Happy Birthday To Me
Get ready for a taut mystery-shocker that will keep you at your wit's end and at the edge of your seat. Popular high school senior Virginia Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson) survives a freak accident, but suffers from memory loss and traumatic blackouts. As she attempts to resume a normal life, something terrible is happening - her friends are ruthlessly murdered one-by-one. Will she be the next victim or is she the killer? The terrifying truth is finally uncovered at Virginia's 18th birthday party and you're invited.
Member Reviews
Solid Old-School Slasher - nw_kiff
"Happy Birthday To Me" reminded me of what is missing in many of todays slasher films. There is a certain playfulness and creativity to the deaths that make this a joy to watch. The ending probably goes to the well once too often with the twist it tries to execute, but it didn't distract from the enjoyment and tone of this film. Fans of other slashers from around this time like Friday the 13th and My Bloody Valentine will find enjoyment here.Why Mary Ingalls, I had no idea! - HouseOfGlib
For me the most shocking part of watching this 1981 entry in the slasher genre was how much I enjoyed the performance of Melissa Sue Anderson as the film's troubled heroine. Like many of you, I knew her only as little Laura's blind sister on Little House and had no idea I could expect to discover that she was capable of giving such a skilled, compelling and--dare I say it--sexy performance.
As for the film itself, when you consider that it was directed by one of the great journeyman directors, J. Lee Thompson (who also gave us The Guns of Naverone and the original Cape Fear) it should come as no surprise that it is one of the best shot and well-made entries in a sub-genre famed for its aesthetic shoddiness.
The script is filled with cliches, but none that should bother or annoy most horror fans and though it doesn't really earn its final twist, the darkly hilarious final shot certainly makes up for it.Happy Birthday To Me - CJG-
Why has this movie got such a bad reputation ? I saw it first-time in theater, when it was realeased in France, and still love it. Sue me ! Lush image (Far from Thompson's Bronson dreck), good production value, wonderful cinematography. okay, the ending was far-fetched at the time, but for the "Urban Legends" (Razzie awards for the scenarist ?) crowd, I guess anything goes. And. this car accident is one of the creepiest I've seen, and your Phaithphul Phrog here is quite jaded (maybe that's why I drive only motorbikes ? No, there's one too in this movie ! Darn !) Besides, there's a bit of a social comment going on, with this mother that despises the rich brats in the movie, but would do anything for her daughter to join them. No Bergman or Chabrol around here, but if you like your entertainment with a few brains, here's the one for you. Not really a slasher, more like a suspense in the wake of "I know what you did.".
Member Reviews
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Solid Old-School Slasher - nw_kiff
"Happy Birthday To Me" reminded me of what is missing in many of todays slasher films. There is a certain playfulness and creativity to the deaths that make this a joy to watch. The ending probably goes to the well once too often with the twist it tries to ...Why Mary Ingalls, I had no idea! - HouseOfGlib
For me the most shocking part of watching this 1981 entry in the slasher genre was how much I enjoyed the performance of Melissa Sue Anderson as the film's troubled heroine. Like many of you, I knew her only as little Laura's blind sister on Little House ...Happy Birthday To Me - CJG-
Why has this movie got such a bad reputation ? I saw it first-time in theater, when it was realeased in France, and still love it. Sue me ! Lush image (Far from Thompson's Bronson dreck), good production value, wonderful cinematography. okay, the ending was ...