Happy Birthday to Me is simply one of the best "body count" movies to pop up after the massive success of Halloween (1978).
Is lovely young Virginia Wainwright the shadowy murderer who is "offing" her elite group of college friends?
Happy Birthday to Me stands head and shoulders above the average slasher film on a number of levels. What starts out as the standard slasher fare builds into to a surprisingly twisted thriller with strong tension! The conclusion of the film may just be one of the most "off-the-wall" endings in horror history! It's an effectively mind-blowing ending to one warped murder mystery. Also worth mentioning are the truly inventive murders in this movie. The gory killings are oddly clever, even to the point of being darkly humorous, yet really shocking. The cast is pretty solid. Beautiful Melissa Sue Anderson makes for a fetching and sympathetic lead. Her co-stars deliver some believable performances. Director Thompson gives this film a wonderfully dark and atmospheric feel. Kudos also go to the composer for a splendidly moody music score (it's a shame the score is completely replaced on the Columbia DVD!!!).
No matter what some critics have said about this film, see it for yourself. Not many slasher films live up to this amusing and off-beat bloody entry.
*** out of ****
Is lovely young Virginia Wainwright the shadowy murderer who is "offing" her elite group of college friends?
Happy Birthday to Me stands head and shoulders above the average slasher film on a number of levels. What starts out as the standard slasher fare builds into to a surprisingly twisted thriller with strong tension! The conclusion of the film may just be one of the most "off-the-wall" endings in horror history! It's an effectively mind-blowing ending to one warped murder mystery. Also worth mentioning are the truly inventive murders in this movie. The gory killings are oddly clever, even to the point of being darkly humorous, yet really shocking. The cast is pretty solid. Beautiful Melissa Sue Anderson makes for a fetching and sympathetic lead. Her co-stars deliver some believable performances. Director Thompson gives this film a wonderfully dark and atmospheric feel. Kudos also go to the composer for a splendidly moody music score (it's a shame the score is completely replaced on the Columbia DVD!!!).
No matter what some critics have said about this film, see it for yourself. Not many slasher films live up to this amusing and off-beat bloody entry.
*** out of ****