Review of Happy Birthday to Me (1981) by Ricardo A — 26 Aug 2012

These stars come with a caveat, this movie is a stinker, but the twist ending (right out of Scooby Doo) is worth the work you have to put in watching this Canadian made pseudo slasher film.

I remember seeing the box cover for this at the video store when I was a kid, and was totally curious about it. When I was old enough to start renting these crazy looking movies on my own, this one somehow slipped through the cracks. Like I said it's Canadian, and like most foreign horror films that "take place in America" everything seems off, like I'm still unsure if all the "teens" are supposed to be in high school or college as they all drink beer in a bar, and some look to easily be in their mid thirties. Also the music is often out of place, and what I'm assuming were meant to be creepy or unsettling sound effects (ala Friday the 13th's CHA-Cha-cha-ch,,,) sound wacky and slap stick. The movie is also pretty slow, and you'll often be scratching your head wondering exactly what the hell is going on. (it all makes sense in the end kinda).

While more goofy than creepy, and pretty slow the concept is pretty neat, and the cinematography surprisingly good (it looks like a real movie, even though the direction is amateurish at best) but only for those 70s/80s horror slasher genre (black christmas, my bloody valentine, prom night et all) buffs, and if you are one, check it out.