Coming Attractions- Silent Night, Deadly Night

 

Release Date- December 12, 2025

A promising trailer. I’ve always been a big fan of the Silent Night, Deadly Night films, and it looks like they’re going with a more serious and darker tone.

A LOT of noticeable differences, if we’re making comparisons to the original film. Billy in the 1984 film was traumatized from witnessing the sleazebag Santa Claus murdering his parents in front of him, and the abuse from Mother Superior just made things worse. Billy snapped, and he went on a brutal killing spree. Rohan Campbell’s Billy is clearly being portrayed as a more cold-blooded and calculating killer, and he has an accomplice! I like the idea of giving Billy a girlfriend, who’s apparently aroused by his bloodthirsty personality, because it adds another twisted layer to the movie.

The slight parallels to Halloween Ends? Rohan Campbell playing a vengeful killer in a small town in another slasher flick is definitely a freaky and eerie coincidence. Of course, Allyson in Halloween Ends didn’t want to believe Corey was a maniac, and this version of Billy doesn’t have Michael Myers as a mentor, but the similarities are impossible to ignore.

TWO callbacks to the original in the trailer! The dear head kill is a nod to what happened to Linnea Quigley’s character in the ‘84 film, and the beheading on the snowmobile in the woods. I’m not a big fan of the 2012 remake. The 2012 film tried to be more serious, but it just didn’t click with me at all. Going by the trailer, the 2025 remake will be more serious, but there’s also a nutty vibe here, with some dark humor mixed in. 

The more cheesy and kind of goofy stuff was a perfect fit for the 80’s. They’d have to do a full on throwback style slasher to pull that off now. Sure, they could’ve played it safe with more fan service, but it’s not necessary. High hopes for Silent Night, Deadly Night 2025, and I’m glad they’re taking a chance on doing something different.

Coming Attractions- The Boy From Below

 

Director- Tory Jones

Release Date- Currently Unknown

I ran across The Boy From Below on Bloody Disgusting’s Twitter page. I’ve never seen the movie, but apparently The Boy From Below is a retelling of The Wicked One (2017).

Eh, I guess The Boy From Below could be a decent enough film? Halloween, the small town haunted by gruesome murders, and the tragic story of a scream queen B-movie actress are all good ingredients for a slasher. Add in Felissa Rose and Dee Wallace, and there’s a chance they might have something here. I don’t have high expectations for this, but The Boy From Below could possibly satisfy the October/Halloween season fix for horror movies, and maybe that’s enough.

Coming Attractions- Hell Of A Summer

 

Directors- Billy Bryk, Finn Wolfhard

Release Date- April 18, 2025

Summer camp, teenagers, a masked killer running around, AND a ouija board? Hell Of A Summer has all the ingredients to be an at least halfway decent slasher film. This should be a layup, but I’m still not completely sold on this one right now. 

The humor looks good, and there’s a possibly hilarious storyline about Fred Hechinger playing the twenty-four years old loser, who works as a camp counselor. There’s no way Hechinger is actually the killer, because it’s too obvious. Although, there’s a strong chance he winds up being the hero, who stops the killer, and they go with the big happy ending, where Hechinger finally gets his life together.

Coming Attractions- Heart Eyes

 

Director- Josh Ruben

Cast- Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Devon Sawa, Chris Parker, Jordana Brewster, Latham Gaines, Michaela Watkins, Gigi Zumbado

Release Date- February 7, 2025

Yes! Finally, another Valentine’s Day slasher. My Bloody Valentine and the 2009 remake are two films that successfully pulled off creating brutal and bloody horror films, with an ironic and sinister twist for a holiday that’s supposed to be about happiness and love.

I’m excited for Heart Eyes, because I’m a big fan of holiday themed horror, and there’s so much untapped potential for Valentine’s Day. I’m not completely sold on the mask. Obviously, the killer’s mask is supposed to be similar to the heart eyes emoji, but it just looks kind of weird.

A solid trailer, featuring signs of bloody gore and creative kills. Hopefully Heart Eyes finds unique methods to work Valentine’s Day into the story, including cards, roses, boxes of chocolates, and other gifts, similar to both My Bloody Valentine films. Maybe I’m getting too far ahead of myself, but I already have hopes for a sequel, because it wouldn’t hurt to have another slasher villain. 

New Year’s Evil (1980)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Diane Sullivan, known to her fans as Blaze (Roz Kelly), prepares to host Hollywood Hotline, a New Year’s Eve countdown celebration. But the bash is interrupted, when Blaze receives a series of disturbing phone calls from a stranger named Evil. Evil plans to kill a different woman at the end of each countdown to the New Year across different time zones throughout the US, saving Blaze for last.

Blaze is supported and protected by her manager, Ernie (Jed Mills), Lieutenant Clayton (Chris Wallace), and Sergeant Greene (Jon Greene). But Blaze suspects something is wrong, when her assistant, Yvonne (Alicia Dhanifu) goes missing. One thing is clear, Evil is not a harmless prank caller, he’s a cold-blooded killer, who wants to see Blaze suffer. Time is running out, as Evil closes in, and Blaze is forced to deal with shocking revelations from her husband, Richard (Kip Niven), and her son, Derek (Grant Cramer). 

My Thought- Roz Kelly is a nice fit for Blaze. She brings the kind of cool superstar persona you’d expect for someone, who’s supposed to be the “First Lady Of Rock.” The flashy clothes and the big red hairdo really pulls everything together for Blaze, and Blaze is a bit of a diva.

Evil is a crafty, smart, and sadistic killer, recording the sounds of each murder for Blaze. He’s a dangerous chameleon, switching identities including, a priest, a sanitarium worker, or a suave ladies’ man, who drives a Mercedes. Evil is a merciless psychopath, driven by misogyny. 

Evil targets promiscuous women, but there’s one scene that really sticks out for me. Evil, dressed as a priest, steals a car with a young woman (Teri Copley) in the backseat at a drive-in. She offers him sex, telling Evil they could “get it on,” because she’s scared, and she’s hoping Evil will let her go, if they do. Evil ignores the request, pulls out his switchblade, and he chases the woman around, hoping to kill her. This scene provides one of the many examples that shows how much Evil truly hates women. He never has sex with any of his victims, because it’s not about that. He wants to punish women. And you’ll notice Evil has a disgusted reaction, when the young woman mentions sex.

The voice? Oh, boy. Evil uses a distorted voice for his phone calls with Blaze. His phone voice is really over the top and silly.”It’s EEEEEEEVILLLLLLL!” Or, “I’m going to commit MURDER at midnight!”  The first time I heard Evil introduce himself over the phone, I laughed, and it gets funnier throughout the movie, especially during scenes, where Evil is trying to convince Blaze that he means business. Why is the killer talking in THAT kind of voice, when he’s describing how he murders women? The phone call scenes should’ve had a more serious tone, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Richard is Evil! That’s right Richard is the killer. It’s a good surprise, considering how they set it up. Richard was supposed to be MIA. Blaze’s elated reaction for Richard’s arrival, followed by her confused and heartbroken disappointment for everything that he’s done works as a successful reveal.

Of course, Richard’s explanation for the killings involves more venomous misogyny. He resents all women, including Blaze for destroying his life. The final nail in the coffin? A paranoid Richard believes Blaze is ruining Derek, who already has a few loose screws, so Richard decided to put a stop to it. 

Is Blaze a workaholic, who neglects her husband and her son? Does she have an ego? Yeah, you could say that, but her heart is in the right place. And Richard is still a scumbag. Kip Niven is appropriately creepy and unhinged during his “ladies are not very nice people” rant. He whines about Blaze restricting his allowance and “castrating” him, and you’ll quickly realize Evil is just a bitter loser, who blames all of his setbacks in life on women.

The cliffhanger really didn’t do anything for me. It’s not surprising Evil jumped from the roof to commit suicide. He was a coward, who didn’t want to face any consequences. The ending reveals Derek secretly killed the ambulance driver. He drives off with an injured Blaze on a stretcher, as the countdown to the New Year in Hawaii begins.

Derek is clearly following in his father’s footsteps. There’s more than enough evidence that proves Derek is completely nuts. The guy wears pantyhose on his face, he’s clearly dealing with mental problems, and Derek also resents Blaze. There’s a lot of similarities for Richard and Derek’s relationship with Blaze. Notice how Richard and Derek are happy to see Blaze, when they arrive at the hotel. But Blaze sort of shuns both of them, Richard and Derek take it personally, and Derek is devastated, when he sees Richard’s body on the pavement. Hell, after all the madness, Derek is STILL angry with Blaze during the final moments of the movie.

Derek’s place in the story is a weird case. It’s obvious he’s not the killer, but Derek gets a good amount of screen time. Yes, I know he plays a big role in the cliffhanger during the ending. Still, there’s more than one scene featuring Derek being a weirdo and doing strange things, and nothing happens? The only reason I can think of for Derek’s appearances and all the teasing is, they were possibly setting things up for a sequel, where Derek becomes Evil’s successor.

New Year’s Evil has always been one of those mixed bag horror films for me. The kills are brutal enough, grisly images (e.g. Yvonne’s severed head in the elevator shaft), and Evil is an effective slasher villain. Meshing the feel of the 1980’s with a strong new wave rock vibe, including the music, gives New Year’s Evil a unique identity. And a few decent laughs for the comical grunginess from the punk rock kids and the biker gang.

Working the New Year’s Eve countdown into the story for a holiday horror film builds a decent amount of suspense. You know for sure this is a movie about New Year’s Eve, but my big problem with New Year’s Evil is, the movie just drags too much and it’s kind of dull. Evil using the elevator to torture Blaze? That’s all I can think of for a big moment here. Outside of that scene, nothing really jumps off the screen to grab your attention.

New Year’s Evil is a decent enough 80’s slasher and a holiday horror film. A lot of corny moments, and New Year’s Evil has the kind of cheesiness you’d expect from an obscure 80’s horror flick. I also wish Evil had more scenes with the mask he wore at the end, because it’s a good mask. 

Honestly, there’s only so much you can do with New Year’s Eve celebrations as a foundation. Sure, you can put a spin on New Year’s resolutions, the countdowns, partying, drinking, champagne, and that’s about it? Still, some strong bonus points for a good performance from Kip Niven, because Niven pulls out all the stops for Richard. And Roz Kelly really holds her own well in the leading role.

Rating- 5/10

New Year’s Evil (1980)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Diane Sullivan, known to her fans as Blaze (Roz Kelly), prepares to host Hollywood Hotline, a New Year’s Eve countdown celebration. But the bash is interrupted, when Blaze receives a series of disturbing phone calls from a stranger named Evil. Evil plans to kill a different woman at the end of each countdown to the New Year across different time zones throughout the US, saving Blaze for last.

Blaze is supported and protected by her manager, Ernie (Jed Mills), Lieutenant Clayton (Chris Wallace), and Sergeant Greene (Jon Greene). But Blaze suspects something is wrong, when her assistant, Yvonne (Alicia Dhanifu) goes missing. One thing is clear, Evil is not a harmless prank caller, he’s a cold-blooded killer, who wants to see Blaze suffer. Time is running out, as Evil closes in, and Blaze is forced to deal with shocking revelations from her husband, Richard (Kip Niven), and her son, Derek (Grant Cramer). 

My Thought- Roz Kelly is a nice fit for Blaze. She brings the kind of cool superstar persona you’d expect for someone, who’s supposed to be the “First Lady Of Rock.” The flashy clothes and the big red hairdo really pulls everything together for Blaze, and Blaze is a bit of a diva.

Evil is a crafty, smart, and sadistic killer, recording the sounds of each murder for Blaze. He’s a dangerous chameleon, switching identities including, a priest, a sanitarium worker, or a suave ladies’ man, who drives a Mercedes. Evil is a merciless psychopath, driven by misogyny. 

Evil targets promiscuous women, but there’s one scene that really sticks out for me. Evil, dressed as a priest, steals a car with a young woman (Teri Copley) in the backseat at a drive-in. She offers him sex, telling Evil they could “get it on,” because she’s scared, and she’s hoping Evil will let her go, if they do. Evil ignores the request, pulls out his switchblade, and he chases the woman around, hoping to kill her. This scene provides one of the many examples that shows how much Evil truly hates women. He never has sex with any of his victims, because it’s not about that. He wants to punish women. And you’ll notice Evil has a disgusted reaction, when the young woman mentions sex.

The voice? Oh, boy. Evil uses a distorted voice for his phone calls with Blaze. His phone voice is really over the top and silly.”It’s EEEEEEEVILLLLLLL!” Or, “I’m going to commit MURDER at midnight!”  The first time I heard Evil introduce himself over the phone, I laughed, and it gets funnier throughout the movie, especially during scenes, where Evil is trying to convince Blaze that he means business. Why is the killer talking in THAT kind of voice, when he’s describing how he murders women? The phone call scenes should’ve had a more serious tone, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Derek’s place in the story is a weird case. It’s obvious he’s not the killer, but Derek gets a good amount of screen time. Yes, I know he plays a big role in the cliffhanger during the ending. Still, there’s more than one scene featuring Derek being a weirdo and doing strange things, and nothing happens? The only reason I can think of for Derek’s appearances and all the teasing is, they were possibly setting things up for a sequel, where Derek becomes Evil’s successor.

New Year’s Evil has always been one of those mixed bag horror films for me. The kills are brutal enough, grisly images, and Evil is an effective slasher villain. Meshing the feel of the 1980’s with a strong new wave rock vibe, including the music, gives New Year’s Evil a unique identity. And a few decent laughs for the comical grunginess from the punk rock kids and the biker gang.

Working the New Year’s Eve countdown into the story for a holiday horror film builds a decent amount of suspense. You know for sure this is a movie about New Year’s Eve, but my big problem with New Year’s Evil is, the movie just drags too much and it’s kind of dull. Evil using the elevator to torture Blaze? That’s all I can think of for a big moment here. Outside of that scene, nothing really jumps off the screen to grab your attention.

New Year’s Evil is a decent enough 80’s slasher and a holiday horror film. A lot of corny moments, and New Year’s Evil has the kind of cheesiness you’d expect from an obscure 80’s horror flick. I also wish Evil had more scenes with the mask he wore at the end, because it’s a good mask. 

Honestly, there’s only so much you can do with New Year’s Eve celebrations as a foundation. Sure, you can put a spin on New Year’s resolutions, the countdowns, partying, drinking, champagne, and that’s about it? Still, some strong bonus points for a good performance from Kip Niven, because Niven pulls out all the stops for Richard. And Roz Kelly really holds her own well in the leading role.

Rating- 5/10

In A Violent Nature (2024)(Minor Spoilers)

 **This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- In Ontario, Canada, Troy (Liam Leone) takes a locket necklace hanging above Johnny’s (Ry Barrett) grave at an old abandoned fire tower. The necklace, a gift from Johnny’s father, belonged to his deceased mother. Removing the necklace, the only item capable of keeping Johnny’s soul at rest, resurrects Johnny.

Troy, his girlfriend, Kris (Andrea Pavlovic), their friends, Ehren (Sam Roulston), Aurora (Charlotte Creaghan), Brodie (Lea Rose Sebastianis), Evan (Alexander Oliver), and Colt (Cameron Love) are all enjoying a peaceful getaway at a cabin in the wilderness. Armed with dragging hooks, an axe, and wearing an old firefighter mask, Johnny attacks the group, determined to retrieve his mother’s locket, by any means necessary. 

My Thoughts- Johnny checks off just about every box that you could possibly think of for a slasher villain. He’s a vicious hulking brute with superhuman strength. Bullets? They only slow him down. 

You can take one look at Johnny before he starts his killing spree, and you’ll quickly notice he’s seemingly invincible. Johnny’s nightmarish appearance really pulls everything together, with the dirty clothes, the bullet holes on his body, and his rough hands. Johnny is a big guy, but he’s also smart. He’s a tactical killer, setting traps, or patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. 

But the monster has a tragic backstory. Johnny, living with a mental disorder, was targeted as a kid, collateral damage because his father, a shop owner, raised his prices. Bullets, traps, Johnny being outnumbered. None of it matters, because a mother’s love is the only thing that’s capable of stopping Johnny and bringing him any kind of peace. 

No jump scares, or surprises before the kills throughout the movie, because In A Violent Nature mostly plays out from Johnny’s perspective. You know he’s coming, and more often than not, you know what’s going to happen, when Johnny corners his victims. It’s a refreshing approach to largely show the movie from Johnny’s POV. 

Jump scares in horror movies are fine, when they’re limited, but In A Violent Nature flips things around. Early on you can see just how dangerous Johnny truly is, a killer, who won’t stop until he finds his locket. The protagonists are unaware of Johnny lurking in the background or in the shadows, and when he finally pops up, it’s too late. That’s still terrifying, knowing the killing machine is marching towards his targets, who have slim chances of survival, and you’re seeing everything unfold from his perspective.

Showing the vast majority of the movie from the killer’s perspective helps In A Violent Nature stand out from other slashers, but that doesn’t cancel out the fact that the movie still features some of the usual slasher tropes. And the characters are pretty thin without any real depth. 

Still, In A Violent Nature is a solid slasher, featuring bloody and gruesome gore and a high kill count. There’s one death scene that’s truly an all-timer. It’s BY FAR one of the nastiest and more extreme kills I’ve ever seen in any kind of horror film, and you’ll know it, when you see it. A few moments of humor in the early stages. Chuck (Timothy Paul McCarthy), his “#1 mother******” trucker cap, followed by Johnny mistaking his mother’s locket for Chuck’s locket. And the goofing around between the group at the campfire and teasing Ehren. 

Writer/director Chris Nash cleverly ties together a lot of plot points and events from Johnny’s past. The toy car is a big one. Remember, Johnny’s toy car injured a worker, sparking the incident that caused so much trouble. You’ll notice a red electric toy car outside of Chuck’s house, and Johnny plays with a red toy car on the keychain in the woods. The firefighter mask Johnny wears? It’s the same kind of mask that was used in a prank to scare him. Good irony for Johnny using something that was meant to hurt him, and turning it into his own symbol of fear and intimidation. 

There’s also no denying In Violent Nature is a beautifully shot film with an artsy feel to it. I can maybe understand someone getting bored watching Johnny constantly stomping through the woods, but there’s a strange irony for so many horrible murders happening in the quiet and peaceful wilderness. I’m also glad there’s no theme music throughout the movie, because In A Violent Nature still manages to be a tense film. The scene, where Kris is running from Johnny at night is one good example for the eerie silence and the sounds of nature working.

In A Violent Nature has an old school vibe to it. A slasher set in the woods, and college kids are being stalked by a masked killer?  I’m also a sucker for campfire tales (Ehren telling the story of The White Plains Slaughter) about the horrible past in a small community or a small town. It’s all there, but In A Violent Nature is still a modern film. Selfies, and a conversation about cancel culture, when the group is tiptoeing around saying the R-word to describe Johnny. 

After the first trailer, I knew what to expect from In A Violent Nature, so the slasher cliches didn’t bother me too much. With or without the decision to show a good eighty to ninety percent of the movie from Johnny’s POV, the cliches are still right in front of you. I guess my only complaint is Lauren-Marie Taylor’s conversation with Kris, and the iffy ending. I don’t have a problem with Taylor’s unique pep talk, but the placement of it just didn’t work for me.

I’m looking forward to the planned sequel, because I’m always ready for a new horror series, especially a slasher series. There’s still a lot of material to work with, including revisiting Johnny’s past. The Ranger (Reece Presley) told Kris and Colt The White Plains Slaughter story was “mostly true,” so it’s possible there’s more than one version of what actually happened. 

In A Violent Nature had a good amount of buzz for a low budget unrated slasher. Hopefully they’ll be able to keep the momentum going with the sequel. Is there a spot for Johnny as a popular slasher villain? Time will tell.

Rating- 7/10

In A Violent Nature (2024)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In Ontario, Canada, Troy (Liam Leone) takes a locket necklace hanging above Johnny’s (Ry Barrett) grave at an old abandoned fire tower. The necklace, a gift from Johnny’s father, belonged to his deceased mother. Removing the necklace, the only item capable of keeping Johnny’s soul at rest, resurrects Johnny.

Troy, his girlfriend, Kris (Andrea Pavlovic), their friends, Ehren (Sam Roulston), Aurora (Charlotte Creaghan), Brodie (Lea Rose Sebastianis), Evan (Alexander Oliver), and Colt (Cameron Love) are all enjoying a peaceful getaway at a cabin in the wilderness. Armed with dragging hooks, an axe, and wearing an old firefighter mask, Johnny attacks the group, determined to retrieve his mother’s locket, by any means necessary. 

My Thoughts- Johnny checks off just about every box that you could possibly think of for a slasher villain. He’s a vicious hulking brute with superhuman strength. Bullets? They only slow him down. 

You can take one look at Johnny before he starts his killing spree, and you’ll quickly notice he’s seemingly invincible. Johnny’s nightmarish appearance really pulls everything together, with the dirty clothes, the bullet holes on his body, and his rough hands. Johnny is a big guy, but he’s also smart. He’s a tactical killer, setting traps, or patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. 

But the monster has a tragic backstory. Johnny, living with a mental disorder, was targeted as a kid, collateral damage because his father, a shop owner, raised his prices. Bullets, traps, Johnny being outnumbered. None of it matters, because a mother’s love is the only thing that’s capable of stopping Johnny and bringing him any kind of peace. 

No jump scares, or surprises before the kills throughout the movie, because In A Violent Nature mostly plays out from Johnny’s perspective. You know he’s coming, and more often than not, you know what’s going to happen, when Johnny corners his victims. It’s a refreshing approach to largely show the movie from Johnny’s POV. 

Jump scares in horror movies are fine, when they’re limited, but In A Violent Nature flips things around. Early on you can see just how dangerous Johnny truly is, a killer, who won’t stop until he finds his locket. The protagonists are unaware of Johnny lurking in the background or in the shadows, and when he finally pops up, it’s too late. That’s still terrifying, knowing the killing machine is marching towards his targets, who have slim chances of survival, and you’re seeing everything unfold from his perspective.

I have mixed feelings for how the ending played out. Kris is the sole survivor and the final girl, but the long conversation with The Woman (Lauren-Marie Taylor)? Why did they do this towards the end? 

It’s kind of puzzling, because the sequence with Kris getting lost in the woods at night and running around in circles builds up anticipation for something big. Maybe Johnny surprises her? Kris struggles to escape Johnny? Or maybe Kris finds a way to defeat Johnny? But In A Violent Nature ends with a long conversation during a car ride, The Woman patching up Kris’ bloody and injured leg, and a shot of the missing locket that Kris hung on the gas can? That’s it?

I’m not saying it’s a terrible ending. The Woman’s story about her brother surviving a bear attack after Kris told her she was attacked by an “animal” is loaded with similarities to the horrors Kris endured, including The Woman’s reasons for why animals kill. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind deciding to cool things down during the home stretch, after teasing a final showdown between Kris and Johnny. 

There’s also a tease for a sequel. Kris placed the locket on the gas can and ran away, but in the final shot of the movie, you’ll notice the locket is gone. It’s not confirmed if Johnny retrieved the locket, or if someone else took it.

Why did they show Johnny’s face? It’s a weird decision after a noticeable effort to hide Johnny’s face in every scene until the reveal happens. Showing what Johnny actually looks like should’ve been a big moment. Instead, he just takes his mask off, he plays with a toy car, and then Johnny nonchalantly puts his mask back on like nothing happened.

Showing the vast majority of the movie from the killer’s perspective helps In A Violent Nature stand out from other slashers, but that doesn’t cancel out the fact that the movie still features some of the usual slasher tropes. And the characters are pretty thin without any real depth. 

Still, In A Violent Nature is a solid slasher, featuring bloody and gruesome gore and a high kill count. Aurora’s death is BY FAR one of the nastiest and more extreme kills I’ve ever seen in any kind of horror film. A few moments of humor in the early stages. Chuck (Timothy Paul McCarthy), his “#1 mother******” trucker cap, followed by Johnny mistaking his mother’s locket for Chuck’s locket. And the goofing around between the group at the campfire and teasing Ehren. 

Writer/director Chris Nash cleverly ties together a lot of plot points and events from Johnny’s past. The toy car is a big one. Remember, Johnny’s toy car injured a worker, sparking the incident that caused so much trouble. You’ll notice a red electric toy car outside of Chuck’s house, and Johnny plays with a red toy car on the keychain in the woods. The firefighter mask Johnny wears? It’s the same kind of mask that was used in a prank to scare him. Good irony for Johnny using something that was meant to hurt him, and turning it into his own symbol of fear and intimidation. 

There’s also no denying In Violent Nature is a beautifully shot film with an artsy feel to it. I can maybe understand someone getting bored watching Johnny constantly stomping through the woods, but there’s a strange irony for so many horrible murders happening in the quiet and peaceful wilderness. I’m also glad there’s no theme music throughout the movie, because In A Violent Nature still manages to be a tense film. The scene, where Kris is running from Johnny at night is one good example for the eerie silence and the sounds of nature working.

In A Violent Nature has an old school vibe to it. A slasher set in the woods, and college kids are being stalked by a masked killer?  I’m also a sucker for campfire tales (Ehren telling the story of The White Plains Slaughter) about the horrible past in a small community or a small town. It’s all there, but In A Violent Nature is still a modern film. Selfies, and a conversation about cancel culture, when the group is tiptoeing around saying the R-word to describe Johnny. 

After the first trailer, I knew what to expect from In A Violent Nature, so the slasher cliches didn’t bother me too much. With or without the decision to show a good eighty to ninety percent of the movie from Johnny’s POV, the cliches are still right in front of you. I guess my only complaint is Lauren-Marie Taylor’s conversation with Kris, and the iffy ending. I don’t have a problem with Taylor’s unique pep talk, but the placement of it just didn’t work for me. 

I’m looking forward to the planned sequel, because I’m always ready for a new horror series, especially a slasher series. There’s still a lot of material to work with, including revisiting Johnny’s past. The Ranger (Reece Presley) told Kris and Colt The White Plains Slaughter story was “mostly true,” so it’s possible there’s more than one version of what actually happened. 

In A Violent Nature had a good amount of buzz for a low budget unrated slasher. Hopefully they’ll be able to keep the momentum going with the sequel. Is there a spot for Johnny as a popular slasher villain? Time will tell.

Rating- 7/10

Character Spotlight- Megan Garris- Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

**This post contains spoilers**

Jason Voorhees is back from the dead! Jason kills Tommy Jarvis’ (Thom Mathews) friend, Allen Hawes (Ron Palillo). Determined to protect the peace in the quiet town of Forest Green, Sheriff Mike Garris (David Kagen) and his trusted Deputy, Rick (Vincent Guastaferro) dismiss Tommy’s pleas for help to stop a resurrected Jason, as ramblings from a delusional nutcase. Sheriff Garris forces Tommy to leave Forest Green, and when that doesn’t work, Sheriff Garris locks him inside a holding cell. Tommy needs an ally to stop Jason, and there’s only one person, who’s willing to help: Sheriff Garris’ daughter, Megan (Jennifer Cooke)!

If you’re going to take the dangerous risk of confronting Jason, you need someone fearless and bold, and Megan might be a little bit crazy. Think about how Tommy sternly warned Megan to stay away from the campsite before the final showdown with Jason. She didn’t flinch at all. Sheriff Garris’ stern warnings and demands to stay away from Tommy? Not enough to stop her. 

The high-speed car chase was the first sign of loyalty from Megan, and let’s not forget Tommy would’ve been stuck in the holding cell, if Megan didn’t grab Deputy Rick’s gun. Megan was dedicated to helping Tommy, and the fact that she noticeably has a crush on him also helps. 

Megan is bratty, but in a playful way, and she has a sharp sense of humor. Megan’s cool, and it’s not just the orange ‘77 Camaro that she drives. Jennifer Cooke brings natural charisma and a magnetic presence to Megan. The scene, where Megan holds Deputy Rick at gunpoint with his new mail order laser scope is one of my favorites. Rick tells her she shouldn’t clown around. Megan’s response? “I’m not the one with the funny red nose.”

A true daredevil, and she can be reckless, but Megan also has a big heart. She showed compassion for Tommy, when no one else wanted to. Megan cares about her friends, Cort (Tom Fridely), Sissy (Renee Jones), Paula (Kerry Noonan), and she protected the kids at the campsite. 

Big contributions from Megan. She saved Tommy’s life, and with some help from the propellers on the boat’s motor and Tommy’s trap, Megan put a stop to another one of Jason’s killing sprees. 

Tommy and Megan are both unhinged in their own ways. Together, they’re the kind of duo you need to fight Jason Voorhees, and there’s no denying Megan Garris is a memorable Friday The 13th character. Megan, the dynamo blonde, with a fierce appetite for danger and adventure, powered by Jennifer Cooke’s enjoyable and electric performance. A camp counselor, the Sheriff’s daughter, Tommy Jarvis’ love interest, and she battled Jason Voorhees? That’s one hell of a résumé for a horror heroine! 

Coming Attractions- In A Violent Nature (2024)

 

Director- Chris Nash

Cast- Lauren-Marie Taylor, Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis, Sam Roulston, Alexander Oliver, Timothy Paul McCarthy

Release Date- May 31, 2024

A story that’s told from the killer’s perspective is a refreshing approach, and the trailer for In A Violent nature definitely gives off a lot of old school slasher vibes. The similarities to Friday The 13th are undeniable. It’s also good to know Lauren-Marie Taylor, who played Vickie in Friday The 13th Part 2, has a role in the movie.

In A Violent Nature seemingly has all the right ingredients for a promising slasher. A fearsome villain, an isolated setting far away from civilization, and the trailer drops just enough hints and clues, without completely spoiling any major plot points. There’s a lot of positive buzz for In A Violent Nature. I’ll always root for the success of a new slasher, so this one is high up my list of priorities for horror movies.

Coming Attractions- MaXXXine (2024)

 

Director- Ti West

Cast- Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Bacon, Bobby Cannavale

Release Date- July 5, 2024

While X was a solid slasher throwback, Pearl truly took everything to another level. Mia Goth’s performance was phenomenal in Pearl. Unhinged, disturbing, and delusional, Goth nailed every layer of that character. And they’re clearly sticking with the storyline for the obsession to achieve stardom by any means necessary.

AHS 1984 is the last time I remember seeing The Night Stalker/Richard Ramirez playing a role in a movie or TV show, but I’m banking on a swerve for MaXXXine. They never say his real name, and Ramirez doesn’t make an appearance in the trailer. Is it possible that Maxine is The Night Stalker? She is determined to be a star, so murdering the competition is a possibility.

I’m interested to see how things play out after the audition scene. The disastrous fallout with Pearl not being to handle rejection was one of the bigger highlights in Pearl, and a major turning point in the movie. I’m a sucker for 80’s vibes and 80’s nostalgia. The 80’s setting fits perfectly with the boom period for slasher films, and I’m curious to see how Bates Motel and any possible Psycho references are related to the story. The cast looks great, so hopefully MaXXXine delivers for Ti West’s unconventional trilogy.

Coming Attractions- The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

 

Director- Renny Harlin

Cast- Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel Shenton, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Ella Bruccoleri

Release Date- May 17, 2024

The Strangers: Prey At Night had some crisp visuals. The cat and mouse games had more room to breathe, because the protagonists weren’t restricted to running around in circles at an isolated house out in the middle of nowhere. But The Strangers 2008 is the superior film, truly a good old school slasher with a lot of tense thrills. 

Chapter 1? Eh, I have a lot of mixed feelings about what I’m seeing so far. In certain parts, it looks like a shot for shot remake. Hopefully, they’re just giving little nods to the 2008 film, because it’s almost impossible to ignore the similarities.

It’s the first chapter in a story with three total chapters, and Chapter 1 is a prequel. Maybe we’ll learn more about the Man In The Mask, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl, and their backstories and motivations. Is the small town aware of The Strangers and what they’re about to do? There’s strong “outsiders are not welcome here” vibes, when the couple arrives at the diner.

I’m always in favor of more mainstream slashers. I’m also glad they’re going with a standalone approach to all three films. I just can’t imagine stretching this one story across two sequels, without everything feeling stale. A lot more potential with three different versions and perspectives, and it’s nice to see the return of a horror series that always had a promising future.

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

Valentine (2001)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- During the school dance, Jeremy Melton is rejected by Paige, Lily, and Shelley, when he asks for a dance. Kate tells Jeremy there’s a chance she might dance with him later, but Jeremy finds himself in trouble, while he kisses Dorothy under the bleachers. Dorothy lies and tells the school bullies Jeremy forced himself on her. Jeremy is humiliated and beaten by the group of bullies. After the sexual assault allegations from Dorothy, Jeremy is sent to a reform school and he spends time in juvenile hall.

Thirteen years later during Valentine’s Day season, Paige (Denise Richards), Lily (Jessica Cauffiel), Shelley (Katherine Heigl), Dorothy (Jessica Capshaw), and Kate (Marley Shelton) are all taunted and stalked by a mysterious masked killer. Kate looks for comfort in her ex boyfriend, Adam (David Boreanaz), but almost every male surrounding the group is a suspect. Has Jeremy Melton returned for revenge?

My Thoughts- Looking at the entire cast, Denise Richards and Marley Shelton easily deliver the top two noteworthy performances. Paige is a narcissistic and shallow mean girl with an ego. Richards brings a good amount of enthusiasm and energy to the character, and she definitely has a presence as Paige. Kate is presented as the only humble and earnest person in the group. You could’ve put a halo over Kate’s head throughout the movie, because Shelton is truly convincing as Kate. Everyone else does a job of playing their roles, but that’s about it.

The killer hits all the right notes for a slasher movie villain. Dressed in all black, he’s cold, ruthless, and relentless during the pursuit of his victims. I have mixed feelings on the Cupid mask. I kind of think it looks ridiculous, but once you know the story, you could say it makes perfect sense. The mask fits with the Valentine’s Day theme. It’s ironic that a cold blooded murderer would wear that kind of mask, and if you pay close attention to the opening flashback, there’s a kid wearing the same mask at the school dance.

Valentine features some creative and brutal kills. The killer using a hot iron to burn and beat Kate’s perverted neighbor, Gary (Claude Duhamel) is a savage scene to witness. There’s also the scene where the killer uses broken glass to kill Ruthie (Hedy Burress), and Lily’s death scene has a comedic ending. The killer uses arrows, and as Lilly falls off the balcony, she lands inside a garbage bin and the lid closes shut. 

Paige’s death scene easily takes the top spot. The killer uses the cover on a hot tub to trap her inside, but it doesn’t end there. He brings out a power drill to further torment and injure Paige. Paige is electrocuted to death, when the killer drops the power drill into the hot tub, and it’s a grisly image to see Paige’s body floating in a pool of her own blood. 

Revealing Adam/Jeremy as the killer was a good swerve that was executed to perfection. They did a good job of playing a believable guessing game throughout the movie. Valentine is packed with sordid male characters, including Detective Vaughn and Lily’s pretentious boyfriend, Max (Johnny Whitworth). Adam was portrayed as a messy alcoholic, especially towards the end. The only consistent clue they’ll give you is the killer’s nose bleeds, because Jeremy had a problem with nose bleeds as a kid. Using the nose bleeds as a hint, you at least know or have a good idea that an adult Jeremy is the killer. Paige and the others didn’t believe the pitiful geek Jeremy was capable of changing his name, his appearance, and launching an airtight murder plot to pick them all off one by one.

The final curveball with Dorothy? I genuinely believed she was the killer. Before Adam shoots her to death, Dorothy revealed she was bitter about always being the outcast in the group, or in her own words “the fat one.” The jealousy and anger she was holding on to for all those years finally got to her, and she snapped. Another important tidbit is Ruthie’s death. You could believe Dorothy wanted to kill Ruthie, because she exposed her new boyfriend, Campbell (Daniel Cosgrove), a man who’s a pathological liar and a con artist. Ruthie was Campbell’s ex girlfriend, so Dorothy viewed her as another person who wanted to ruin her last bit of hope for happiness.

Dorothy would’ve been a logical choice for the killer, but Adam still works. The ironic trickery during Adam’s explanation to Kate for why Dorothy allegedly did it was unreal. Adam is consoling Kate, and going on about how Dorothy had a deadly mix of anger and loneliness. Adam was basically telling Kate why he killed her friends, without actually confessing to the murders himself. The blood from the nosebleed running down Kate’s cheek, confirming Adam was the killer, definitely provided a good shocking moment to end the movie.

I’m always a big fan of fine details, and something to pay close attention to is the order in which Adam kills everyone. Adam kills everyone in the exact chronological order for the rejections he received at the dance, saving Dorothy for last and pinning all the murders on her. Remember how Paige told Adam she would rather die by being boiled alive, when he asked her to dance with him? That’s basically how she dies, electrocuted to death in a hot tub. 

Gary’s death is a big clue that points to Adam as the suspect. Looking at the big picture, Gary didn’t fit with the rest of the killings. But he was harassing Kate and stealing her underwear, so whoever killed Gary obviously did it to protect Kate. Adam always made it clear he never stopped loving Kate. She was the only one in the group who was nice to him, and going by his own twisted logic, he would do anything to protect her. 

Valentine is a solid holiday horror film, that also works as a fantastic homage to 80’s slashers. They cleverly put a horror spin on familiar Valentine’s Day traditions. A box of candies with maggots, and the cheesy dark humor with Adam’s Valentine’s Day cards (“roses are red, violets are blue- they’ll need dental records to identify you”) worked as good sinister tie-ins for the movie. 

There’s also a few good comedic bits for some breathing room from all blood shed. Shelley has a disastrous date with a guy named Jason (Adam J. Harrington). Jason is a self absorbed tool, who makes a habit of constantly reminding Shelley of his first name. There’s a hilarious moment, where Shelley scribbles the words “help me” on her plate, as Jason keeps rambling on about his requirements, because she couldn’t wait to get away from him.

Going forward, I’ll be adding Valentine to my list for holiday horror films. I didn’t expect much from Valentine. I was pleasantly surprised, and the double twist at the end was superb. Valentine has a familiar horror slasher story, but it still manages to have its own identity, with a sharp screenplay and good twists and turns.

Rating- 6/10

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In the 1960s, miner Harry Warden (Peter Cowper) starts a brutal killing spree one year after a cave-in. As the sole survivor, an insane Warden murders the residents of Valentine Bluffs on Valentine’s Day during the town’s annual dance, leaving a permanent scar on the quiet town.

Years later, T.J. Hanniger (Paul Kelman) returns to Valentine Bluffs to work at the Hanniger Mining Company. T.J. still has feelings for his ex girlfriend, Sarah Mercer (Lori Hallier), but Sarah’s relationship with T.J.’s fellow miner, Axel Palmer (Neil Affleck) complicates things.

T.J. and the others have a bigger problem, when dead bodies start popping up. The possibility of Harry Warden returning to Valentines Bluff concerns T.J.’s father, Mayor Hanniger (Larry Reynolds) and Chief Newby (Don Francks).

The Valentine’s Day dance is cancelled, but T.J., Axel, Sarah, Patty (Cynthia Dale), Hollis (Keith Night), and others decide to secretly have a Valentine’s Day celebration for fun. But things take a dark turn, when a miner kills them off one by one. Has Harry Warden returned to Valentines Bluff to pursue his revenge on the town?

My Thoughts- Harry Warden/The Miner ranks high up on my list of memorable slasher movie villains. The Miner is undeniably vicious and genuinely intimidating. He’s a madman wielding a pickaxe, with a relentless thirst for violence. There’s just something genuinely disturbing about The Miner and Warden. The flashback showing Warden eating body parts to survive after the cave-in really shows how Harry completely lost it.

The miner suit and mask adds to his strong presence, and I can’t forget about the fine details for his character. The quick movements, and when you hear the heavy breathing, you know serious trouble is coming. Warden/The Miner only appears in two films, if we’re counting the remake, but the character does more than enough to leave a lasting impression.

You almost can’t have an 80’s slasher without a grizzly old kook warning the youngsters about a dangerous killer, and Happy (Jack Van Evera) fills that spot. Van Evera does his job as the harbinger of doom. He’s there to let you know that Harry Warden is a serious threat, it’s not a joke, and anyone in town could be his next victim. Using the old timer telling a ghost story approach, Happy narrates the flashback for Harry’s story to play up his dark legend. It’s a good spooky flashback. Happy hooks you into believing Harry might actually return one day, if the town holds another Valentine’s Day dance. 

It’s a Valentine’s Day horror film, so of course you’ll get the expected grisly tie-ins for the usual traditions. Bloody hearts in the candy boxes, grim Valentine’s Day cards with ominous warnings, and The Miner turning the heart decorations upside down at the laundromat was a nice touch. My Bloody Valentine does a wonderful job of setting a dark and eerie mood throughout the movie, by taking a festive day that’s supposed to be about love and happiness and completely turning it upside down. 

The gore and kills in My Bloody Valentine are truly brutal. Poor Mabel (Patricia Hamilton) suffering the fate of being cooked alive in a dryer at the laundromat showed how cruel The Miner could be, and the sight of her dried out and burnt corpse is horrifying to look at. Sylvia’s (Helene Udy) death is a nasty moment to remember. The Miner takes her head and shoves it through a faucet. To make things more wicked, he turns on the faucet after she’s dead.

The tense love triangle between Axel, T.J., and Sarah fits perfectly within the story. T.J. left, and Axel was there to be with Sarah. You can tell T.J. is bitter, and although T.J. gets too pushy and persistent, you can see Sarah still has feelings for him.

Revealing Axel as The Miner was a good surprise. Throughout the movie, they played a good guessing game for the possibility of Harry Warden returning for his revenge. But it turns out Warden’s been dead for five years, and Axel actually does have a direct connection to him. Axel’s father was one of the supervisors who was responsible for the cave-in. Innocent men died because of his carelessness, and Harry turned into a monster. As a child, Axel witnessed Harry murder his father.

Axel clearly never got over the trauma, but I’ve always wondered what made him finally snap so many years later. Was it the fear of losing Sarah to T.J.? Or was it the return of the Valentine’s Day dance after twenty years, an event that’s connected to the worst night of his life? A combination of both? It’s clear Axel is not well, and you really see it during the ending. 

After he cuts off part of his own arm to escape, Axel starts rambling on about how he’s going to return with Harry. The maniacal laughter, and Axel professing his love for Sarah, as he runs off into the darkness is a perfect ending. It’s a chilling final series of events. Axel is either going to bleed out, or he’s going to pick up the pickaxe again. He’s clearly crazy enough to try another killing spree.

My Bloody Valentine is a gruesome and brutal slasher film, that definitely deserves its cult classic status. The opening scene featuring a masked miner (presumably Harry) killing the blonde woman immediately lets you know you’re about to see a movie that’s not going to hold anything back. Horror films featuring a premise about a small and quiet town with a dark past are some of my absolute favorites. Mayor Hanniger and Chief Newby are struggling to keep everything secret about Harry’s possible return, because his shadow disrupts the peace in Valentine Bluffs.

My Bloody Valentine is truly a memorable holiday horror film, and it’s a must-see pick, if you’re a fan of 80’s slashers. The uncut version is far more graphic, and it’s worth checking out, if My Bloody Valentine is one of your favorites.

Rating- 8/10