lead actors are probably the most beautiful people I've ever seen on screen and both seemed like they deserved a better script. Messy, unremarkable and forgettable.
The plot was far too complicated and at times seemed unrealistic - brother in jail, drug dealing (with the most cliche looking/talking gang ever). It was like they were trying to cram every single dramatic idea into one messy film. A lot of the reactions, particularly of the mother went totally out of character.
The two lead actors are probably the most beautiful people I've ever seen on screen and both seemed like they deserved a better script. Messy, unremarkable and forgettable.
Acting
anthony-rey2117 December 2021
Overall the acting is bad and makes the audience uncomfortable all the way through.
The choice of actors is not bad but I think the director must be quite inexperienced and did not provide any guidance to the actors. Most scenes have the potential to be good, it's a shame the execution is bad.
The choice of actors is not bad but I think the director must be quite inexperienced and did not provide any guidance to the actors. Most scenes have the potential to be good, it's a shame the execution is bad.
Darkness before the light...
beemtoaustin27 August 2020
This will be very tough subject matter for those coming to it with preconceived opinions and overly judgmental attitudes. But let's be honest, these things do happen, and probably more often than we'd care to admit. Forbidden love, student-teacher relationships are doomed from the outset, and this film makes that clear in the very beginning. Performances from the two leads are sensitive and realistic, and deserving of the many awards. Give this good indie drama a good look and don't be surprised to see these actors a lot more in the future.
can not believe the great reviews
vickiswanson1 December 2021
Well, I am persevering, and half way through, only because of the incredible reviews and the astounding amount of award nominations ! Goes beyond belief,- it is so poorly acted, poorly edited, almost no soundtrack, really, really bad !!!!!
Descent Into the Inferno
lavatch7 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Ms. Lila Kendy has just ended a marriage filled with violence. She leaves behind a sad chapter in her life at Braybook to begin a fresh start at teaching English at Westbury High School. But unbeknownst to Ms. Kendy, she will be rapidly descending into Dante's Inferno in a new and harrowing experience.
When starting her new job, Ms. Kendy crosses the line with her student Jason Walker, an aspiring poet. Jason is also a troubled youth (or "bad seed") with a history of fighting at the rough Marburg school district. Ms. Kendy and Jason bond over their traumatic backgrounds and begin an ill-starred love affair.
The interesting conceit of the film was to contrast the rape of Ms. Kendy by Andrew Williams, the PE coach at Westbury, with the more innocent love of Ms. Kendy and Jason. Even Jason's parents debate the propriety of their son's relationship with the father taking the side of his son.
The script of "Before the Dawn" was written by Alana de Freitas, who also played the role of Ms. Kendy. There was a clear and insightful vision to the film with an interesting group of characters that included a group of drug dealers with whom Jason was involved. His older brother was enmeshed with the group and is now sitting in prison.
The shattering ending of the film suggests a bleak future for Jason with the likelihood that he will follow in his brother's footsteps in gang-related criminal activity. With good intentions, Ms. Kendy refuses to allow Jason to accompany her in her exit from Westbury. As both characters confront the challenges of a new dawn in the inferno, their futures would appear to be bleak indeed.
When starting her new job, Ms. Kendy crosses the line with her student Jason Walker, an aspiring poet. Jason is also a troubled youth (or "bad seed") with a history of fighting at the rough Marburg school district. Ms. Kendy and Jason bond over their traumatic backgrounds and begin an ill-starred love affair.
The interesting conceit of the film was to contrast the rape of Ms. Kendy by Andrew Williams, the PE coach at Westbury, with the more innocent love of Ms. Kendy and Jason. Even Jason's parents debate the propriety of their son's relationship with the father taking the side of his son.
The script of "Before the Dawn" was written by Alana de Freitas, who also played the role of Ms. Kendy. There was a clear and insightful vision to the film with an interesting group of characters that included a group of drug dealers with whom Jason was involved. His older brother was enmeshed with the group and is now sitting in prison.
The shattering ending of the film suggests a bleak future for Jason with the likelihood that he will follow in his brother's footsteps in gang-related criminal activity. With good intentions, Ms. Kendy refuses to allow Jason to accompany her in her exit from Westbury. As both characters confront the challenges of a new dawn in the inferno, their futures would appear to be bleak indeed.
Zero chemistry
mcrboro12 August 2020
Like every cliche teacher-student movie ever made
robtyrrell-9860717 January 2020
Good lord, this movie has been made dozens of times since the 80s...and almost always better. Clumsy plot development, predictable, cliche-ridden dialogue, bad acting, gaping plot holes; this one's got it all. At least the boy is incredibly hot.
One of the few movies that I actually gave up on and turned off before the end. Life is too short to waste the time watching this.
One of the few movies that I actually gave up on and turned off before the end. Life is too short to waste the time watching this.
Not captivating, not good, DONT watch
MovieQween-336226 March 2020
Save yourself and don't watch!!! This is even worse than a lifetime movie. I don't even know why I decided to watch this but it was truly that bad. The acting was laughable. The plot was so poor and executed even more poorly. Anyone who says different must be an actor or friend of the movie.
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