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My Bloody Valentine (1981) (R, 1981)

common sense media says

Old-school slasher film is too gory for kids.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this iconic slasher film -- recently remade as My Bloody Valentine 3-D -- is full of gory deaths, especially in this DVD's "Unrated" version; the stalking miner-suit wearing killer is also quite frightening. The film also has the requisite '80s slasher-film link between sex and death, where teens at play are targets for a killer's wrath while doing the figurative deed.

Positive messages: Discussion of the dirty, dangerous work of mining; the film revolves in part around a love triangle, with heartfelt discussions of love lost and regret between the murders.
Violence: Pickaxe murder; murder by power tool; deadly cave-ins; disembodied organs are seen; drinking games are played with knives; a shriveled and burned body tumbles out of a clothes dryer; murder by boiling water; by impalement with shower unit; hanging; mutilation, where a trapped man rips/bites/cuts off his own arm; cannibalism; more murders, all quite graphic. Fights between angry friends.
Sex: Some female undressing as a woman meets a man for an assignation and is killed (the mingling of sexuality and violence in the entire film is quite strong); some male bare-chested showering. Kissing by blanked-covered persons; a condom is shown.
Language: Some, including "f--k," "son-of-a-bitch," "dammit," "s--t," and "hell," "a--holes," and more
Consumerism: Some brands (Camel ciagrettes, Moosehead beer) visible.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Beer and hard liquor are drunk; cigarettes are smoked. Chewing tobacco is enjoyed.
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More on My Bloody Valentine (1981)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the appeal of the slasher film -- what makes these movies so well-loved, and such often-remade movies by modern Hollywood? Families can also talk about the Freudian link between sex and death in these films; why do these movies seem compelled to show teens being murdered during sex? Is it a cautionary warning, or grim exploitation?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In the small mining town of Valentine's Bluffs, there's a 20-year-old secret of mystery and murder. While the mine's managers were at a Valentine's Day dance, a cave-in trapped and killed a number of workers; the one survivor who escaped, Harry Warden, avenged himself on the managers and supervisors through bloody murder, sending their torn-out hearts inside candy packages as a dire warning. Harry was sent to the asylum, but 20 years later, as the town prepares for Valentine's Day festivities, a new killer stalks the town; is Harry back, or has a new killer taken up his murderous crusade?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

With the recent 3-D remake at the top of the box office and other classic slasher films being re-made (Prom Night, Friday the 13th), MY BLOODY VALENTINE is worth viewing as a historical curiosity -- and the film's mining-town setting is used to make for a unique, chilling variation on the classic slasher flick as well.

At the same time, a unique slasher flick is still, at heart, a slasher flick; My Bloody Valentine's screaming victims and bloody murders are fairly pedestrian stuff, albeit well-made, with a little more emphasis on personal relationships and character than you might expect. My Bloody Valentine will have some historical interest for fans of slasher films, especially with this DVD's extras and presentation of the unrated cut, but it's still, at the end of the day, an '80s horror quickie.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: George Mihalka
Cast: Lori Hallier, Neil Affleck, Paul Kelman
Genre: Horror
Run time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release: February 11, 1981
DVD release: January 10, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Curbspaget
adult
17
 
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
erick112
teen, 16 years old
10
 
top ten slasher movie
this movie was great by it self. but with all the gore put back into the movie it ranks as the top 10 slasher movies ever.
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wumb
kid, 12 years old
10
 
wicked!
the movie has a few parts that arent appropiate for children such as the first scene includes some partial nudity.A part that might not be appropiate for kids is axels flashback around the end of the movie.his flashback was harry warden hit his father with a pickaxe and in the special edition in the directors cut gets his heart cut out and axel watched it.it is a good slasher movie reminds me of the texas chainsaw massacre but i recomend it for kids 10 and older and for people who like watching gory,violent,disturbing,scary movies.
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Plague
parent
13
 
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Horror at its upmost best. Dont let the year of the movie deceive you, this movie is not for the faint of heart.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
Napkap
teen, 15 years old
13
 
Not Perfct, But Fun
A pretty fun slasher. A few plot holes and an awful ending aside, it's pretty fun.
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cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
13
 
Awesome.Bloody cool.
I have the Blu-ray version of this on DVD however it still looks a bit outdated and cheesy as you would expect from a 1980s slasher old school horror flick however it's still bloody cool.Be on the lookout for the 2010 3D version though.It's great.By the way I've got the unrated edition too.
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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