My Bloody Valentine
My Bloody Valentine is a 1981 Canadian slasher film that stands out as the ultimate slasher film centered around what some might call the least essential holiday. It also holds the unique title of being the only slasher movie to take on Valentine's Day, but it's also the top film in the 'mine shaft horror' genre - and that's a straightforward compliment because THIS MOVIE IS RAD!
The plot revolves around a group of young adults in the town of Valentine's Bluff. Two decades earlier, the town was rocked by the murderous rampage of miner Harry Warden, triggered by a Valentine's Day dance. Warden ominously warned he would return with his pick-axe if the dance were ever held again. And what do you know? Landing somewhere in the spectrum between the raw realism of Harlan County U.S.A. and the over-the-top terror of Friday The 13th Part 2, My Bloody Valentine is a mesmerizing, brutally violent masterpiece of classic slasher cinema. This film is a perfect watch for those who revel in their disdain for Valentine's Day, reaffirming their feelings with every thrilling kill.
Conceived and produced entirely over the course of around a year, the film was shot on location in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, in the fall of 1980. It was theatrically released on February 11, 1981 by Paramount Pictures, coinciding with the Valentine's holiday. Despite a mixed response from critics and grossing $5.7 million at the box office, the film has developed a large cult following over the years since its release.
- Director: George Mihalka
- Writer: John Beaird
- Starring: Paul Kelman, Lori Hallier, Neil Affleck, Don Francks, Cynthia Dale, Alf Humphreys, Keith Knight, Patricia Hamilton
- Year: 1981
- Rating: R
- Running Time: 89 minutes