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| Be my valentine. |
Notorious for being the slasher film most tortured by the censors upon
release, MY BLOODY VALENTINE has become something of a cult classic with
legions of adoring fans. The only available version of this movie is missing
over 9 minutes of gore, but thankfully producer John Dunning has located all
of the absent footage and a battle rages on with copyright owners Paramount
for a fully restored release. The movie itself nestles nicely with
ROSEMARY'S KILLER as the two best non-franchise splatter flicks of 1981.
From the outset, we're introduced to the small mining town of Valentine Bluffs, which hides beneath its fun loving exterior a best-forgotten secret. Twenty years ago the supervisors at the mine were so eager to get to the annual Valentine dance that they didn't bother to check the levels of the methane gas. There was a massive explosion and five workers were trapped underneath the rubble and debris. The only survivor was one Harry Warden, who never mentally recovered from the accident. Exactly a year later he returned and brutally killed the two who were responsible for the tragic mishap. He cut out their hearts, stuck them in candy boxes and sent them to the authorities. Fortunately he was caught before he carried out any more killings and was put into Eastfield Asylum for the insane. Now in 1981 the happy go lucky residents of the usually tranquil town are preparing themselves for the first Valentine dance to be held since that fateful night two decades ago. Memories of Warden's murders have passed and a group of fun loving kids are thinking about nothing else but the anticipated party. However the night before the event the town mayor receives a blooded heart in a candy box with a poetic warning. It seems Harry has returned…
From the outset, we're introduced to the small mining town of Valentine Bluffs, which hides beneath its fun loving exterior a best-forgotten secret. Twenty years ago the supervisors at the mine were so eager to get to the annual Valentine dance that they didn't bother to check the levels of the methane gas. There was a massive explosion and five workers were trapped underneath the rubble and debris. The only survivor was one Harry Warden, who never mentally recovered from the accident. Exactly a year later he returned and brutally killed the two who were responsible for the tragic mishap. He cut out their hearts, stuck them in candy boxes and sent them to the authorities. Fortunately he was caught before he carried out any more killings and was put into Eastfield Asylum for the insane. Now in 1981 the happy go lucky residents of the usually tranquil town are preparing themselves for the first Valentine dance to be held since that fateful night two decades ago. Memories of Warden's murders have passed and a group of fun loving kids are thinking about nothing else but the anticipated party. However the night before the event the town mayor receives a blooded heart in a candy box with a poetic warning. It seems Harry has returned…
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| Will you be the valentine of this eager teenagers? |
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| Take that Ferrero Rocher! |
MY BLOODY VALENTINE is certainly a fine example of eighties splatter at it's
best. Although the acting isn't remarkable, I found that the three leads
were competent enough and the script gave us enough time to get to know
them. There's an interesting sub-plot that builds between T.J. (Kelman),
Axel (Affleck) and Sarah (Hallier). Apparently T.J. was with Sarah before he
went away for a while without telling anyone where he was going. Now he's
returned and his buddy Axel is with his old flame. Cue the flying sparks!
The rest of the wacky cast members are so cheery and carefree that you just
know something dreadful is going to happen to them! There's a practical
joker (who surprisingly isn't the fat guy), a couple of overly randy teens
and even a hammy old guy who tells the kids that they're doomed just like
Ralph over at Camp Crystal Lake!
Credit has to be given for the effort from all involved. The movie began filming in September 1980, but the set designer took the time to make sure that everything was decked out in hearts and banners and they made things look like it actually was Valentine's Day. Mihalka makes good use of the spooky mine as a setting and most of the murders are imaginative and well thought out. In one scene a victim is trapped in a room where miner's uniforms are dropping from rails and surrounding her. In panic she tries to find a way out of the claustrophobic and threatening setting (all courtesy of the killer), before bumping into a costume that actually has the murderer in it! If that isn't bad enough, he kills her in a most gruesome fashion! His disguise is arguably one of the best of the eighties and the gas mask sure helps make the traditional ‘heavy breathing' - sound much scarier. There are also one or two jumps that'll probably get you if you haven't seen this before and it's all accompanied with a satisfactory score from Paul Zaza.
Credit has to be given for the effort from all involved. The movie began filming in September 1980, but the set designer took the time to make sure that everything was decked out in hearts and banners and they made things look like it actually was Valentine's Day. Mihalka makes good use of the spooky mine as a setting and most of the murders are imaginative and well thought out. In one scene a victim is trapped in a room where miner's uniforms are dropping from rails and surrounding her. In panic she tries to find a way out of the claustrophobic and threatening setting (all courtesy of the killer), before bumping into a costume that actually has the murderer in it! If that isn't bad enough, he kills her in a most gruesome fashion! His disguise is arguably one of the best of the eighties and the gas mask sure helps make the traditional ‘heavy breathing' - sound much scarier. There are also one or two jumps that'll probably get you if you haven't seen this before and it's all accompanied with a satisfactory score from Paul Zaza.
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| Shit! I forgot my clothes in the laundromat! |
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| These sure aren't my clothes. |
The plot is actually pretty smart for a slasher film. I wont go into too
much detail because I can't say anything without spoiling it all for you,
but watch how they manage to keep you guessing toward the end. It's also
worth noting that James Mangold borrowed that classic body (or in his case,
head) in a tumble dryer scene for his part-slasher, Identity in 2003. In
2001 George Mihalka went to Paramount with a script for My Bloody Valentine 2 but they turned him down because the original didn't do brilliantly at the
box office. However, with the return of 3D films, My Bloody Valentine had a rather successful remake in 2009 with plenty of gore and added nonsensical nudity for the B movie feels if you know what I mean. Nevertheless, Mihalka was neither hired nor consulted when filming the remake but John Beaird (original screenplay writer) and Stephen A. Miller (who came up with the original story) Do get a mention in the credits.
This film has a number of strengths. A man dressed in full mining gear
is in fact quite scary. The gas mask he wears also gives his breathing
a Darth Vader kind of effect. A pick ax is one hell of a weapon, too.
There are some very funny characters that make up this town. The mayor
and the police chief are so serious it's almost laughable. The young
men who work in the mine are a rowdy bunch who love to drink Moosehead
beer. It's my guess that Moosehead beer donated a good chunk of change
to this movie due to how much you see of their product. The bartender
at their local hangout is a real hoot, as well. He's pretty much the
crazy old man who warns the youngsters that they're doomed like the old
guy from the Friday the 13th movies.
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| How poetic! |
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| Mmm, You haven't brushed your teeth lately. |
Oh, and Lori Hallier who plays the lead female is an incredibly
beautiful woman. Just had to mention that.
There is some good camera work. I especially like the shot from inside a mine elevator as it plunges deep into the mine. The camera stays focused on the top of the shaft, and spooky music plays as the cage sinks deeper and deeper into the mine. Love that little folk song during the end credits, too! There are some faults, though. This film appears to have had much of the gore trimmed from it. That can be a big mistake for a horror film. Also, it isn't hard to figure out that Harry Warden is not the killer and that one of the two male leads definitely is.
There is some good camera work. I especially like the shot from inside a mine elevator as it plunges deep into the mine. The camera stays focused on the top of the shaft, and spooky music plays as the cage sinks deeper and deeper into the mine. Love that little folk song during the end credits, too! There are some faults, though. This film appears to have had much of the gore trimmed from it. That can be a big mistake for a horror film. Also, it isn't hard to figure out that Harry Warden is not the killer and that one of the two male leads definitely is.
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| Your miner equipment gets me so horny. |
A perfect romantic evening would include a six-pack of Moosehead, this
film, and a heart-stuffed candy box. I promise your girlfriend will
never forget it.
Here's the movie trailer:
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