Bloody Birthday (1981)

Director:

Ed Hunt

Writers:

Ed Hunt (screenplay) and
Barry Pearson (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Nightmare Begins With The Kids Next Door

Plot:

Lacking consciences because they were born during a solar eclipse, a trio of 10-year-olds embark on an indiscriminate killing spree.

Plot Keywords:

Eclipse | Children | Fake Accident | Red Panties | Child Fratricide

Cast

Lori Lethin	...	Joyce Russel
Melinda Cordell	...	Mrs. Brody
Julie Brown	...	Beverly Brody
Joe Penny	...	Mr. Harding
Bert Kramer	...	Sherriff James Brody
K.C. Martel	...	Timmy Russel
Elizabeth Hoy	...	Debbie Brody
Billy Jayne	...	Curtis Taylor (as Billy Jacoby)
Andy Freeman	...	Steven Seton
Susan Strasberg	...	Miss Viola Davis
José Ferrer	...	Doctor
Ben Marley	...	Duke Benson
Erica Hope	...	Annie Smith
Ellen Geer	...	Madge
Daniel Currie
William Boyett
Shane Butterworth	...	Classmate
Ward Costello
Michael Dudikoff	...	Willard
Cyril O'Reilly	...	Paul (Lori's boyfriend)
Georgie Paul
Norman Rice
Ruth Silveira
Sylvia Wright	...	Girl in Van
John Avery	...	Guy in Van
Nathan Roberts

Directed by
Ed Hunt

Writing credits
Ed Hunt		(screenplay) and
Barry Pearson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Steven R. McGlothen	....	executive producer
Gerald T. Olson	....	producer
Daniel H. Blatt	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Max Rosenberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Arlon Ober

Cinematography by
Stephen L. Posey		(as Stephen Posey)

Film Editing by
Ann E. Mills

Casting by
Judith Holstra

Art Direction by
Lynda Burbank
J. Rae Fox

Makeup Department
Julie Purcell	....	hairdresser
Julie Purcell	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill Dodge	....	first assistant director
Frank Martinez	....	second assistant director
Wade Mayer	....	third assistant director
Ted G. Vujovich	....	second unit director

Art Department
Lynda Burbank	....	set dresser
J. Rae Fox	....	set dresser
Nancy Friedman	....	art department assistant
Alex Hajdu	....	set constructor
Angus McLoone	....	property master

Sound Department
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Beckert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anna R. Delanzo	....	boom operator (as Anna DeLanzo)
Michael Jiron	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anthony Santa Croce	....	sound mixer
Erick Jolley	....	audio restoration (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects

Stunts
Reed Allen	....	stunt coordinator
Kimberly Epper	....	stunts (as Kim Epper)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fred Aronow	....	director of photography: second unit
Latsi Bielitz	....	first assistant camera
Ray Bilger	....	gaffer: second unit
Ray Bilger	....	grip: second unit
Scott Buttfield	....	best boy electric
Stephen Crawford	....	grip/electrician/driver
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Nancy McGovern	....	still photographer
Todd Pike	....	second assistant camera
Ronald Raschke	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Ron Raschke)
Jeffrey Sudzin	....	best boy grip
Christopher Tufty	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christopher Gibson	....	second wardrobe assistant
Patty Koehnen	....	wardrobe assistant
Michele Logan	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Bert Glatstein	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ira Hearshen	....	music supervisor
Arlon Ober	....	conductor
Curt Sobel	....	music editor

Other crew
Allen Alsobrook	....	production assistant
Lisa C. Cook	....	craft service
Joan Diamond	....	script supervisor
Gary W. Fuchs	....	location manager
Angela Gruenthal	....	production coordinator
Julie G. Moldo	....	assistant to producer (as Julie Moldo)
Monty Montgomery	....	production assistant
Mark Witzer	....	production assistant (as Mark L. Witzer)

Production Companies

• Judica Productions

Distributors

• Ciné Paris Distribution (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Ízaro Films (1984) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Video Screen (1984) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Rearguard Productions (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Prism Entertainment Corporation (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Starmaker Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Globo Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Severin Films (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Screen (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Jack Rabin & Associates  opticals
• Producers' Sound Service  sound processing
• The Provision Company  sound effects editing
• La Da Productions  music editing
• Sage and Sound  music recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | USA:R (Certificate #26189) | West Germany:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Company:

Judica Productions

Trivia:

The films French title is Les Tueurs de l'éclipse, meaning "The Killers of the Eclipse" and its German release title was Kinder des Teufels, meaning "Children of the Devil."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Curtis shoots Ms. Davis - as she is falling to the floor, her head almost knocks all of the white napkins down onto the floor with her. In the next shot we see they all stayed neatly on the counter. But in the next shot they are now all on the floor, surrounding her body.

Quotes:

Joyce Russel:It's like Curtis doesn't know the things he's doing are wrong, like he doesn't care.
Timmy Russel:That's Curtis.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010) (V)

Soundtrack:

Woman

Bad Seed X3

Bloody Birthday plays on the assumed innocence of children and shows them as bloodthirsty monsters. Steven (Andy Freeman), Curtis (Billy Jayne;credited as Billy Jacoby), and Debbie (Elizabeth Hoy), were all born on the same day during an eclipse. Besides sharing a birthday, they also share a love of murder (and they're not picky about who they kill either). Young Billy, Elizabeth, and Andy play the parts of these emotionless monsters quite well but they know when to put on the charm too. But they can't go on fooling everyone. This is an overall good horror flick, its not too unrealistic, there are a few good moments of suspense and the kids portrayed the roles well, (the grown-ups are pretty hammy though). I'd say its well worth seeing, (I own a copy myself).