My Bloody Valentine (1981) User Reviews (216)

The Slasher That Paramount and the MPAA Tried to Kill

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 24 November 2009]

Twenty years ago, Harry Warden went nuts and slaughtered a bunch of people on Valentine's Day. The mining town he hailed from canceled subsequent V-Day dances, but when they try setting one up again, Warden seemingly returns with his pickax, ready to hack the local kids up and leave his mark. Things can only go bad from here.

Director George Mihalka brings us another holiday-themed slasher, riding the success of "Black Christmas", "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th"... and paving the way for "April Fools Day". But George is a nice guy and I don't want to say he's just one among the crowd. There were hundreds of 80s slashers, but only a few stand out today. "Bloody Valentine" is, of course, one of them.

Even in its original, neutered glory (anywhere from three to nine minutes were cut) the film stands as a good film. Without any really notable actors or actresses (okay, so Neil Affleck had a brief role in "Scanners"), and being Mihalka's one big mark, the film carries itself on story, acting and blood. The blood, while lacking a times, comes gushing through in others. And like any good slasher, the killer's identity is not revealed until the end... leaving us guessing until the last twist of the knife (or ax).

Slasher fans need to pick up the Lions Gate special edition. While the double-disc with "April Fools Day" is cheap and still worth watching, you don't really know this film until you've seen it uncut. The gore, oh my, the gore! It's actually a shame that it took so long for a company to come along and save this film because it was even better than we once assumed... Mihalka could have been one of the 80s greats (and, in my mind, he still is).

If you've been a horror fan and avoided this one, please see it. Sure, it's mostly mindless fun -- kids drinking and making out, getting hacked up -- but I can watch variations of this formula dozens, scores or hundreds of times. There's something fun about a simple stalking film that you can't always get from other films that try too hard to be clever. And I like thinking films, but a night with buddies and booze... you need a slasher. And this is the one you should pick.

Once upon a time, On a sad Valentine, There's a place known as Hanniger mines...

[TheFinalAlias · 7/10 · 8 June 2009]

The 1980's was and remains one of the most controversial time periods in the history of the horror genre. On one hand; it saw the birth of several of the genre's greatest films and many of the most entertaining films that still have historical significance. On the other, the genre was dominated by the slasher genre so much that the cycle became old virtually overnight, leading some to gloss over some worthwhile films and for bad films to get elevated to classic status in later years.

'My Bloody Valentine' may not be a masterpiece, but it has enough distinguishing elements to make it a nice hidden gem of it's sub-genre. It's proved to be a delight for many a insomnia-stricken devotee of obscure horror films searching for a nice late-night horror film to divert ourselves with, and this is perfect. The film could be summed up as a mix of 'Screaming Mimi', 'Halloween' and 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.

The setting is a dismal Canadian mining town(filled with the kind of accents later parodied to death on 'South Park') known as Valentine bluffs, overshadowed by the Hanniger mines, both supposedly haunted by a vengeful miner who was wronged by lazy foremen who were attending a valentine's dance and following an unforgettable, almost dreamlike sequence dripping with bizarre sexual subtext and macabre humor that opens the film; the film's tone is set with an introduction to the leads emerging from a mine shaft as one miner remarks that any day the entire mine is gonna blow, but no one heeds his warning and races off laughing to country music while the clouds close over the town ominously, as if the cheerfulness is about to be swallowed up by an encroaching evil. It's not much, but it beats just about every other '80's slasher film at establishing mood.

None of the actors could seriously be called great, but they do their jobs well enough to establish the usual paper-thin characters with personality. Not too much, but enough for the viewer to feel that a life has been taken, and not that they just witnessed some lame FX showcase; a particularly memorable scene involves the girlfriend of the comedy-relief character going into shock upon finding his corpse as the killer is approaching. A scene that's hard to forget anytime soon. Even the obligatory helpless adults seemed genuinely concerned and use common sense; with the Sheriff being a !GASP! likable character! Corrupt cops can be funny, but it's refreshing to see a competent one in these films. The two protagonist's of the film who are caught in a love triangle with the heroine also overcome weak dialog and minimal characterization through sheer emotion; enough so that both work as red herring characters, but still have good points and bad points that would make it believable if either was the killer. A nice touch lost in the remake, where the character who functions as the hero is very unlikeable and the character revealed as the killer engenders viewer sympathy.

About the killer, the image of a madman in a mining suit with a pickax as a weapon is definitely an unforgettable visual, leading to several memorable 'bus' sequences. The back story behind the original killer is also quite creative. It would work well enough to carry a film on it's own or serve as an EC. comic plot.

The final scene where the second killer wanders off into the mine spouting some of the most convincingly psychotic dialog I've ever heard while uttering a laugh guaranteed to freeze your blood, while simultaneously a country ballad begins to play over the credits is fairly sublime. Whether he returns or not, he will end up just like the original killer; a legend lost in the mists of time: 'And no one will knowww, as the years come and goooo, of the horror, from long time agoooo'. Brilliant.

Go in with fairly limited expectations, a sense of humor, and 'My Bloody Valentine' will prove a fun experience, certainly more satisfying than the more famous 'Friday the 13th' films. The remake doesn't have much to recommend except for it's now useless 3-D gimmick; but watch that in a similar frame of mind, and you may enjoy that as well, despite having a disappointing climax and an awful Shamaylan-style cheat. When the 14th draws near, watch this film on a double feature with the 'Poetic Justice' segment from Francis's 'Tales from the Crypt'(1972), and the remake if you enjoy that, throw the god awful 2001 film 'Valentine' in the fireplace to keep warm, curl up with some caramels and you'll find this film the perfect alternative to one of the world's sh*ttiest holidays. I can guarantee you a good time.

Quentin Tarantino's favorite slasher is good, but not my favorite

[a_chinn · 7/10 · 26 November 2017]

Quentin Tarantino has called this his all-time favorite slasher film, and it's one I'd never seen, so I went into this with fairly high expectation. Unfortunately, this film still pales when compared to John Carpenters "Halloween" or William Lustig's "Maniac." Still, it's well made and does stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the better slasher films of the 70s and 80s; "The Town that Dreaded Sundown," "The Burning," "Sleepaway Camp," "Black Christmas," and such. The story involves a coal mining town where a maniac wearing mining gear kills hapless victim with a pickax, boiling water, shower head nozzles, and other implements that all prove deadly. The film does have a decent who-done-it mystery element to it and when the mystery is revealed at the end it's not a copout and is satisfyingly done, which is a rarity for most slasher films. Overall, I wouldn't say "My Bloody Valentine" is a classic, but it is a must see for slasher film fans.

The Deer Hunter of 80's slashers

[rascal67 · 7/10 · 14 February 2009]

This early 80's horror flick is one of the best of the slasher genre. It has a great setting in a small Canadian mining town - which has it's streets and buildings drenched with red and pink valentine decorations - which is a surreal contrast to the cold and sombre setting that foreshadows the real pumpers that eventually pop up in crimson heart shaped candy boxes.

The scenes filmed in an actual mine - where the protagonists are trapped with the killer lurking around with a sharpened pickaxe - are expertly filmed with plenty of style and a menacing atmosphere. The acting is decent and although some of the characters act like jerks they are likable and human enough for the viewer to care about them. They are all working class stiffs and just want a good time and relief from the reality of their everyday situation. You want them to have their valentine party that has been denied them for obvious reasons.

Notorious for being one of the most censored films by the MPAA at the time of release to avoid an 'X' rating, it is now available in an uncut form on Lionsgate DVD. The death scenes are much more detailed and graphic, but either version is worth watching for the flourish that the director and his cast and crew have imbued into this little horror gem.

This horror film provides great load of screams , grisly killings and creepy atmosphere

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 31 December 2014]

Nice terror movie plenty of ominous murders , chills , thrills , scary scenes and lots of blood and guts . Slasher movie about a coalminer who axes numerous victims in a little mining town which becomes pretty sinister with the miner killer appearing . The caption near the beginning states "Thursday February 12th", indicating that the dance will be on Saturday the 14th . A decades old folk tale surrounding a deranged murderer killing those who celebrate Valentine's Day, turns out to be true to legend when a group defies the killer's order and people start turning up dead . This bizarre little horror movie is set in a mining town , on Valentine an explosion of methane gas took the lives of a group of coal miners working in the Hanniger Mine . Long time after, Hanniger (Kelman) returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people , male as well female and many of the townspeople have their hearts removed with a pick-axe and sent in candy boxes . There's a big valentine-party planned in the little coal mining town of Valentine Bluffs, Nova Scotia . Later on , a blood-soaked heart arrives at the police station commanded by Chief Jake Newby (Don Francks) , accompanied by a heinous message . Hanniger meets his old flame named Patty (Cynthia Dale) and a bit later on he finds himself suspected of committing some new killings . The Valentine party is prohibited but being held in another place: at the coal mine, and it isn't long before the town's young people begin dying violently . It appears Harry Warden , a psychotic coalminer who has returned to punish them and several people are cruelly murdered .

The picture is a sleek production with average budget and packs genuine chills , suspense , tension , head-slitting and shocks ; it turns out to be a terror-thriller very exciting . Gory , gruesome , pretty repellent , ghastly and unrelenting shock-feast laced with a loving triangle . The film is paced with intelligent edition , special use of color and slick utilization of shock images that take place in the astonishing close-up crimes committed by means of a pickax . This scary movie displays terror , shocks , hard-edged scenes and creepy images and abundant gore . While the look is suitable atmospheric and eerie , the plot stretches plausibility to the breaking point . The gory and bloodiest images were cut out to avoid a X-rating . This is a customary splatter plenty of grisly killing , thrills , gruesome shocks , nauseating chills and quite entertaining . It relies heavily on old-fashioned buckets of blood and the plot belongs the same of 'Slashers genre' in ¨ Halloween ¨, ¨Nightmare in Elm Street ¨, ¨ Friday 13 ¨, style . In fact , The Friday the 13th series and the plot of My Bloody Valentine is similar to the Friday the 13th films ; as it was released by Paramount attempting to do same box office . Being recently remade in 3D by Patrick Lussier , starred by Jensen Ackles ,Jaime King , Kerr Smith , Megan Boone ; the latter film being based on original directed by George Mihalka . This is an usual excruciatingly splatter film in which the intrigue , tension , suspense appears threatening and lurking in every corridor , party , mine , shaft , tunnel number 5 and many other places . This unrelenting shock-feast packs good make-up and nice special effects . It's just one long relentless stabbing and acceptable budget horror movie that still packs a punch for those who like to be terrorized out their wits .

Eerie as well as frightening musical score by Paul Zaza . Atmospheric and adequate cinematography by Rodney Gibbons . The shooting location at Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia was chosen because of its rustic atmospheric appearance. The film was shot with lots of difficulties in authentic mines which were often as much as 900 feet underground , only certain lighting devices could be used in the mines because of the potential danger of methane explosions. The motion picture was professionally directed by George Mihalka . It was re-premiered at video-market in 2009 , an original uncut , then it was a real success in America and all around the world , thanks to 3 minutes gore added , even Quentin Tarantino has named My Bloody Valentine as his all-time favorite slasher film . George Mihalka is a good filmmaker and producer expert on terror and suspense genre . He has directed similar terror stories (Psychic , Relative fear ,Watchtower) . He's usually movies television director (Crossbow, Da Vinci's inquest, Windsor protocol , The Firm) and occasionally motion pictures director (Bullet to Beijing, the return of Harry Palmer , Straight Line, The Blue man, Scandale) . Rating : 6,5/10 . This murder-feast that will appeal to gore and guts aficionados .

Bloody is the word (for the eighties, anyway)

[bowmanblue · 6/10 · 27 August 2016]

'My Bloody Valentine.' A slasher. There's not an awful lot more to say. If you've grown up over recent years and are generally interested in the genre, you'll find that this little offering from 1981 is pretty tame in comparison to what's released today. However, back when 'video nasties' were just taking off, this was pretty strong stuff! A small-time mining town in America has a legend (don't they all?) – this one tells of a miner who went berserk years ago on Valentine's day and killed a bunch of people. Now, several years later – guess what – it looks like he's back.

Normally, this is where I say that the cast is made up of oversexed, annoyingly attractive teenagers. But not this time. Here we have oversexed, annoying UGLY teenagers. Don't ask me why (and I promise you that I'm no oil painting!) but this must be the ugliest group of leading actors every assembled to be chopped up by a nut-job with a gas mask and pick axe. I guess we can blame it on the eighties. Or the lack of budget needed to bring bigger (and more physically attractive) stars on board.

Yes, one by one our facially-challenged heroes are chopped up in various hideous ways. Nothing too new there, apart from the fact that the death scenes seem a little more violent for the time than your average Friday 13th film. Notice I don't say 'gruesome' – only violent. I mentioned the budget earlier and it seems like they didn't really have enough money for expert make-up and prosthetics needed for the gore. I suppose it's the way it's filmed that makes it so violent. There seems like there's a real sense of nastiness in the deaths.

Not that you'll care much about those getting sliced and diced. They really are pretty irritating. If Jar-Jar Binks was a little less computer-generated and a little more eighties then those are the people getting murdered here.

Perhaps one thing that the film does have going for it is that you don't actually know who's under the gas mask. In that was it's more akin to the 'Scream' franchise in as much as like a who-done-it.

There's not much new here (especially nearly forty years later!), but if you're into the slasher genre in general and like to see where this type of film found its roots, then give this a try. The gore isn't really there and the violence – although strong for the time – has also diminished, the mystery element may make it worth an hour and a half of your time.

Better than your average slasher-horror

[grantss · 5/10 · 30 October 2016]

Valentine's Day is coming around and the young people of the small mining town of Valentine's BLuffs are organising a party. A few decades earlier an explosion at the mine trapped six miners underground. One, Harry Warden, survived, though in a deranged state. Warden is sent to a mental hospital but escapes and murders those he deems responsible for the mine accident. Now people are being brutally murdered again, and the townsfolk suspect that it is the work of Harry Warden.

Better than your average slasher-horror, not that this says much. Reasonable set up, and a decent amount of intrigue. Does fall back on many horror clichés, and the performances are so-so. Plot is ultimately fairly formulaic, but has its moments.

Terrific, moody slasher!

[cmoore0013 · 10/10 · 8 February 2007]

In the wake of Halloween and Friday the 13th, many similar films were released, most of which had little or no distinguishing features. One of the most effective and atmospheric was My Bloody Valentine.

Shot in Canada and very infamous for it's brutal battle with the MPAA, My Bloody Valentine is a surprising success, and a wonderful addition to the slasher genre. The acting is good, which comes as quite a shock for any slasher lover. The deaths, while obviously edited, are very effective and intense, especially the laundry room sequence. The image of the killer, dressed in a full miner's garb, smashing the lights along an already dark mine shaft, while a group of victims try to escape is terrifying.

The setting is quite interesting. Most Canadian films try to disguise the fact that it's Canadian. Well, this movie doesn't, which makes it very neat.

I'd say that it's lush photography, good acting, frightening set pieces and killer, and brutal deaths make this is one of the most impressive slashers of the 80's, maybe of all time.

Iconic slasher

[ashfordofficial · 7/10 · 9 January 2022]

My Bloody Valentine - Special Edition

A slasher classic with an energetic cast. They did a pretty good job concealing the identity of the killer.

Paramount Pictures wasted a huge franchise potential by not follow-up more sequels for this film.

We'll probably never be-able to see how the movie should have been...

[RareSlashersReviewed · 27 January 2004]

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…

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.

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. Just proves how annoying they really are doesn't it! They've already said that they'd have no interest in seeing the director's cut of this movie released, even though fans around the world are begging for it. Recently the company asked people to give them ten films that we want to see unleashed and apparently one of those ten was MY BLOODY VALENTINE UNCUT; so we'll just have to wait and see if they come round to our way of thinking. Just imagine if they gave us the full works: The first four FRIDAY THE 13THs and this movie all uncut on special edition discs with commentaries where available and all the trimmings. If Raimi can do it for EVIL DEAD then someone can do it for us! Come on Paramount, lighten up and get on the case!

All in all this is a great little horror movie. It's smartly directed with a likeable cast and a really tense finale. The only problem lies with the shameful editing in the kill scenes where 9 minutes was savagely removed. I'm beginning to think that old Harry Warden should take a trip to the Paramount office, pickaxe in hand, to get revenge on these brutal spoilsports. Still, a few niggles aside, this is a decent little movie from Canada that deserves to be remembered, as one of the best of it's kind. And that's a sure fire compliment!

Ridiculous........ and I'm a fan of slashers

[Aomalle27 · 2/10 · 7 May 2008]

This is a formulaic slasher film, playing on the premise of a local legend of a homicidal minor. He was trapped with a few others, and had to feast on their remains to survive. He blames the townsfolk, and more specifically their Valentines Day dance. It seems it played a part in delaying his rescue from the cave-in. The lead miners who should have rescued Harry Warden, skipped work early to attend a Valentines Day dance. After a year in a mental institution, he went after those lead miners, and cut their hearts out. Leaving the warning that it would happen to all those who dared hold a Valentine's celebration ever again. Well, think our cast of characters, a young group of college age vixens and horn-dogs, enough time has passed and they just "want to get laid". And where better to hold a Valentines party, but in the very mine that Harry is said to haunt. Some implausible bits here; why would anyone in their right mind go into a mine where not only has their been a catastrophic cave in, but also is the supposed haunt of a real life killer, not some imagined "boogey man". If you read about Jeffery Dahmer's exploits, and then realized he had never been caught, would you then go to a place he was known to have operated, and allegedly still lived? If you would, you're just as retarded as the characters in this film. Plus, why risk the claustrophobic confines of the mine? And what makes one think sex in a mine is a turn on? Which brings me to another gripe, the intro of the film, while entertaining, is leaves one unsatisfied, and realizing it's just a cheap cop out. A girl is led into the mine, and I mean deep into the mine, by someone she believes is her lover. Why? Cause she's amorous, and wants her man to take her in a dangerous place. Not really seeing the believability in this. Why would you let someone garbed in a miners' outfit lead you into the mine, unless you saw them putting the miners' gear on. And after that, why go into a isolated mine shaft to make whoopee? The town must have at least one motel, dorm room, bedroom etc. Just silly. Finally, when the deaths start occurring, and the characters realize there's a killer in their midst, why don't they do the logical thing and abandon the mine, in search of help? Why bother looking for your friends that are missing? Isn't it better to go get the cops, and some I don't know, weaponry to thwart the killer? I know slashers follow a basic formula, but do we really have to see another film with the red herring noises, and dummies that go "Is anyone there?" and then going further into a precarious situation to investigate.??? This is just a cheap Canadian cash in on the slasher revenues to be had in the early 1980's. Yuck.

Give 'em hell Harry.

[Nightman85 · 8/10 · 18 November 2004]

My Bloody Valentine is one of the best and most well-made slasher flicks of the 80's. It's also one of the better holiday themed horror movies around!

A crazed miner is determined to stop the celebration of Valentine's day in a small Nova Scotia town, with the help of a trusty pick ax that is.

* minor (or miner, I'm not funny.) spoilers *

While the film doesn't re-invent the wheel for slasher movies, it still manages to stand out well from the rest of it's kind. The climax in the mine creates some great suspense in an atmospheric and claustrophobic setting. The cast is quite likable and good, even though there's not a known name in sight. And the gore hounds should enjoy the happenings, cutting out hearts and pick ax murders, even a nasty death-by-dryer and a face scalded in a boiling pot. It's still gory despite cuts made by the MPAA. There's also the occasional touch of colorful dark humor.

The direction, while simple, is well done with some good shock cuts. The music score is a nicely moody one, even beautiful in a way. Over all, the film holds together well.

Seek it out slasher fans! This is one enjoyable cult film that is not to be missed!

*** out of ****

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

[ironhorse_iv · 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.

Did this movie suffer from the censors ?

[edwardrevans · 4/10 · 28 February 2016]

Partly i think it did, however on the other hand maybe it didn't. Some of the characters where killed off camera which is obviously a censorship issue which if made today probably wouldn't happen. We also had a couple of characters Howard and Sylvia who had little introduction and then promptly slaughtered.

The other issue i had with My bloody valentine was the thin motive the killer had we get a brief reveal at the end but is hardly satisfying.

Your common or garden slasher movie the killer has his trademark kill, here victims are dispatched using various ingenious methods, which we are not allowed to see.

Now that the movie is over 30 years old it needs a re submission to the censors like others of the time and the cuts re-addressed to make the movie more complete.

My Bloody Valentine:the 1981 (uncut) version.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 7/10 · 13 February 2011]

With having recently picked up the 2009 remake of this film,I mentioned to a friend that I was hoping to watch it very soon.

To my surprise,he said that before I watch the new version,I should watch the original first (that has at last come out uncut on DVD)that he has.After watching it,I think that it is a very enjoyable slasher film,with fun special effects and a good story.

The plot:

After not holding a Valentines dance or party for the last twenty years ,(because when the last dance was held,two mining supervises decided to leave the group of miners early,to get to the dance as fast as they could.Sadly due to both of them not checking to see if everything is working OK,a gas leak caused a huge explosion,which led to six miners losing there lives,and the only surviving one (Harry Warden),going completely insane and going on a mini killing spree.

The people that run the town decide that since that much time has gone by,and that the killer has been locked up in a mental hospital for twenty years,everyone feels that the Valentines Day dance can now return to the school.

Years later:

With just a few days to go,the whole town seems to be bursting with excitement,with all the students and young miners spending lots of time to make sure that every thing goes perfectly.But when the Mayor receives a mystery Valentines box,that instead of containing chocolates,contains a human heart.

This leads to the Mayor and the police to start suspecting that Warden may have come back,which causes them to completely cancel the dance.Though neither of them know,that since cancelling the dance,some of the miners and students have set up a "secret" party that is being held at the mine where the explosion happened twenty years ago..

View on the film:

The first thing that I want to mention is the excellent new footage,which has thankfully been at last put back into the film.Whilst the extra footage is understandably a bit grainy (mostly due to it having been left on the side for thirty years)it is still able to massively improve many of the great killings in the film,with the fun practical special effects now being allowed to burst out into a full bloodbath.

Whilst watching the film,I have to admit that I was very surprised that director George Mihalka had not put any nudity in this slasher,luckily he does put in a lot of very good scary killings,as well as doing very well at building tension around the activities of the events that are happening around the mines.

Although John Beairos screenplay does have a few noticeable flaws (the hospital not being able to find any records about what had happened only five years ago,and an ending which is not that well explained)he is still able to delivery a very entertaining script,which really makes it feel that the killings are taking place in a very small town,that has little resources and is a place where everyone knows each other.

Final view on the film:

A great,fun slasher,with a good script and some fantastic killings.

Stands out in the slasher genre

[jaredkeoppel-34311 · 7/10 · 4 June 2019]

My bloody valentine is a classic, that lives up to our decade, it really shines out on the many slashers produced around this time period, it gives you an original story, and fun and entertainment throughout definitely holds up. And keeps you on the edge of your seat. Defiantly a memorable gem of the genre.

Solid and Slightly Different Slasher

[Ads96 · 7/10 · 6 April 2017]

Whilst it still revels in the tropes of the slasher genre 'My Bloody Valentine' is a solid, entertaining and slightly different film which should be enjoyed by fans as well as the casual viewer. 'Valentine' is notable for being one of the few good Canadian entries to the eighties slasher craze and makes the most of a limited, somewhat clichéd idea with a welcome professional, creative element that slashers often lack.

Following on the heels of 'Halloween' and other holiday based plots 'Valentine' concerns the holiday, a card shop holiday anyway, in a small Canadian town also helpfully named Valentine's Bluff. You'd think it'd be the perfect place for a valentine's party but a mine collapse twenty years prior leaves a madman named Harry Warden buried alive whilst the rest of the town parties. You can imagine what happens next. The madman bans Valentine's in the town and enforces the ban in a violent fashion. Twenty years later a new valentine celebration is planned as Harry Warden has faded into legend.

What makes Valentine's stand out is two things. One, the actual slasher set pieces are superb. Creative, brutal and sometimes funny. The filmmakers were forced to cut about eight or nine minutes of footage to appease the censors which adds to the cult appeal of the piece. Yet despite the cuts the bloody nature of Valentine will please fans of the genre and some genuinely unsettling moments are also scattered throughout the film when it comes to the use of blood and guts.

The other appealing element is the film's professionalism. Whereas other slasher films fall into the cheesiest and cheesiest of quality through bad acting, bad camera-work and generally amateurish production Valentine does not. The acting is good and naturalistic, a nice surprise from the genre, the cinematography is interesting and inventive, making use of a wider range of camera expression than falling back on the POV shot. The focus of the characters in peril are also far more interesting. Valentine's Bluff is a dreary working class town with a single industry, the mines, to keep it going. As such the characters are smarter, more bitter and, in many ways, better than their college co-ed, teenage counterparts.

In the ranks of slasher films 'My Bloody Valentine' ranks high. For those who are fans of the genre it is definitely required watching. For the more casual viewer the film's professional tint and interesting, though still generic holiday based premise, will distinguish itself from other less astute entries.

Neither scary, nor original

[walteraquilina · 24 August 2005]

When I first saw the cover, I thought it was a good teen slasher movie. Well it was a slasher movie but it wasn't good at all.

First, it's not original at all. It's the story of many horror movies; revenge. Then it needed some good sound effects. For example when Mabel fell out of the washing machine, they could have done a little high sound effect to make us jump.

But the thing I hated most about it that it's too predictable. You could easily tell who will stay alive. And when they heard Axel shouting and they found his torch in the water, I knew immediately that he had something to do with it.

Well it's not one of those unbearable boring movies at all, but it needs much more.

Boring slasher rubbish with a good location

[fertilecelluloid · 3/10 · 5 December 2005]

I saw "My Bloody Valentine" when it played theatrically and I was bored. It's up to scratch technically, but it's just another slasher about a dead miner who shows up on Valentine's Day to kill young lovers because they're busy doing what he never got to do. That's it.

The film, prior to earning its "R" rating, was considerably gorier, and I've read much rubbish about how great the thing would be if the gore was reinstated. I can't agree. If it was bloodier, it would still be a boring slasher... but with bloody killings.

There is no suspense, the characters are the usual clichés, and many scenes are so underlit we might be watching tar dry. I don't like night scenes you can't even see because real night isn't like that. Our eyes adjust to the darkness after a while and sometimes we use flashlights. A much better slasher than this is "Madman", a film with impressive night sequences we can actually see.

The mine location is suitably creepy and probably had potential, but there's no point crying over wasted scenery when quite clearly nobody was up to making much of this thin premise that was probably an easy sell to a studio (Paramount) that was hot for special occasion-based/date-based horror after "Friday The 13th" poured millions into its coffers.

The idea of "My Bloody Valentine" is much more interesting than the reality of slogging through its turgid scenery. Try it yourself if you don't believe me.

This pointless holiday deserves a good slasher film.

[TOMASBBloodhound · 8/10 · 13 February 2005]

I've enjoyed this low-budget flick since childhood. I like it so much that I make sure to see it at least once every year in the month of February. Though it suffers from a restricted budget, a cast of unknowns, and a serious case of over-editing, this is still worth a look for horror buffs.

The story centers around a crazed miner who returns to haunt a small mining town in Canada twenty years after an accident on Valentine's Day nearly killed him. It seems he and a few others were trapped in a coal mine while the rest of the town was attending a big Valentine's Day dance which had been a tradition for over 100 years. The town is called Valentine Bluffs, for Pete's sake! Anyway, this miner known as "Harry Warden" was buried in the mine for six weeks following an explosion caused by the failure of two supervisors to check the methane gas levels in the mine shaft. It seems the supervisors were a little too anxious to get to that dance and forgot to make sure Harry and the others were safely out. Harry Warden was the only survivor and apparently had to feast on the dead bodies of the other miners until he was rescued.

Needless to say after that ordeal, Harry had to be committed to a mental hospital. But one year later, on Valentine's Day, Harry Warden broke out of the looney bin and came back to Valentine Bluffs to seek some revenge. He killed the two supervisors and stuffed their hearts in heart-shaped candy boxes and left them at the dance with a warning attached. Valentine Bluffs must never hold another Valentine's Day dance again!!!! Now how about THAT for a set-up???? As our movie begins, we find twenty years have passed, and the town is ready to hold another big dance on Feb. 14th. Do you think Harry Warden would let that happen? Certainly not! Corpses begin piling up and more heart-stuffed candy boxes are sent to the police chief warning him to cancel the dance. He does so, but a bunch of young miners still throw a party: You guessed it- AT THE MINE!!!! That sets up a dramatic showdown with the killer and his new crop of victims.

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.

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.

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.

8 of 10 stars So sayeth the Hound.

Great Slasher

[stefankrs · 7/10 · 10 September 2021]

A good slasher with many flaws but is still a great film with a decent story and plot. The film does't have the best acting and some scenes are dumb, but this movie has a good story and is entertaining. The film has amazing and unique kills. Great fun slasher definitely recommend to watch.

This film was Crap

[lori-1 · 1/10 · 21 June 2003]

Just when I thought my search for a movie at my local video store was over a woman told me about this film and the Hills Have Eyes. Guess which one was better, not this one that's for sure. The film is typical mid eighties teen fodder with actors who in my opinion act like robots programmed to act like drunk fools. These people work in a mine , what teen would work at a mine? The story is simple a angry miner gets revenge on his home town after his supervisors leave to go to a dance and forget to check the methane levels. By the end of this move you start thinking what am I doing watching this besides killing my brain cells and you don't even care about the characters. My suggestion , rent a film like the Ring if you truly need to scream because like the tape in that movie is just like this one ... it kills you slowly.

DON'T RENT THIS!!!!!!!! _______________ __________________

With the added footage, one of the best slasher films of the last 40 years

[baumer · 9/10 · 18 September 2009]

*** This comment may contain spoilers *** When My Bloody Valentine was released in 1981, the censor board cut it to pieces leaving us with a good horror film but not a great one. All of that has changed now that the producers have managed to get a hold of the 9 minutes of gore that was cut out of the film to retain an R rating. What started out as a very atmospheric yet pedestrian film, is now elevated to near perfection with the lost footage being added. My Bloody Valentine can be bought on DVD in Special Edition format and for the $15.00 you will pay, it is more than worth it.

I am going to assume that most people have seen the film, so I'll refrain from giving you a synopses of the film, but instead I'll tell you about some of the missing pieces to the film and why it makes it so much better.

The film opens with two people walking deep into a mine and then stopping to have sex. As the woman takes off her shirt, above her left breast is a tattoo of a heart. This drives the other miner mad and he pushes her up against the pick-axe stuck in the wall. The pick axe comes out of her chest and protrudes from the tattoo.

The next addition to the film is one of the most infamous cuts to the film and it gained a reputation for one of the goriest scenes ever cut from a film. And no one had seen it. It involved Mabel, at the laundromat, getting killed and then her corpse shows up in the dryer the next day as the police chief finds her. Her body has all it's skin burned off it and the eyes are bulging and she is blood red. The corpse is very, very real looking and it is a celebration of make-up and special effects. Just the addition of this scene is worth buying the DVD.

The next that I recall is when the bartender tries to set up some sort of booby trap to scare the kids. He has a miner's costume, complete with a pick axe, wired to one of the doors. As the door opens the costumer pops out to give a bit of a scare. As he opens the door one last time, the real Harry Warden pops out and rams his pick axe through his chin and out of his eyeball. This is another wondrous shot with amazing attention to detail. The scene looks authentic and for a film with such a parsimonious budget, they certainly got the most out of the special effects.

I'll mention two more. One is when two of the party goers are in the mine and are about the make love and then of course the guy runs off to get beers. This leaves the girl all alone and then she is attacked and rammed into one of the pipes in the shower. She is left suspended by the pipe and water is shooting out of her mouth. It is truly a marvellous scene.

We also get a very realistic nail gun to the head scene when the nails look they went into Hollis' head.

The only caveat to this is that when the old footage is inserted (edited) into the film, because is is so old and has presumably been sitting in a tin can somewhere for almost 30 years, the film is faded, but this doesn't take away from how effective the scenes are.

My Bloody Valentine, the theatrical cut is a creepy, stylish, claustrophobic feeling film with enough suspense and likable characters that it is a nice addition to the horror family. But there was always something missing. Well here we are 28 years later and that missing something has turned this film into one of the best horror films of the last 40 years. I highly recommend that if you like the film, get this edition on DVD. You won't be disappointed.

Theatrical Cut: 7/10 Special Edition: 9/10

Slasher joy

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 16 April 2019]

Mining town Valentine Bluffs hasn't had a Valentine's Day dance for over twenty years - ever since the accident. Two supervisors messed up and left several miners trapped below just so they could go to that dance. They didn't even check the methane levels, which led to the explosion that trapped the men. Only Harry Warden survived, living off the bodies of his co-workers, until he could escape and kill the supervisors. He was committed for two decades and finally forgotten. Now, the dance is back on. Someone, somehow, is going to pay.

My Bloody Valentine right when slashers were king, complete with so much gristle that nine minutes of offensive violence was removed. Just imagine - the film starts with a nude woman impaled on pickaxe, so it still got worse than that.

Even after officials decide to close down the dance, a bunch of young miners have their own party at a bar. Why would you do that when Harry Warden wants to kill everyone? This movie is packed with death, from nailguns to the face and beheadings to people being impaled on shower heads.

It's also a giallo-esque story, with the murders in the past warping one of the characters so badly that he or she commits the murders in the present. The mystery of who this character would end up being was kept hidden even from the actors until the final scene was filmed.

Interestingly, once the producers decided to shoot in the Sydney Mines in Nova Scotia, the town cleaned the sets up so they would be more presentable. This led to a set that looked like Disneyland, according to reports. The filmmakers had to go back and make the sets look darker to fit the script. That said, because the movie was filmed in legitimate mines 900 feet underground, special lighting devices were required because of the danger of methane explosions.

Does not work.

[filipemanuelneto · 2/10 · 15 October 2020]

I saw this film recently and I was not particularly impressed. Slasher films are by nature films that rarely turn out to be remarkable, even though they quickly conquer a small legion of fans who give them cult status. This film did not even prove to be a truly good slasher film, largely due to a rather weak script and total lack of environment.

Everything happens in the small town of Valentine, where the main celebration is, as it could not be otherwise, Valentine's Day. This city is a small mining community around an important mine. One day, there is an accident and Harry Warden, a miner, goes crazy and kills a number of colleagues and people, forcing the city to cease to celebrate their party. From then on, an urban legend was born that, now, will take on a new life with the initiative, led by local youth, to reactivate the festivities.

The film has a lot of problems. George Mihalka was an inept director who did not know how to use the best of the film to build a tense and sinister environment, where the dark and damp tunnels of the mine were more than an excellent place for couples to meet and occasionally drink. The film never really scares us, even with all the gore. It has a uninteresting script, where characters' romances are of no interest at all. Harry Warden's story, with little touches of madness and cannibalism, sounds too far-fetched and was not well used. The characters are quite weak and even the villain is forgettable, which makes us lose interest in the film quite quickly.

In addition to the bad characters, most of them merely thought to be there or to die, we have a very mediocre performance of the cast, made of actors from the most basic levels of drama, to the point that even the protagonist is unable to comply with his task with a minimum of presence. The film's obsession with romance or dating, in addition to the obvious gore, also did not help the cast to stand out, on the contrary.

Technically, its very bad: an uninteresting and dull cinematography with washed colors and an extremely low contrast, sets and costumes that are not interesting or remarkable and a virtually nonexistent soundtrack. The only thing working fine are the visual effects and gore scenes. The mutilations and deaths seem real enough and there are a number of good ideas, like the human heart cooking in the sausage pan or the body inside the washing machine. But this is not enough to make the film work.