Jury Sides With Hreljanovic in Just Before Dawn Case
A Florida courtroom ruling settles a rights battle over the 1981 slasher film, which has been hard to find on streaming and physical media.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Horror
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A jury ruled in favor of Vlado Hreljanovic in a Florida courtroom case over ownership of Just Before Dawn, the 1981 slasher film. The case was heard last month, in October 2026.
Why it matters
The film has been difficult to access because of the legal dispute over its rights, and the out-of-print Code Red Blu-ray fetches steep prices in secondhand markets. The ruling clears the way for Hreljanovic to pursue a new release.
The verdict was reached in a Florida courtroom and concerns a film released in 1981 during the Golden Age of Slashers, spanning 1978 to 1984. The specific financial terms of the ownership dispute were not disclosed in the available facts.
The players
Vlado Hreljanovic
A producer of Just Before Dawn who helped make the 1981 film with his father and won the Florida courtroom case over its ownership.
Jeff Lieberman
The director of Just Before Dawn, a filmmaker associated with the 1981 slasher that is part of the Golden Age of Slashers.
The details
Vlado Hreljanovic helped produce Just Before Dawn with his father, and the film was directed by Jeff Lieberman. Gregg Henry, Chris Lemmon, Deborah Benson, George Kennedy, and Mike Kellin star in the story of five young people who trek into the mountainous backwoods of Oregon to find inherited rural property.
Timeline
October 2026: Florida jury rules in favor of Hreljanovic in the rights case.
2027: Hreljanovic plans to release a 4K restoration of Just Before Dawn.
Horror Heritage
Just Before Dawn belongs to the Golden Age of Slashers from 1978 to 1984, a period that produced many horror films now sought by collectors. Its legal dispute shows how rights ownership can keep films from the era out of circulation.
Viewers who have struggled to find Just Before Dawn may gain access once a 4K restoration is released, though the release timing is planned for next year. Until then, the out-of-print Blu-ray remains costly on secondhand markets.
The takeaway
Rights disputes can keep classic films out of reach for years, so fans of older horror should watch for restorations and official releases. A clear legal outcome may open the door to better-quality versions of films like this one.
What happens next
Hreljanovic plans to release a 4K restoration of Just Before Dawn in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more horror coverage to see how rights disputes affect classic slasher films.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloody Disgusting!.
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