‘JUST BEFORE DAWN’ Producer Wins Copyright Battle Against Dark Force Entertainment
JUST BEFORE DAWN Producer Wins Copyright Battle Against Cult Horror Distributor Dark Force Entertainment
More than four decades after its original release, the 1981 cult slasher JUST BEFORE DAWN has found itself at the center of a contentious copyright dispute involving expired distribution agreements, allegations of forged documents, and a horror distributor known as “The Demon.”
According to Variety, producer Vlado Hreljanovic has prevailed in a copyright infringement lawsuit against David DeFalco, the former professional wrestler, filmmaker, and operator of Dark Force Entertainment. The case concluded on October 20, 2026, when a six-person jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, found DeFalco liable for copyright infringement and awarded Hreljanovic $46,000 in statutory damages.
The verdict followed approximately four years of litigation over who possessed the legal authority to distribute JUST BEFORE DAWN, a low-budget survival slasher starring George Kennedy that has developed a devoted following among horror enthusiasts.
For Hreljanovic, now 79, the dispute was about protecting the rights to a film he helped finance alongside his father. For DeFalco, the lawsuit became a public confrontation over licensing practices within the increasingly specialized world of cult horror home-video distribution.
Released in 1981, JUST BEFORE DAWN follows a group of young campers who venture into the Oregon wilderness, only to encounter a deadly threat lurking in the remote mountains. The film arrived during the early American slasher boom and has since earned recognition as an overlooked genre entry, including a place on Variety's list of lesser-known frightening films.
The legal dispute traces back to 2012, when Hreljanovic entered into a six-year distribution agreement with Bill Olsen, founder of Code Red DVD. The label specialized in releasing obscure horror, exploitation, and cult films on physical media.
That agreement expired in 2018.
Hreljanovic chose not to renew the arrangement, citing difficulties obtaining financial statements and dissatisfaction with how the licensing relationship had been handled. Although Olsen had received permission to distribute the film during the agreement's six-year term, Hreljanovic maintained that ownership of the copyright remained with his family.
The situation became more complicated in 2022, four years after the original agreement expired.
DeFalco, who had worked with Olsen and established his own distribution company, Dark Force Entertainment, claimed that Olsen had authorized him to license JUST BEFORE DAWN to the horror streaming service Shudder for two years.
According to DeFalco, Olsen was experiencing declining health, and the licensing arrangement was intended to help generate money for his caregiver. DeFalco told Variety that the Shudder agreement produced approximately $10,000 in revenue.
However, Hreljanovic maintained that Olsen no longer possessed the necessary distribution rights to authorize such an agreement.
After discovering that JUST BEFORE DAWN was streaming on Shudder and that physical copies were being sold through major retailers, Hreljanovic challenged the continued commercial distribution of the film.
The resulting lawsuit involved several parties connected to the title's distribution, including AMC Networks, which owns Shudder, Kino Lorber, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and individuals associated with the Olsen family's distribution businesses.
Bill Olsen died before the lawsuit was filed, while his brother Walt Olsen, who operated Scorpion Releasing, died several months later.
The other defendants eventually reached settlements outside court, leaving DeFalco as the remaining party contesting the infringement allegations.
What might otherwise have remained a relatively obscure licensing dispute quickly developed into a public spectacle.
DeFalco, who refers to himself as “The Demon,” began discussing the lawsuit through livestreams and social media videos, frequently criticizing Hreljanovic and his attorneys in profanity-filled statements.
In some recordings, DeFalco appeared alongside individuals wearing horror-inspired costumes and used aggressive imagery while discussing the litigation. The videos became part of the increasingly hostile atmosphere surrounding the case, although DeFalco later disputed suggestions that he had threatened anyone.
Hreljanovic's attorneys attempted to introduce the recordings during the trial, but the judge did not allow them to be presented as evidence.
Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the proceedings, the central legal issue remained straightforward: who owned the copyright to JUST BEFORE DAWN, and whether DeFalco possessed valid authorization to distribute it.
DeFalco challenged Hreljanovic's ability to establish a complete chain of title, arguing that the producer had not adequately demonstrated ownership of the film.
Hreljanovic's legal team responded with documentation tracing the copyright back approximately 45 years. His attorneys also alleged that a document purportedly transferring rights from Olsen to DeFalco had been forged.
The alleged forgery was among the claims raised during the litigation, although the jury's verdict concerned copyright infringement rather than a separate criminal finding of forgery.
Following two days of testimony and a day of jury deliberations, Hreljanovic prevailed.
The jury awarded $46,000 in statutory damages, considerably less than the $150,000 maximum available under the applicable copyright provisions.
The verdict represented a significant victory for Hreljanovic, whose legal team argued that the expiration of the original licensing agreement did not permit subsequent distributors to continue exploiting the film without authorization.
The case also highlighted the financial challenges associated with litigating ownership disputes over older genre titles.
DeFalco told Variety that he accumulated approximately $200,000 in legal expenses before eventually representing himself during the trial. He also acknowledged relying on artificial intelligence to assist with legal filings, including documents that contributed to a favorable pretrial ruling.
Despite the jury's decision, DeFalco has indicated that he intends to seek a new trial and does not plan to voluntarily pay the damages award.
He has also announced plans to move away from the physical-media business, stating that he intends to wind down Dark Force Entertainment while pursuing a separate streaming venture.
For independent horror distributors and collectors, the dispute raises broader questions about the licensing practices surrounding older films, particularly titles that have circulated through multiple companies and distribution arrangements over several decades.
Boutique labels have played an important role in preserving cult horror cinema by financing restorations, producing supplemental features, and introducing obscure titles to new generations of viewers.
However, the JUST BEFORE DAWN dispute illustrates how complications can arise when distribution agreements expire, licensing authority becomes unclear, or the documentation supporting a film's ownership is challenged.
A distributor's previous access to a title does not necessarily establish permanent ownership or the authority to grant new licenses after an agreement has ended.
For horror fans, however, the outcome could also lead to a welcome development.
Hreljanovic told Variety that he intends to release a new 4K restoration of JUST BEFORE DAWN in 2027, potentially bringing the cult slasher back to physical media in a newly restored presentation.
Although DeFalco's planned legal challenge means additional proceedings remain possible, the jury's verdict currently stands in Hreljanovic's favor.
More than 45 years after its release, JUST BEFORE DAWN continues to attract attention, proving that even relatively obscure horror films can retain considerable cultural and commercial significance long after their original theatrical runs.
A release date, distributor, and additional details regarding the proposed 4K restoration have not yet been announced.
Source: Variety
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