Valentine (2001)

Director:

Jamie Blanks

Writers (WGA):

Tom Savage (novel)
Donna Powers (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Love Hurts.

Plot:

Five women are stalked by an unknown assailant while preparing for Valentine's Day

Plot Keywords:

Valentine | Valentine's Day | Dance | Revenge | Mask

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Denise Richards	...	Paige Prescott
David Boreanaz	...	Adam Carr
Marley Shelton	...	Kate Davies
Jessica Capshaw	...	Dorothy Wheeler
Jessica Cauffiel	...	Lily Voight
Katherine Heigl	...	Shelley Fisher
Hedy Burress	...	Ruthie Walker
Fulvio Cecere	...	Detective Leon Vaughn
Daniel Cosgrove	...	Campbell Morris
Johnny Whitworth	...	Max Raimi
Woody Jeffreys	...	Brian
Adam Harrington	...	Jason Marquette
Claude Duhamel	...	Gary Taylor
Wyatt Page	...	Evan Wheeler
Benita Ha	...	Kim Wheeler
Paul Magel	...	Lance
Haig Sutherland	...	Bookish Guy
Adrian Holmes	...	Banker
Ty Olsson	...	Jock
Daniel Boileau	...	Shy Guy
G. Patrick Currie	...	Religious Guy
Jo-Ann Fernandes	...	Maid
Alex Diakun	...	Pastor
Karina Carreck	...	Gallery Employee
Aaron Dudley	...	Video Man #1
Dalias Blake	...	Video Man #2
Chris Webb	...	Video Man #3
Basia Antos	...	Video Woman #1
Carla Boudreau	...	Video Woman #2
Vanessa Volker	...	Video Woman #3
Joel Palmer	...	Jeremy Melton
Sarah Mjanes	...	Young Shelley
Brittany Mayers	...	Young Kate
Kate Logie	...	Young Dorothy
Chelcie Burgart	...	Young Paige
Chelsea Florko	...	Young Lily
Sterling McKay	...	Joe Tulga
Kendall Saunders	...	Waitress
Chad Barager	...	Chad
Noel Fisher	...	Tulga Gang Member #1
Cody Serpa	...	Tulga Gang Member #2
Mark Mullan	...	Tulga Gang Member #3
Tammy Pentecost	...	Waitress
Tyler Vradenburg	...	Med Student
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Caroline Chan	...	Young Shelley (uncredited)
C. Ernst Harth	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Marshall Virtue	...	The Cherub / Killer (uncredited)

Directed by
Jamie Blanks

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Savage		(novel)
Donna Powers		(screenplay) &
Wayne Powers		(screenplay) and
Gretchen J. Berg		(screenplay) &
Aaron Harberts		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Grant Rosenberg	....	executive producer
Jim Rowe	....	co-producer
Dylan Sellers	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Davis

Cinematography by
Rick Bota		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Steve Mirkovich

Casting by
Lisa Beach

Production Design by
Stephen Geaghan

Art Direction by
Susan Parker		(as Sue Parker)

Set Decoration by
Andrea French

Costume Design by
Karin Nosella

Makeup Department
Melina Calogiros	....	assistant hair stylist
Agnieszka Echallier	....	project supervisor (as Agnieszka Kolakowska)
Lisa Leonard	....	key hair stylist
Debra Regnier	....	assistant makeup artist
Fay von Schroeder	....	makeup department head (as Fay Von Schroeder)
Joel Echallier	....	special makeup effects applicator (uncredited)
Joel Echallier	....	special makeup effects designer (uncredited)

Production Management
Ben Brafman	....	post-production supervisor
Jim Rowe	....	unit production manager
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production
Elizabeth Miller Gavcus	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Bitonti	....	third assistant director
Don French	....	first assistant director
Marnie Gee	....	dgc trainee
David Klohn	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Scott Bader	....	illustrator
Mira Caveno	....	set designer
Harry Griffin-Beale	....	construction coordinator
Mark Howes	....	lead set dresser
Jon Jarema	....	uncredited
Terry Joseph	....	assistant set decorator
Franziska Keller	....	art department coordinator
Jim LeBlanc	....	property master (as Jim Leblanc)
David Lewis	....	greensman (as Dave Lewis)
Marko Lytviak	....	head painter
Tiara Motem	....	property buyer
Dan Petrescu	....	paint foreman
John Quesenberry	....	construction foreman
David Rosychuk	....	assistant property master (as Dave Rosychuck)
Donna Williams	....	assistant art director
Renata Zaleska	....	prop buyer

Sound Department
William Butler	....	production sound mixer
Dario DiSanto	....	foley editor
James Fonnyadt	....	supervising sound editor
Kelly Frey	....	sound editor
Adam Gejdos	....	supervising sound editor
Megan Goudsward	....	sound editor
Brad Hillman	....	foley mixer
Brad Hillman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shane Humphrey	....	foley artist
Philip Hunter	....	sound editor (as Phil Hunter)
Bill Mellow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Mitchell	....	boom operator
Maureen Murphy	....	foley artist
Mike Olekshy	....	sound editor
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
David Shea	....	adr mixer
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Kevin Townshend	....	sound editor
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
David Allinson	....	special effects coordinator (as Dave Allinson)
Lee Biyak	....	special effects
Pierre-Paul Charbonneau	....	special effects
Brant McIlroy	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Geoff Anderson	....	visual effects onset supervisor
Jim Finn	....	visual effects supervisor
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Naomi Stopa	....	visual effects coordinator
Christopher Grandel	....	trailer digital effects, Howard Anderson Company (uncredited)
Rosano Lepri	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Tom Tennisco	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Yves Cameron	....	stunt player
Douglas Chapman	....	stunt player (as Doug Chapman)
Crystal Dalman	....	stunt player
Corry Glass	....	stunt player
Kristene Kenward	....	stunt player
Leslie McMichael	....	stunt player (as Leslie Spongberg)
Nicole Rudell	....	stunt player
Trish Schill	....	stunt player
Heath Stevenson	....	stunt player
Melissa R. Stubbs	....	stunt player
Danny Virtue	....	stunt coordinator
Marshall Virtue	....	stunt player
Vanessa Volker	....	stunt player
Marshall Virtue	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lee Blasingame	....	first assistant camera
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera (as Robert Carlson)
Marc Daunais	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Herb DeWaal	....	key rigging grip
Garnet Durham	....	video assist operator
Ken Ferris	....	camera operator
Glen Forrieter	....	dolly grip (as Glenn Forrieter)
Darryl Foulds	....	grip
David Galbraith	....	first assistant camera
Randy A. Jablonka	....	lighting technician
Glen Marcoux	....	first assistant grip
Chris McMullin	....	Steadicam operator (as Chris McMullen)
Chris McMullin	....	camera operator (as Chris McMullen)
Klaus Melchior	....	video playback coordinator
Randal W. Morton	....	second assistant camera (as Randy Morton)
Jeff O'Brien	....	rigging gaffer
Jeff Pentecost	....	chief lighting technician (as Jeffrey Pentecost)
Diyah Pera	....	still photographer
Keith Saayman	....	remote head technician
Scott Simpson	....	second assistant camera
Gordon Tait	....	key grip (as Gord Tait)
Lance White	....	video playback operator
Gerhard Ramone Young	....	dolly grip (as Ramone Young)
David Kohler	....	lamp operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stephanie Boeke	....	extras casting
Bette Chadwick	....	casting: Canada
Candice Elzinga	....	casting: Canada (as Candace Elzinga)
Sarah Katzman	....	casting associate
Martina Smyth	....	casting assistant: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andre Brouwer	....	costume supervisor
Jessica Lythgoe-Green	....	assistant costume designer
Corinne Mameli	....	costume supervisor
Allisa Swanson	....	extras costumer

Editorial Department
Jordan Acomba	....	first assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Paul Klassen	....	second assistant editor
Franco Pante	....	first assistant editor
Rob Plotnikoff	....	second assistant editor
Thom Kyle	....	second assistant apprentice editor: Canada (uncredited)

Music Department
Bobby Carlton	....	music supervisor
Andy Gould	....	music supervisor
Brenda Heins	....	assistant music editor
Larry Mah	....	music mixer
Larry Mah	....	score mixer
Rob McDermott	....	music supervisor
Shawn Pierce	....	music editor
Ellen Segal	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Dave Bowe	....	transportation coordinator
Peter Franta	....	driver: cast
Ron Lacroix	....	transportation co-captain
M. Walter Moroz	....	transportation captain (as Walter Moroz)

Other crew
Christopher M. Allan	....	assistant location manager (as Chris Allan)
Chad Barager	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenberg
Andrew Barron	....	craft service
Andrew Barron	....	first aid
Ashley Bell	....	extras wrangler
Deborah D. Bose	....	location assistant (as Debra Bose)
Carole Britton	....	assistant production coordinator
Karen Brodie	....	office production assistant
Mandy Butler	....	production accountant
Charlene Callihoo	....	assistant accountant
Nancy Carrow	....	production coordinator
Simone Chin	....	assistant: Mr. Blanks
Dixie Cutler	....	unit publicist
Madeleine Duff	....	script supervisor
Brad Erickson	....	location assistant
James Fonnyadt	....	first assistent director
Bonny Giardina	....	assistant: Mr. Sellers
Rob Graham	....	computer playback operator
Michael Gutierrez	....	location assistant (as Mike Gutierrez)
Brent Isaac	....	location assistant
Greg Jackson	....	location manager
Serena Keay	....	location assistant
Jennifer Lewis	....	location assistant (as Jen Lewis)
Iain MacPhail	....	location assistant (as Iain Macphail)
Leona Maddeaux	....	accounting clerk
Andrew Marles	....	location assistant
Bob McQuarrie	....	location assistant
Rocky Meade	....	location assistant
Ginger Pottin	....	assistant: Mr. Sellers
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: main and end titles
Michele Lee Shellenberg	....	payroll accountant (as Michele Lee)
Alan A. Spence	....	set wireman
Costa Vassos	....	assistant location manager

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Village Roadshow Pictures (in association with)
• NPV Entertainment
• Cupid Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• WB Television Network, The (2003) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Net5 (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2002) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• SubTV (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (cupid mask creation)
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures (digital effects)
• SFX Studio (special make-up effects)

Other Companies

• Fujifilm Canada  motion picture products
• Kodak Canada  motion picture products
• Location Caterers  caterer
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision  cameras & lenses (as Panavision®)
• Technicolor  color by (as Technicolor®)
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong horror violence, some sexuality and language

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) (Canadian Home Video rating) | South Korea:18 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #37936) | New Zealand:R16 | Brazil:14 | Mexico:B (TV rating) | Mexico:C | Japan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The first cut of the film was passed with an "R" rating by the MPAA. It was then heavily edited by Warner Bros. Studios as it felt releasing such a bloody film in a post 9/11 climate was inappropriate. Nearly all the death scenes have been trimmed of blood or excess violence. Director Jamie Blanks estimated 40 seconds of hits and misses during the jacuzzi death were removed alone.

Goofs:

Continuity: During several of the death scenes, the amount of blood on the killer's mask changes noticeably.

Quotes:

Dorothy Wheeler:Excuse me, who are you?
Ruthie:That's none of your business.
Campbell Morris:Don't worry, she's nobody.
Ruthie:Yeah, I'm nobody. I'm just the idiot who's still waiting for a return on my Internet investment.
[to Campbell Morris]
Ruthie:What did you call it? Bleed-Me-Dry.com?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Scream: The Inside Story (2011) (TV)

Soundtrack:

El Bombo Atomico

Not just a silly slasher film

A group of model-caliber San Francisco women who have been friends since elementary school are suddenly being threatened and attacked by someone sending them bizarre Valentine's Day cards. Who is the killer and why is the killer after them?

My rating will often change on subsequent viewings of a film--sometimes slightly up, sometimes slightly down. However, I can't remember another film where my rating has changed as drastically as it has for Valentine. The first time I watched it, upon its theatrical release, I thought it was pretty awful--I gave it a 4 out of 10, the equivalent of an "F" letter grade. Watching it for a second time last night, I can't remember what the heck I didn't like about it. I can only assume that maybe I was really in the wrong mood to watch it, or maybe I just didn't get it. In any event, I loved it this time, giving it a 9 out of 10, or an "A".

It might sound ridiculous saying I didn't get a film like this, but there is something to get. Valentine is almost a comedy/horror. Director Jamie Blanks, who was also responsible for 1998's Urban Legend, takes the stereotypical teen horror formula that became so popular in the late 1990s in the wake of Scream (1996) and pushes most of the elements up a notch, making Valentine intentionally cheesy/campy almost to the point of absurdity (where absurdism is a positive stylistic term). On top of that, he gives us a film imbued with humorous commentary on romantic relationships. The humor is unusual in that it has the same exaggeratedly campy tone as the teen horror aspects. Most of the situations in the film, and the modus operandi of the villain, humorous or not, are tied in to the Valentine's Day theme.

Many viewers will likely subtract points from the film for its various cliché-rooted but implausible scenarios and plot developments. However, in light of the above, the film is intentionally clichéd, implausible and ludicrous. It's as if Blanks is attempting (and mostly succeeding) to transcend the typical teen slasher by mocking/spoofing the conventions of the genre while also satirizing eros. That's the attraction to the irony of basing a horror film on Valentine's Day. It's an incongruity that is cleverly woven throughout the film, and that is itself at the heart of the slasher genre, making it prime fodder for Valentine's extravagant lampooning. Scream had a similar aim with its horror material, but the twist there was that the film was "self-aware". Valentine's Day is intentionally not self-aware; the viewer has to rely on contextual clues for satire. Lest some think I'm "reading too much" into the film, it's worthwhile to note that Blanks said in interviews that he "didn't want to just do another slasher film after Urban Legend" and producer Dylan Sellers said he wanted to do something "more adult".

Other viewers may dislike the fact that Valentine's Day differs so much from its putative source material, the novel of the same name by Tom Savage. The novel's characters, setting and plot are very different from the film. Sellers has said, "While it was a fine book, I didn't think it was the right story for a film". So instead the novel, which is much dryer and more serious in tone, was used as a launching pad, a motif to create variations on for a horror/thriller story centered on Valentine's Day. While those facts won't help purists familiar with the book like the film, it's helpful to understand why the film has its divergent plot and attitude. It's probably better to look at the film as an independent entity with a similar theme.

Blanks' direction is impeccable visually. Valentine's Day has a lush look throughout, with complex, deep colors, interesting sets, and good staging. Blanks is admirable for keeping his villain and attack scenes not too dark, with clearly conveyed action. He also directs his actors with aplomb, catalyzing often slyly humorous performances. David Boreanaz, as Adam Carr, is involved in many of the funniest moments.

While Valentine's Day is no masterpiece, it's a very good horror/thriller film that seems strongly prone to misconceptions. If you watch it expecting something more tongue-in-cheek you may find yourself appreciating it a lot more.