If I Die Before I Wake

Story Line: When a sadistic thug (Watson) and his two buddies invade a suburban home and brutalize the family, teenage daughter Lori Beth (Jones) and her baby sister initially escape detection. When they're finally discovered, however, Lori Beth fights back rather than submit to torture and rape.

Bottom Line: This is the nastiest piece of work to come out for some time. The low-budget video premiere with a cast of unknowns doesn't waste any time on unnecessary plot exposition or character development. The home invasion gets underway while the opening credits are rolling, and the brutality commences immediately. Since the unfortunate family never connects with viewers, there's no need to treat them kindly. The mother is raped, the father killed, and the brother bludgeoned to a pulp. Even the resourceful daughter gets pretty well pummeled. Only the baby girl remains unharmed. And when the film ends, it leaves no explanations or recriminations. If I Die is generally well-made and suspenseful, and the thrills are certainly visceral, but it's an ugly movie. Since there seems to be a steadily increasing appetite for such fare, it could do very well at rental. --Ed Hulse