Character Spotlight- Brad- Night Of The Creeps

 

**This post contains spoilers**

He’s young, he’s confident, his hair is perfect, and he’s the leader of a fraternity! So what’s wrong with Brad (Allan Kayser)? Well, he’s not a nice guy. To be more blunt, Brad is a jerk. Brad’s personality is a detestable mix of an asshole jock and a cocky surfer dude, who believes he’s untouchable. He’s exactly the kind of guy you’d expect to have a big ego, as the head honcho of a fraternity, the ultimate narcissist, who thinks the world should bow at his feet.

It’s almost impossible to believe Cynthia Cronenberg (Jill Whitlow) is his girlfriend, but the clock is ticking on her relationship with Brad. Brad goes too far with his bullying. His plans to toy with and humiliate Chris Romero (Jason Lively), and his friend, J.C. Hooper (Steve Marshall) backfired. Brad thought he got the last laugh, kicking one of J.C.’s crutches, which caused him to fall flat on his face. But Cynthia wasn’t amused. Cynthia dumped Brad in front of a crowd, slowly raising her middle finger to throw more salt in the wound. The Bradster’s fragile ego was shattered in front of other people, so you know he was pissed, no matter how hard he tried to hide genuine feelings of embarrassment. 

Brad loses Cynthia to Chris, and his own fraternity bros are quick to poke fun at him? Ouch, that’s gotta hurt! But things only get worse for Brad, as the story unfolds. Drunk and miserable, Brad gets caught off guard outside of Cynthia’s sorority house, when one of the alien slugs jumps into his mouth. So Brad goes from being the popular big man on campus fraternity leader, to a mindless zombie infected by alien slugs? Wow. That’s a big downgrade for sure, and a hard fall from grace.

You have to tip your hat to Allan Kayser for his performance. He IS the reason why you’d want to punch Brad in the face. Kayser speaks in a weirdly pretentious cadence, adding another noticeably annoying character trait to Brad. Whether he’s simply talking, or going on one of his pompous rants, you’ll quickly notice Brad always believes he’s the most important voice in the room (or outside). No one else’s opinions should matter, because he’s the almighty Brad, and you’re not supposed to question him.

Brad’s story ended on the steps of Cynthia’s sorority house, when he wasn’t his normal self. Infested with alien slugs, Brad’s head was blown wide open by Detective Ray Cameron (Tom Atkins), causing a group of slugs to spill out of his skull. To make matters worse, Chris used the flamethrower to torch Brad’s decaying corpse. Brad lost everything, and he got exactly what he deserved, a prime example of a character receiving their comeuppance in the worst possible ways imaginable. 

Chris twisted the knife after he killed Brad (with Ray’s help). Chris took one final look at Brad, staring a hole through his flaming dead body, and he calmly said, “Sorry, Brad. Don’t take it personal.” Brad would’ve loved to dish out one more snarky insult, but Chris got the last laugh, AND he saved Cynthia from Brad’s attack. The douchey ex-boyfriend was literally destroyed by a nerd, someone, who Brad believed was beneath him in the ranks of the social hierarchy on a college campus. A strange and unconventional rivalry, because Chris beat Brad, truly a full circle story, complete with an insanely brutal and gory ending.

Character Spotlight- Chris, J.C., & Cynthia- Night Of The Creeps

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The alien invasion has begun! Send the military, send tanks, send all of the fire power that’s available, because the world desperately needs heroes to fight back! What about Chris Romero (Jason Lively) and his best friend, J.C. Hooper (Steve Marshall)? But Chris and J.C. don’t have big muscles. They’re not skilled in hand to hand combat, and while you could say Chris knows the basics about using weapons, J.C. and Chris really don’t check off any of the boxes for a duo that’s capable of stopping crafty alien slugs. 

Chris and J.C. are nerds. Chris is still carrying a heavy heart and moping around after losing his high school sweetheart. He’s socially awkward, and he’s scared to talk to women. J.C.? He’s a comedian with a quick and snappy sense of humor, a jokester, who doesn’t mind poking fun at himself and his disabilities. For a kid who’s forced to get around on crutches, J.C. still manages to have a positive outlook on life. 

J.C. is the true definition of a good and loyal friend. When Chris spots Cynthia Cronenberg (Jill Whitlow), J.C. does everything he can do to help Chris. Pulling off a prank to join a fraternity, lead by a despicable tool named Brad (Allan Kayser)? Done. When Chris starts whining about J.C.’s habit to make a joke out of everything, J.C. gets annoyed and irritated, but he doesn’t abandon Chris. Chris and J.C. stick together, no matter what, even if they’re staring at an old frozen corpse! 

During her first appearance, Cynthia Cronenberg gets the spotlight, complete with fitting background music for someone, who’s presented as the perfect dream girl. She’s sweet, innocent, and Cynthia has a majestic aura about herself. Okay, she’s dating Brad, but when Cynthia learns the truth about the slug infested walking corpse, who showed up at her window, she dumps Brad. Tricking two good guys into doing a prank that involves a dead body, when you had no intentions of accepting them into your fraternity, is probably a line you shouldn’t cross. And Brad kicking away one of J.C.’s crutches didn’t help things. Everyone has a breaking point. 

Night Of The Creeps shows us college life can be fun. Chris has a fresh tuxedo, Brad is out of the picture, and he’s finally ready to go on his first date with Cynthia! Things are looking up for Chris…..but the invading alien slugs have other plans. J.C. is dead, after coming out on the losing end of an attack from the slugs in the bathroom. So who else is available to help Chris fight against the aliens? Detective Ray Cameron (Tom Atkins)! Yes, Ray is still haunted by the memories of finding the dismembered corpse of his high school sweetheart. But Ray is a tough wisecracking ball of fire, who won’t quit.

Still, Chris needs one more person to join his team. Outnumbered with their backs against the wall, Cynthia steps up to help Chris and Ray. One of my absolute favorite shots from Night Of The Creeps shows Chris and Cynthia together, armed with a flamethrower and Ray’s trusty twelve gauge shotgun, slowly walking towards the basement in Cynthia’s sorority house. Chris is serious, while he’s urging Cynthia’s sorority sisters to get out of the house, knowing they’re all risking their lives, if they stay inside. A cool handful of moments, and, well it’s kind of a bad ass shot, in a comical way of course. 

Ray Cameron jokingly used the nicknames Spanky (Chris) and Alfalfa (J.C.) for Chris and J.C. Fitting nicknames for the duo, because you could say Chris and J.C. are two Little Rascals in their own ways. Chris starts out as a bumbling and nervous geek, but he finds his courage, as the story develops. Chris found the motivation to fight back, after he listened to J.C.’s emotional farewell message on a tape recorder. He couldn’t sit back and hide, or wait it out. No, Chris had to avenge his best friend’s death.

Did Chris, J.C., Cynthia, and Ray stop the alien invasion? Well, no. If you’ve seen the theatrical cut and the director’s cut for Night Of The Creeps, you’ll know both versions ended with cliffhangers. But Chris fought back. Chris, with Cynthia by his side, marched right into the fire to take on the alien slugs. It’s an unlikely and ironic story for an alien invasion, because Chris, J.C., and Cynthia are not exactly the cast of characters you’d expect to try and save the world. 

As far as Chris goes, he survived. Filled with a strong sense of pride, while standing tall with his new girlfriend, Cynthia, Chris finally had a reason to be happy again after Ray’s sacrifice. J.C. is gone, but Chris finally pulled himself out of a miserable stupor, AND he fought through hell to transform himself into a gutsy hero? Not a bad ending for a guy, who started out as someone, who was genuinely terrified at the thought of simply talking to Cynthia.

Character Spotlight- Dr. Dan Challis- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 **This post contains spoilers**

Ellie Grimbridge (Stacey Nelkin) needs help to solve the mystery behind her father, Harry’s (Al Berry) death. The police? A private investigator? Maybe a detective? What about a divorced doctor with two kids? After a chance encounter with Harry at the hospital, and the discovery of one of the many infamous Silver Shamrock Halloween masks, Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins) takes an impromptu trip to the quiet town of Santa Mira with Ellie.

Dan’s helping Ellie find closure and answers for her father’s murder. He’s trying to stop Conal Cochran (Dan O’Herlihy), the evil mastermind behind Silver Shamrock, before the big giveaway happens, hopefully saving the lives of unsuspecting children. Surely he’s a good guy, right? 

Dan’s story is a bit unusual. He’s a doctor, so you could say he likes helping people. But Dan has a noticeably icy and strained relationship with his ex-wife, Linda (Nancy Kyes). Another big problem? Dan has a bad habit of breaking promises to spend time with his son, Willie (Joshua Miller) and his daughter, Bella (Michelle Walker). Towards the end, Dan actually had a good excuse. He was being held captive by Cochran and his army of androids, and Dan was trying to stop a nationwide sacrifice. Still, that’s the only legitimate excuse for Dan’s unfortunate streak of carelessness. 

Dan is a ladies’ man! The coroner’s assistant, Teddy (Wendy Wessberg), playful flirting with Nurse Agnes (Maidie Norman), and his fling with Ellie in Santa Mira. Dan, in spite of all his faults, has a laid-back personality and a knack for smooth talking at the right moments. And let’s not forget, he is a doctor. Dan is a seemingly irresistible Casanova, but on the other side of that, it’s easy to take a guess that infidelity might’ve played a role in his divorce from Linda.

Is Dan a screwup? Sure, he’s a bit selfish. He lied about going to Santa Mira with Ellie, but Dan Challis is not a mean-spirited person. You always get the feeling his heart is in the right place, but he just can’t get out of his own way. One self-induced mistake after another, because Dan would’ve been able to take his kids trick-or-treating, if he never went to Santa Mira with Ellie. 

Tom Atkins brings a likable and cool everyman charm to Dan. It’s almost impossible to not laugh at this guy. His ex-wife hates him. He’s not spending time with his kids, so what does Dan decide to do? He runs off to a town that he’s never been to, with a woman, who’s at least half his age and a six pack of beer. 

Dan is not your typical hero, but he’s a scrappy and resourceful fighter, who won’t quit. He outsmarted Cochran, defeated his androids, and Dan is responsible for destroying the factory. And Dan managed to survive an attack from the android version of Ellie, Cochran’s final curveball. 

It’s ironic how Dan’s irresponsible decisions weirdly leads to him possibly saving everyone from Cochran’s evil scheme. His actions angered Linda, he neglected his kids, and you could say he’s responsible for Teddy’s death. But Dan still puts his life on the line to fight Cochran. 

A man who benefited from a series of lucky breaks, Dan Challis also endures a number of setbacks. Android Ellie, and Dan pleading with the networks to remove (“STOP IIIIIIIITTTT!!”) the Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan succeed in stopping the final commercial? We’ll never know for sure, but it doesn’t hurt to believe in the possibility that Dan was able to pull off one last Hail Mary. 

Character Spotlight- Conal Cochran- Halloween III: Season Of The Witch

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Conal Cochran (Dan O’ Herlihy), a savvy Irish gentleman, the proprietor of Silver Shamrock Novelties, and the savior of a small town named Santa Mira. A toymaker, the master of gags, practical jokes, and Halloween masks, Cochran is seemingly a charming businessman with a big heart. Rafferty (Michael Currie), the hotel manager and one of Cochran’s loyal subordinates, adores Cochran, praising him as a benevolent icon. The big secret? Cochran is an evil mastermind, who’s planning to use Silver Shamrock masks to carry out brutal ritual human sacrifices targeting children.

No underboss. Nobody to claim the title of the right hand man or woman. Conal Cochran is the unquestioned decision maker. He’s the final boss, so it’s easy to understand why Cochran uses androids as his enforcers, an efficient hit squad obeying his orders. 

Cochran, a sharp and obsessive control freak, demands unwavering loyalty. The wiretapped phones, the surveillance cameras, the curfews, and the androids. He’s not going to take any chances trusting flawed humans. No debates, no arguments, and no committees. Need an example? Starker (Jonathan Terry), a “local boy,” was bitter about Cochran denying him a job at the factory. Starker loudly vented about his plans to burn down the factory and eliminate Cochran. Big mistake, because Cochran obviously ordered two of his androids to kill Strarker moments after his rant. 

Cochran mastered the art of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Buddy Kupfer (Ralph Strait), his wife, Betty (Jadeen Barbor), and his son, Little Buddy (Brad Schacter) believed they were about to watch a harmless commercial. Buddy was ready to take notes, and Little Buddy was excited to be the first kid to participate in the big giveaway! The bad news here is, it was all a setup, or a “demonstration” for Cochran to test his deadly Halloween masks. Little Buddy was a guinea pig, suffering a brutal death via his new pumpkin Halloween mask.

That’s what makes Cochran so dangerous. He lures you in with his charisma and his endearing personality. You believe he’s a trustworthy and kind old man, but there’s an insidious monster waiting for the right moment to strike underneath his welcoming persona. Just think about that sinister smile, as Cochran watched Buddy and his family suffer. He enjoyed every second of it, and you could say Cochran had a strong sense of pride knowing his masks actually worked.

Dan O’ Herlihy does a wonderful job of quickly switching gears as Cochran. The aftermath of the “misfire” scene and Marge Guttman’s (Garn Stephens) death sticks out. When Cochran arrives, he’s upbeat and reassuring about Marge’s condition. Of course, it’s all lies. Notice how Cochran’s demeanor changes, when he turns his back and wants to know what happened to Marge. You can hear the tone of his voice change. He’s angry, disappointed, and you can tell Conal Cochran is not the kind of man, who tolerates mistakes, loose ends, or any cracks in the foundation. 

The scene, where Cochran explains why he’s doing what he’s doing is another good one. Listen to the rumbly tone in O’ Herlihy’s voice. It’s sick, but he’s serious about completing his mission. Cochran is disgusted by the reality of Halloween being reduced to children begging for candy, because for Cochran, Halloween has a deeper meaning and a bigger purpose. 

Cochran is unstoppable! Or is he? Cochran is a calculating and cerebral villain. His greatest adversary? Dr. Dan Challis (Tom Atkins)! Cochran, a thinking man, was always one step ahead of Dan and Ellie (Stacey Nelkin). Cochran knew they were lying about being a married couple, and he knew Dan wouldn’t leave the factory without trying to save Ellie. That’s why there’s an android version of Ellie, conveniently waiting for Dan to rescue her. No locked doors, no security protocols, no android guards outside her door. It was almost too easy to rescue “Ellie,” and Dan took the bait. 

Cochran is smart, so what happened? His ego got the best of him. Showing Dan the demise of The Kupfer Family was a big mistake. Dan learned how to use the Silver Shamrock emblems against Cochran and his cronies, because he watched how everything unfolded step by step. 

Taking a few steps back, Cochran could’ve easily ordered the androids to kill Dan, when he snuck into the factory. Dan’s immediate execution would’ve saved Cochran a lot of trouble. Instead, Cochran was more concerned with gloating and celebrating. Ellie (the android version), his plan b or the ace up his sleeve, didn’t stop Dan from warning the networks about his plans.

Cochran realizes he’s been defeated, but something strange happens. Cochran looks up at Dan, smiles, and he gives Challis a final round of applause before his demise. Why? I’ve always believed Cochran was able to respect and admire Dan’s gritty and persistent efforts. Cochran never believed Dan could’ve pulled it off. He was bested by someone, who didn’t stand a chance. Dan, the unlikely and lucky hero, with a fighting spirit, and you could say Cochran graciously accepted his defeat, while acknowledging Dan’s victory. 

But let’s not forget about the final channel playing the dangerous Silver Shamrock jingle commercial. Did Dan really win in the end? Maybe it was a case of too little, too late? We don’t know if the network pulled the last commercial. There’s a chance that Cochran, the ultimate devious prankster, succeeded. You always want to believe everything worked out for the best. The big feel good happy ending, but you simply can’t underestimate Conal Cochran, whether he’s alive or dead. 

Character Spotlight- Detective Ray Cameron- Night Of The Creeps

**This post contains spoilers**

Three college kids, and a surly wisecracking detective? Not exactly the kind of group you’d expect to save the world from an alien invasion. Chris (Jason Lively), his best friend, J.C. (Steve Marshall), and Cynthia (Jill Whitlow) are outnumbered and outmatched by the invading horde of alien slugs. There’s only one man, who’s bold and crazy enough to help them: Detective Ray Cameron.

Ray doesn’t fit the mold for a hero, but that’s also what makes him a unique character. He’s a burnt-out detective, who drives an old cherry top police car in the 1980’s, a rebel, with a snappy sense of humor who plays by his own rules. His trusted sidekick? A twelve gauge shotgun.

Ray is a fiery veteran, but he’s haunted by the one that got away. In the 1950’s, Ray found the love of his life, Pam (Alice Cadogan) in pieces, after she was killed by an axe wielding maniac. To make matters worse, Pam had already moved on with another man.

The scene, where Ray tells Chris the story about how he took matters into his own hands to kill The Maniac? That’s the scene, where you truly start to understand Ray Cameron. Sure, Ray has a short temper. He’s crass and he’s a loose cannon, but we’re talking about a hopeless romantic with a broken heart. Remember, Ray was ready to commit suicide before Chris showed up at his doorstep asking for help.

It’s also easy to see why Ray feels sympathy for Chris, and why he decided to help him in the end. Ray understands what it feels like to be in love at a young age. He knows Chris deeply cares about Cynthia. Decades after Pam’s murder, Ray is still fantasizing about sitting on a beach, while Pam slowly rises up from the water. And what did Ray use as motivation for a shot of adrenaline, when he was surrounded by the infected horde, facing certain death? Pam’s picture at the sorority house. 

Thrill me! A simple catchphrase, and they’re two words that perfectly describe Ray. Honestly, you can make a best of list featuring Ray’s quotes and one-liners (“It’s Miller time!”) throughout the movie. Nicknaming Chris and J.T. Spanky (Chris) and Alfalfa (J.T.), threatening Walt (Dick Miller), because Ray doesn’t have a requisition form for the flamethrower, or tearing into the other cops at the cryogenics lab. Ray Cameron finds a way to deliver some great bits of comedy, as a grouchy and irritated old man. 

Ray Cameron is a memorable character, if you’re a fan of 80’s horror movies. Tom Atkins truly brings his best for Night Of The Creeps. Effortlessly chewing the scenery, there’s no denying Atkins is the true star of the cast. 

It’s also ironic how Ray was depressed, how he didn’t want to be bothered about anything, and he simply wanted to give up on life. But in the end, Ray is the hero. 

The final wink and the smile for Chris before Ray starts the countdown to blow up the sorority house really works as a weird full circle moment. Facing that big, nasty hive of alien slugs, Ray was ready to do what he had to do. Through wild and unusual circumstances, Ray Cameron found peace again, and it’s truly a fitting ending for him, when you consider Ray’s fearless approach to life.

My Bloody Valentine (2009)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- A tragic mining accident disrupts the quiet town of Harmony, when Tom Hanniger (Jensen Ackles) forgets to bleed the lines, causing a deadly cave-in. Tom escapes, but Harry Warden (Richard John Walters) murders the other miners.

A year passes, and Warden suddenly awakes from a coma to continue his killing spree. Tom, his girlfriend, Sarah (Jaime King), and Axel (Kerr Smith), and his girlfriend, Irene ( Betsy Rue) have plans to enjoy Harmony’s mining party. But Harry shows up to butcher anyone who crosses his path. Axel, Irene, and Sarah escape. Tom survives Harry’s attack, with help from Sheriff Burke (Tom Atkins), who wounds Harry with a series of gunshots. An injured Harry disappears, and Tom decides to leave Harmony.

Ten years later, Tom returns to Harmony to sell the Hanniger Mining Company. Tom is prepared to cash out. His decision upsets Sarah and the mine’s supervisor, Ben Foley (Kevin Tighe), because the Hanniger Mining Company is Harmony’s lifeline. Axel is Harmony’s new sheriff. To make matters worse for Tom, Axel is now married to Sarah, and they have a son named Noah. 

Tom struggles to navigate his emotional roller coaster, because he still has feelings for Sarah, but a bigger problem causes more trouble. Harmony’s dark past resurfaces, as Tom, Sarah, Axel, Deputy Martin (Edi Gathegi), Ben, and a retired Sheriff Burke are forced to deal with the possibility of Harry Warden returning to finish what he started.

My Thoughts- There’s a good amount of noticeable differences between the remake and the original. In the original, T.J. was a young man who left home. He went out into the world to try and find himself and make it on his own, but things didn’t work out, so he returned home to work in the mines. T.J. put a lot of effort into humbling himself. Tom? Well, early on you get the impression he really is the selfish and whiny spoiled brat that everyone else makes him out to be. He’s the pariah of Harmony, and unlike T.J., Tom actually has a direct connection to Harry Warden.

As the story progresses, Tom changes his mind. He doesn’t want to sell the mine, but are his intentions truly genuine? It’s blatantly obvious Tom hoping he still has a chance to steal Sarah away from Axel is one of the main reasons why he wants to stay in Harmony. The love triangle is far more tense and serious in the remake. Ackles and Smith did a great job of making the rivalry between Tom and Axel feel real. You can tell both men hate each other, while Sarah is stuck in the middle.

Kerr Smith is the true spark in the cast. Smith absolutely nails the different faces of Axel. Axel is hot-headed, a jerk, and a cocky tough guy, with a smart mouth. He’s also having an affair with Sarah’s employee, Megan (Megan Boone), and to throw in another disastrous twist, Megan is pregnant with Axel’s child. Axel is a mess, but you can also see he doesn’t want to lose his family. And he cares about protecting the peace in Harmony.

If you’re a fan of 80’s horror, there’s a good chance you know about Tom Atkins. Atkins’ presence in a horror slasher provides some good nostalgia. The grizzled old sheriff is a perfect fit for him. Atkins shows he’s still got some fire left in him during the bar fight scene, when shouts out “EVERYBODY STAND DOWN GOD D****!!” to diffuse the tension. Truly a classic Tom Atkins moment.

Harry Warden/The Miner is still a dangerous and menacing villain in the remake. The remake features a handful of creative and brutal death scenes. Selene’s (Selene Luna) death is a good example of just how callous The Miner is, when he jams the pickaxe through her head and slams her body into the ceiling lights. There’s also a callback to Mabel’s death scene in the original with Axel and Sarah’s maid. The Miner stuffs Rosa (Joy de la Paz) in the dryer, and the shot is set up to mirror what happened in the original, when you see Rosa’s charred corpse. That’s exactly what happened to Mabel.

Revealing Tom as The Miner wasn’t a big shocker. In the 1981 film, they hold off revealing the fact that Harry is dead until the final moments. In the remake, Axel reveals Burke and Ben killed Harry in act of “vigilante justice” ten years ago, and they buried his body in the woods. The possibility of Harry returning for revenge is squashed a lot sooner this time around. Honestly, it’s for the best, because unless they planned on going the supernatural route, there’s no point in teasing Harry still being alive. A coma? A cave-in? Gunshot wounds? A mortal man can only survive so much.

They tried to throw a curveball with the possibility of Axel as the killer. Megan’s death could’ve easily raised a red flag. He wanted to kill Megan, because he didn’t want Sarah to know about the affair and his illegitimate child. Tom was hoping that would be enough to pin the murders on Axel.

Tom? If you pay close attention, too many sensible clues killed any chances for his innocence. It’s revealed Tom hallucinated Harry’s appearances throughout the movie. IF Harry was actually alive, then the scene where Tom is “trapped” inside the cage in the mines doesn’t make any sense. Harry locks Tom in a cage, while he murders another miner named Red. Harry kills him, runs off, and he leaves Tom in a safe place unharmed? Harry Warden is a cold blooded killer. During, the opening of the movie, you can tell Harry clearly hated Tom, so why would he spare his life?

I’ve always had mixed feelings for the explanation and the reasons behind Tom’s transformation into The Miner, because it could go both ways. So we learn Tom was in a mental institution for seven years, and they show him taking medication at the motel. We’re lead to believe Tom has a personality disorder, but the flashbacks tell a different story. When they show the flashbacks with Tom carrying out the murders, it’s possible to believe he was possessed by Harry Warden. 

To take it a step further, Tom starts talking in Harry’s voice during the big standoff with Axel and Sarah towards the end. When Axel is revealed as the killer in the 1981 film, it’s undeniably clear he completely lost his mind. The idea of Harry’s evil spirit controlling Tom works, but there’s also the possibility that Tom just finally snapped. His mental health deteriorated, his father is dead, the whole town hates him, and Sarah, the one person he truly loves, moved on with her life. Tom had a lot of heavy burdens to carry, and holding on to all that rage finally got the best of him. 

My Bloody Valentine 2009 is a 3D film, but it wasn’t necessary. The 3D side is just way too gimmicky. The lingering scenes with The Miner pointing the pickaxe at the screen loses the wow factor quickly. The remake could’ve stood on its own without 3D. The 3D disrupts the flow of the movie, because if you’re not wearing a pair of 3D glasses, there’s almost no point in watching certain scenes. 

The remake tries to be a raunchier film at times. No nudity or sex scenes in the original. The 1981 film is more modest, but the 2009 version has one over the top sex scene. Irene is completely naked, when she confronts Frank (Todd Farmer), and well, she’s still nude when she’s trying to hide from and fight off The Miner. There’s a sleazy motel in Harmony, and let’s not forget Axel is supposed to set the standard for morals, but he’s having an affair.

My Bloody Valentine 2009 is a solid remake, that manages to pay homage to the original, while maintaining its own identity. The remake works as a more modernized version of the original, and as a throwback to 80’s slashers. There’s more comedy and tongue in cheek scenes, including the kills, but the original had a more consistent serious tone.They don’t hold back on all the brutal violence and bloody gore. Keeping the bloody hearts in heart shaped candy boxes and the dark humor Valentine’s Day cards helps push the idea of a sinister side to the holiday.

There’s a cliffhanger with Tom secretly escaping, and a planned sequel was cancelled, but I’m glad it never happened. Sure, you can go the route of Tom returning to go after Axel and Sarah, but there’s no point. They exhausted almost every avenue for Tom, Axel, and Sarah here. Anything else would’ve been overkill, so the remake was better off as a one and done deal.

Rating- 6/10