My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Director:

Patrick Lussier

Writers (WGA):

Todd Farmer (screenplay) and
Zane Smith (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

On January 16, Get Your Heart Broken.

Plot:

Tom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. Instead of a homecoming, however, Tom finds himself suspected of committing the murders, and it seems like his old flame is the only one will believes he's innocent.

Plot Keywords:

Valentine | Mine | Coma | Miner | Valentine's Day

Cast

Jensen Ackles	...	Tom Hanniger
Jaime King	...	Sarah Palmer
Kerr Smith	...	Axel Palmer
Betsy Rue	...	Irene
Edi Gathegi	...	Deputy Martin
Tom Atkins	...	Sheriff Jim Burke
Kevin Tighe	...	Ben Foley
Megan Boone	...	Megan
Karen Baum	...	Deputy Ferris
Joy de la Paz	...	Rosa
Marc Macaulay	...	Riggs
Todd Farmer	...	Frank the Trucker
Jeff Hochendoner	...	Red
Bingo O'Malley	...	Officer Hinch
Liam Rhodes	...	Michael

Also Known As:

My Bloody Valentine 3-D (UK) (promotional title) (USA) (promotional title)
My Bloody Valentine 3D (UK) (poster title) (USA) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic brutal horror violence and grisly images throughout, some strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44787) | Ireland:16 | UK:18 | Japan:R-15 | Hong Kong:III | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | South Africa:18LNPS | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R21 | Finland:K-18 | Italy:VM14 | Belgium:KNT | Sweden:15 | Norway:18 | Iceland:16 | Germany:18 (nf) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/18 | Peru:18

Filming Locations:

Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Lionsgate

Trivia:

The screenwriter, Todd Farmer, also appears in the film playing the role of Frank the trucker.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the two girls are running through the grocery store, a man wearing jeans and a denim shirt is standing behind the picket fence area in the upper left corner of the screen near the front doors.

Quotes:

Officer Hinch: [looking at a candy box with a human heart inside] Think I waited too long to retire.
Burke: You and me both, Hinch. Who did this?
Officer Hinch: Harry Warden.
Burke: Harry Warden's in a coma.
Officer Hinch: Guess he woke up.

Movie Connections:

References Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Soundtrack:

Hyperspace

Full-fledged throwback to the golden age of slasher films

A movie titled My Bloody Valentine is clearly non trying to pander to art house crowds, nor does it even seem to be reaching for a higher ilk in the horror genre, but while appearing as a fully tacky horror movie entry (a 3-D remake) My Bloody Valentine succeeds in avoiding and ultimately reviving the never ending pitfalls of such films; a strong, unique opening and a surprising and completely plausible, non-ridiculous finale.

Unfortunately the movie is not as strong as its bookend acts, but it is certainly gory, fun, terrifying, tense and nothing but entertaining. (And yes, there is also nudity). The use of the trademark, in your face, 3-D tactics is mostly restrained, although it seems that director Patrick Lussier (who has mostly been in horror movie limbo since he directed Dracula 2000) could not avoid the intermittent pickaxe to the screen. The performances are actually quite strong, and while this is becoming more the norm in horror films, MBV even forgoes the smart-alecky, prankster character which removes the propensity for us to be taken out of the film.

The unique opening is actually a three-tier start. Flashing newsreels reveal that the collapse of the Hanniger Mine in a small town which claimed the lives of 6 miners (Or was it something else that killed the men?). Awakening from a comma years later, the sole survivor of the cave-in, Harry Warden, picks up where he left off, slaying dozens before being killed himself concluding what the town dubbed the Valentines Day Massacre. But all is not what it seems, as 10 years later Tom Hanniger (Jensen Ackles), a near-victim of Warden, returns to the small town to sell the mine but the killings suspiciously begin once again and it is up to Tom to clear his name.

My Bloody Valentine is a full-fledged throwback to the golden age of slasher films, like Friday the 13th (and is ironically better then the Friday remake this year) and never for a single second tries to be anything it's not and in doing so, it ultimately becomes something it shouldn't be; fun.

6.5 / 10.0

Read all my reviews at: simonsaysmovies.blogspot.com