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IMDbPro

My Bloody Valentine

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,648
1,990
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Twenty years ago, a tragic accident in a mine on St. Valentine's Day took the lives of five miners. The disaster occurred while supervisors left their posts to attend the town's annual Valentine's Day dance. The only survivor, Harry Warden, was confined to a mental institution after the ordeal.
Play trailer1:05
3 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorMysteryThriller
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 tur... Read allA 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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,648
1,990
    • George Mihalka
    • Stephen A. Miller(story concept)
    • John Beaird
  • Stars
    • Paul Kelman
    • Lori Hallier
    • Neil Affleck
    • George Mihalka
    • Stephen A. Miller(story concept)
    • John Beaird
  • Stars
    • Paul Kelman
    • Lori Hallier
    • Neil Affleck
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 213User reviews
    • 143Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:05
    Watch Trailer
    My Bloody Valentine
    Trailer 2:09
    Watch My Bloody Valentine
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 21
    Video 29:00
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 21

    Photos161

    Neil Affleck, Peter Cowper, and Pat Hemingway in My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    Carl Marotte in My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    Peter Cowper and Helene Udy in My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    1 sheet
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    Neil Affleck, Peter Cowper, Lori Hallier, and Amy Steel in My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)
    My Bloody Valentine (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Kelman
    • T.J.
    Lori Hallier
    Lori Hallier
    • Sarah
    Neil Affleck
    Neil Affleck
    • Axel
    Keith Knight
    Keith Knight
    • Hollis
    Alf Humphreys
    Alf Humphreys
    • Howard
    Cynthia Dale
    Cynthia Dale
    • Patty
    Helene Udy
    Helene Udy
    • Sylvia
    Rob Stein
    • John
    Thomas Kovacs
    • Mike
    • (as Tom Kovacs)
    Terry Waterland
    • Harriet
    Carl Marotte
    Carl Marotte
    • Dave
    Jim Murchison
    • Tommy
    Gina Dick
    • Gretchen
    Peter Cowper
    Peter Cowper
    • The Miner…
    Don Francks
    Don Francks
    • Chief Newby
    Patricia Hamilton
    Patricia Hamilton
    • Mabel
    Larry Reynolds
    Larry Reynolds
    • Mayor Hanniger
    Jack Van Evera
    Jack Van Evera
    • Happy
      • George Mihalka
      • Stephen A. Miller(story concept)
      • John Beaird
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview with TerrorTrap.com director George Mihalka said that the shooting location at Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia was chosen because of its rustic atmospheric appearance. However when the locals found out that a movie was to be shot there they decided to spend $50,000 to have the mine painted and cleaned! This, of course, diminished the reason that the production wanted the location to begin with. Mihalka said that $75,000 of the film's budget was then used to return the mine to its original state for shooting.
    • Goofs
      After miner kills Happy the Bartender, he leans over Happy and the black lens is missing from his gas mask.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Axel Palmer: [singing to himself] Sarah, be my bloody Valentine! Daddy's gone away, Harry Warden made you pay...

    • Crazy credits
      At the beginning of the rolling credits, you will hear the evil-doer miner (Harry Warden) laugh.
    • Alternate versions
      The original British cinema print was also the pre-cut version. However, it did restore the ending. The footage was obviously from a different source and cut back into the film.
    • Connections
      Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ballad of Harry Warden
      Written by Paul Zaza

      Sung by John McDermott

    User reviews213

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    We'll probably never be-able to see how the movie should have been...
    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!
    helpful•49
    28
    • RareSlashersReviewed
    • Jan 27, 2004

    Horror Villains Through the Years

    Horror Villains Through the Years

    Even bad guys have to change their look from time to time. Check out the evolution of Hollywood's biggest villains through the years.
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    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the theatrical version and the Unrated Special Edition?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 1981 (United States)
      • Canada
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
      • Famous Players
      • Secret Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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