Happy Birthday To Me
December 19th 2006 22:57
During the 80s slasher heyday there were all manner of stalk’n’slash flicks hitting the big screen, many of them were real hack jobs (pun intended), while others rose to the occasion. One of the above average slasher films was Happy Birthday To Me (1981).
Directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear, Conquest of Planet of the Apes, Battle for the Planet of the Apes) and starring Melissa Sue Anderson (of then hugely popular TV show Little House on the Prairie) as a psychotically troubled teenager dealing with fickle friends and a vengeful unknown killer.
This film was famous for its poster art which featured a horrified young man about to get skewered through the mouth and out the back of his head with a shish kebab, and the tagline “Six of the most bizarre murders you will ever see.”
Well, they aren’t that bizarre, but in keeping with the imaginative skill spree that features in most slasher flicks it’s reasonably inventive (but no Final Destination).
What’s more interesting is the unusual twist the film during the movie’s last quarter. I’m not going to spoil the celebrations by revealing what that is, what do you take me for, some kind of party pooper?!
The movie has a brisk pace and the set pieces although not especially gory are executed (pun intended, hey, it’s my birthday) well, although another rumour was that the on-screen deaths were a lot more graphic than what was eventually shown in the released version.
The cast includes Hollywood legend Glenn Ford very much slumming it as a psychiatrist. Tracey Bregman as the ever-so-slightly mysterious Ann is a stand-out, while Melissa Anderson provides a suitably ice-eyed unhinged quality to her character.
Happy Birthday To Me may not be the icing on the slasher cake, but it sure as hell pops a decent bottle of horror streamers over the stalk’n’slash proceedings. A bloody good cheese’n’pineapple romp indeed.
* the image on this page is courtesy of www.horreur-movie.com
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
That was a close one, dude. A few more days and you could have been mistaken for Jesus.
Maybe the third magi thought you'd be in the crib:
"Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb."
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Happy Birthday buddy and a nice review of the film too boot.
Comment by LaurenD
Very funny, Bryn. Happy birthday, Wolfman. Have a great day! May it be filled with shrieks and chainsaws.
LaurenD
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Great post as usual, hope you have a brilliant birthday,
Tracy
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
"Happpy...birthday...Mr..Horrorphile....Happy Birth-day...toooo you..."
Hope you have a WONDERFULLY HORRIFYING birthday!
Voices~
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
So you're going out to-night, how come you didn't invite me?. Age shall not weary her nor custom stale her infinite variety.
katyzzz
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
...enjoy the BBQ...
Lilla...
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Happy Birthday, Dark Prince...
I'll have a beer for you tonight (yes, a beer...not a pink champagne...since it's your birthday, not mine)!
Cheers,
K.L.
Comment by Jessicca
Learning Something Everyday
Have an enjoyable dark lurky day, dear dark prince. ^_^
Jessicca
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The previous night's carnage was a blurred memory of deep dark crimson and grotesque flickering shadows ... His birthday had been absolutely monstrous affair ... Screaming and hollering, the gnawing of bones and tearing of sweet flesh, the drinking of rouge, the scent of carnal corruption ... It was a sensational celebration which spread the length of the day and into the night by the light of the moon where the beasts of decadence and indulgence ravaged him until dawn ....
A very special thankyou to all of you who have thrown your birthday wishes into my lair ... OWWWWWWW!!!! I bay your way in appreciation!
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Oh, yeah.
You sooo need to write a novel!! A good horror one (obviously...)
I'd read it!
K.L.
P.S. How's the screenplay coming along??
P.P.S. How's the hangover today???
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
KL, TY!
screenplay is coming along ... hangover is behind me now ... lol
Comment by Anonymous
~guess who, just not out loud
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile