While the list of horror films I’ve seen is larger than most
people can claim there are still a vast number of movies I’ve missed along the
way. This would be acceptable had I grown up before the video age but with the VHS
boom way back when and having owned a video store I shouldn’t have missed so
many. Thankfully that’s changing with many of the movies that graced the
shelves of mom and pop video stores making their way to DVD and blu-ray. And
thank goodness for companies like Arrow Video that are not just resurrecting
these movies but offering them in excellent condition with extras to boot. Such
is the case with BLOODY BIRTHDAY.
All I remembered about this movie was the cover art, a
birthday cake with fingers for candles. I had no idea what it was about. Had I
read that it was a horror movie involving kids I might have passed it by not
being a fan of the sub-genre. Had I done so I would have missed out on a solid
flick.
In 1970 three women are all in the middle of giving birth
during a solar eclipse. Fast forward 10 years just before all three children
are supposed to celebrate their tenth birthday. A young couple is using a
cemetery to fool around in when they’re attacked and killed, one with a shovel
and the other with a jumping rope. The next day the Sheriff Brody, the father
of Debbie one of the three kids, is talking to the class his daughter is in to
see if the kids recognize who the handle for the jump rope found at the
scene belonged to, but none recognize it.
At home Debbie calls her father out after one of the other
kids, Curtis, has set a trap for him with his skateboard. As Debbie drops her
jump rope, missing a handle, to the ground, Steven (the third child) bashes her
father’s head in with a baseball bat while she watches. The children make it
looks like he fell on the skateboard and call her mother out to see. Yes, these
are not your normal kids in the neighborhood.
More events take place with the kids taking out adults and
no one having a clue what’s taking place. They select one other child to
torment as well named Timmy whose sister Joyce is best friends with Debbie’s
sister Beverly. None of the adults in this film are safe, in particular because
no one would suspect a 10 year old of being behind any of the strange
occurrences taking place. Just who will survive isn’t certain until the film’s
final reel.
The movie is one of those classic 80s horror films with
plenty of atmosphere and a cast that is believable in their roles. Each of the
actors playing the children do an amazing job with none of them appearing to be
children acting at all. That’s a major plus that carries the film towards a
feeling of reality. The nods to the pop culture of the time are all over in the
film from music to hair styles but it’s a comforting feeling to watch. All of
it combines to make this one of those films that fans of the horror genre,
especially that of the 80s, will want to make sure they get a glimpse of this
film. It far exceeded my expectations.
Arrow Video has once more done the film much better than
those who originally released it on video did. To begin with we have a 2k
restoration of the film from original film elements making it the best looking
version of the film ever offered. In addition to that there are plenty of
extras on hand that most movies like this are lacking. Included are a new audio
commentary track by director Ed Hunt, a new audio commentary track by
podcasters The Hysteria Continues, a new interview with actress Lori Lethin who
played Joyce, BAD SEEDS AND BODY COUNTS a new video appreciation of the film
and sub-genre by film journalist Chris Alexander, an archival interview with
producer Max Rosenberg, the original theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve
with new artwork by Timothy Pittides and for the first pressing only a
collector’s booklet with new writing by Lee Gambin.
I’ve noted several times here how pleasantly surprised I was
by this movie. My guess us you will be too. For genre fans this is a must have
so make sure you pick up a copy soon.
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