ironhorse_iv Review of My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

From the bottom of my heart. I found this horror movie somewhat entertaining even its many flaws.

[6/10 · 14 February 2020]

Due to the untimely murder of John Lennon and the backlash Paramount Pictures had received from releasing the camp slasher 'Friday the 13th' the previous year. This Canadian horror film also distributed by Paramount received a number of complains about its depiction of violence and gore upon near its 1981 release date. So much, that the horror film directed by George Mihalka was cut to pieces in order to receive a R-rating from the MPAA. Because of that the movie written by John Beaird about a murderous miner killing town folks during Valentine Day kinda bomb at the box office. Regardless the movie became a cult classic to the very few people who did saw the flick. It wasn't until horror exploitation homage film 2007 'Grindhouse' directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino that the movie once again got some limelight with one of the fame directors quoting that 'My Bloody Valentine' was his favorite slasher movie. Upon hearing that, Lionsgate Studios subsequently acquired home media rights to the film and released DVD editions with additional footages. For the most part, the best is the 2009 Special Edition version that somewhat restored the film to what it was originally meant to be seen even if the footage is somewhat overly grainy, colors somewhat washed out and visual mistakes like crew or equipment being visible is still feature in the film. However, there is additional composed of expository shoots such as dialogue and establish locations related material still missing. Regardless that version of the film got the Mihalka seal of approval as you really do see how impressive the gore practical effects were at the time. It was a much better than the cheesy 3D visual effects that Lionsgate would release later in their 2009 remake of the film. You really can tell how much heart & hard work they put into this film. The town in the film is cover with Valentine Day decorations from head to toes. While somewhat overbearing & somewhat gimmicky, it did give the movie settlings a very unique look. Another funny example is how the location of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia was chosen for filming due to its rustic atmospheric appearance. Yet, when the filmmakers got there, the mine has been painted and cleaned by the locals, in order to appease them. This, of course, diminished the reason that the production wanted the location to begin with. So, a lot of money from the film's budget was then used to return the mine to its original state for shooting. The filmmakers and their crew really did risk their lives filming there due to the potential dangers of methane gas. For the most part, the settling really did help create a metaphoric devilish hell on earth feel to the movie; despite the idea of a party in a working mine doesn't seem the best place to boned in story. I found the idea of the miners wanting to drink beer and have sex in a place where people once died in previous cave ins and cannibal each other, way too unrealistic stupid. They're season blue collar workers not clueless teenagers. The script could had used a kidnapping or an escape subplot to explain why folks like Hollis (Keith Knight), TJ Hanniger (Paul Kelman), Axel Palmer (Neil Affleck) Sarah Mercer (Lori Hallier) and others were in the mines in the end. It would make more sense. Despite that, at least not everybody in this movie was uniformly unsavory, obnoxious and unsympathetic like the remake had. However, if I got an axe to grind, the acting could had been a little better. As for the reveal of the murderer, I thought it was somewhat cleaver that the original killer was just a red herring. However, the reasons why this copycat killer reasons for murdering his friends were not well explained. The film should show how awful his father was to him and how he looked up to the serial killer for rescuing him. It would make the idea of him following his example not so jarring. As for the love triangle; it needs a little more of creepy punch than what we got here to show why he would go crazy than romantic cheesy. Maybe show darker adult themes like sexuality self-harm or genitals mutilations. Despite that, the slasher really did have a unique appearance. What really freaks me out about the outfit is that all the miners wore similar gear so it was hard to tell the killer from afar. Also uniform and gas mask really did seem menacing even if the methods of the kills mirror that of the monstrous uber strong man type strengths and looks of "Friday the 13th' and 1981's horror movie 'The Prowler'. Lastly as for the music. I really dig the end credits song 'The Ballad of Harry Warden'. It was pretty catchy. It's just too bad that most of the soundtrack for this movie was never commercially released. At least a famous shoegazing band with the same name was created from this movie. Overall: While largely ignored mostly in its history; this horror film is now generally viewed as one worth watching. It's finally getting some love. Acknowledgement well deserved.