Dir. George Mihalka | Now Streaming On: Pluto | Rating: 5/5

Happy Valentine’s Day ghouls! I don’t typically review genre “classics.” I find that so much has already been said and they divide the horror community so deeply at times, my two cents isn’t always warranted. But I will make a sacrifice for the special occasion, let’s talk about one of my favorite slasher films, the beautiful campy mess that is My Bloody Valentine. ⁠
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My Bloody Valentine joined the ranks of the holiday horror slasher sub genre alongside Black Christmas, Halloween, and Friday the 13th – but never received the same level of cult following. Even at the time of its release, it was undercut for not having as strong of a script as its predecessors.⁠
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What makes this project impressive is its commitment to the story and theme. My Bloody Valentine was notoriously censored for extreme gore, with 9 minutes being cut from its initial theatrical release. To this day, released versions of the original are still missing 7 minutes of footage. Living in the post-Saw era, it’s almost unbelievable to consider horror films being censored. Another hardcore fact about production is that all the mine scenes were actually filmed in a real mine, almost 3,000 feet underground. Due to the methane gas level, the crew even had to limit the amount of lighting used in production to prevent an explosion. ⁠
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Is this a work of art? No, of course not. Is this an absolute ball to watch? Yes, absolutely. The cast of characters is quirky, the lore of the Harry Warden is intriguing, and in its own way – it stands apart from its contemporaries. It’s campy, it’s bizarre. Come on, we have a killer in a gas mask running around with a pickaxe laughing maniacally. What more can we ask for? (A diverse cast, stronger female leads, possibly a flashlight somewhere in this mine… but that’s beside the point.)⁠
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Stream this tonight for old time’s sake – and from my cold heart to yours, have a very bloody Valentine’s day. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features blood, death, nudity. ⁠