We soon learn the truth behind her accident and what is going on. Rating is available when the video has been rented. You can write, happy birthday to me 1981 is a good movie, but it can be is a bad movie. With melissa sue anderson, glenn ford, lawrence dane, sharon acker. Happy birthday to me began production at the beginning of july 1980. Happy birthday to me 1981 original theatrical trailer youtube. Lee thompson, whose interesting career trajectory took him from cape fear to a slew of charles bronson flicks. The film looksand is actedas if it were plucked out of the studio era.
My top 2 slashers would be black christmas 1974 and halloween 1978, but if you collect slasher films then this is surely a must own. When revisiting happy birthday to me yesterday, neither my husband nor i had seen it in years. Vicky dawson, christopher goutman, lawrence tierney. Its a drama and horror movie with a very low rotten tomatoes critics score of 27%. Happy birthday to me does also get a little convoluted towards the end with maybe one twist too many, but that doesnt stop it from being one of the best slasher films out there. Filmed primarily in canada and upstate new york, happy birthday to me was distributed by columbia pictures, and released theatrically in north america.
She suffers from blackouts due to a freak accident one year earlier. Matt craven and jack blum in happy birthday to me 1981 michelrene. Lee thompson shoots his scenes much the same as he did 1962s cape fear, with fluid camera movements, calculated transition points and lush cinematography. Lee thompsons entertaining horror film, starring melissa sue anderson, glenn ford, lawrence dane, sharon ac. Hed even cut his teeth with alfred hitchcock many years before as his dialogue coach. Happy birthday to me, a 1981 canadian slasher film.
The film skillfully manages to be gory and raw, without becoming revolting. It is a damn shame that it has not received the cult status it so solidly deserves. Happy birthday to me 1981 happy birthday to me 1981. In particular they wanted a movie poster that was a bit more subtle about the nature of the movie, rather than one that exploited the violence of it. However, the latter film was actually released first, rushed to meet a february 11 1981 release date in time for that years valentines day. Happy birthday to me 1981 nude scenes 1981 by gruesome hertzogg podcast. The lack of extras is disappointing, but almost made up for with excellent picture quality and the addition of the original soundtrack even though its in german. Notwithstanding happy birthday to mes unconventional murders, the film is wholly classical in its structure. Happy birthday to me is a slow as molasses 80s teen slasher thats mediocre at best. The film s press notes say that three endings were shot for happy birthday to me and also boasts the cast wouldnt know which ending was used until they actually saw the film, but ive also heard that was just to cover up the fact that the ending hadnt. Streaming full happy birthday to me 1981 first, once you can rate this movie. Starring vlasta vrana, matt craven, lawrence dane, damir andrei, nicholas kilbertus. Happy birthday to me 1981 original theatrical trailer. Happy birthday to me, a 1998 short film starring brendan coyle.
Truth be told, the murders are not that bizarre, and this film eschews the nastiness of some later entries in the. Happy birthday to me 1981 where to watch it streaming online. Dec 05, 2016 but her friends are falling prey to a gruelling series of murders, and soon there will be no one left to attend her 18th birthday party. Happy birthday to me 1981 releases dates, movie score, movie trailer, movie poster, synopsis, and plot. Happy birthday to me 1981 full movie download full hd.
Its dull, has a boring plot, takes itself far too seriously, and worst of all, is waaaaaay too long. The filmmakers reportedly detested the poster art and the many press gimmicks to promote happy birthday to me. When the investigator pulls up to the house to inform the doc and ginny about the discovery of anns empty car, as he gets out the car and the camera shot is from the back of the car, you can see a crewmembers face reflected in. Audio only of the soundtrack to the 1981 horror film happy birthday to me and yes i did spell syreetas name wrong at the beginning. Welcome to upscale crawford academy, where everyone, especially new student ginny melissa sue anderson wants to be part of the. Im still puzzled why columbia only has the softer rrated version out. As another birthday is coming near, her buried memories of that fateful day have started returning little by. The film s gory mayhem was orchestrated by special effects guru tom burman who replaced stephan dupuis just three weeks before the cameras were due to start rolling.
Happy birthday to me 1981 the image could not be loaded. There are spoilers so dont watch this if you havent seen the film. Happy birthday to me is an often neglected and seldom viewed 80s cinema gem. Set in the prestigious crawford academy, the film centers around virginia, who suffered a traumatic accident on her birthday during her childhood. Happy birthday to me 1981 happy birthday to me 1981 the image could not be loaded. In some ways happy birthday to me is the progenitor of the final destination films in its desire to find new ways of offing the teen cast the tagline even hypes the films as six of the most bizarre murders you will ever see. Happy birthday to me typifies the horror genre prior to the selfreflection and irony that saturated the genre in the late 80s and 90s. Happy birthday to me music by lance rubin, lyrics by mollyann leikin, performed by syreeta.
Truth be told, the murders are not that bizarre, and this film eschews the nastiness of some later entries in the slasher field. Happy birthday to me managed to get away with more than most during this era, though the mpaas disdain for the actual act of murder is apparent, as many of the actual kills feel truncated in the moment. Happy birthday to meuncut sigh still waiting for this release in all its unedited, rrated theatrical release glory. Lee thompson revelled in the red stuff, and a common cry of his was more blood. I would have given the movie 4 stars its a good, fun, light horror flick but only. Happy birthday to me full full movie, happy birthday to me full full movie streaming happy birthday to me full movie engsub watch happy birthday to me full english full movie online happy. Feb 27, 2015 an original 1981 television spot for director j. They famously teamed up again on my bloody valentine 1981, which went into production within a week of this wrapping. A solid cast, decent acting, a wellwritten script, and relatively high production values result in a solid movie that is engaging on its own in addition to offering a glimpse into the history of 80s horror. Watch happy birthday to me 1981 online free and download happy birthday to me free online. Part of 8 pages of info for the 1981 movie from the award winning 80s movies rewind. Mar 22, 2008 happy birthday to me 1981 directed by j. Madhouse 1981 aka there was a little girl horror rated r 89min by corbin guy. My top 2 slashers would be black christmas 1974 and halloween 1978, but if you collect slasher films then this.
Dec 28, 2012 ending theme happy birthday to me performed by syreeta. Melissa sue anderson stars as virginia, a coed haunted by suspicions. Movie talk happy birthday to me uncut i just won a auction on ebay of the uncut version. Happy birthday to me ist ein horrorfilm des kanadischen regisseurs j. Get ready for a taut mysteryshocker that will keep you at your wits end and at the edge of your seat. At the snobby crawford academy, virginias group of friends start to go missing years after horrible events that happened to her as a child around her birthday. At the snobby crawford academy, virginias group of friends start to go. Freshen up your watchlist with prime videos latest roster of streaming movies and tv shows. High resolution official theatrical movie poster for happy birthday to me 1981. Melissa sue anderson, glenn ford, lawrence dane, sharon acker, frances hyland, tracey e. Happy birthday to me cast starring vlasta vrana, matt craven, lawrence dane, damir andrei, nicholas kilbertus. Happy birthday to me stands out from the slasher movie pack of the early 80s because it pushes all the genres elements to absurd heights.
The murders, plot twists, and, especially, the lastminute revelations that are dished up in the final reel dont just deny credibility, they outright defy it. Of course, by 1981 the floodgates were well and truly open after the success of halloween 1978 and the previous years friday the th. Having said that, they purposefully upped the ante gore wise in my bloody valentine to woo the audience who loved friday the th. Despite their protests columbia pictures went ahead with the promotional campaign. As happy birthday to me was made before it, it is arguable that the same was true of that film. Happy birthday to me was produced by john dunning and andre link, as a cinepix production. Popular high school senior virginia wainwright melis. Happy birthday to me is a 1981 psychological horror thriller film directed by j. In 1981, the pair produced two of the bestknownbestloved canadian slasher films, my bloody valentine, and happy birthday to me, and much like the australians, who were enjoying their own cinema renaissance aka ozploitation, the people involved in the production didnt necessarily come from a horror background.
Oct 08, 2016 welcome to upscale crawford academy, where everyone, especially new student ginny melissa sue anderson wants to be part of the schools most popular clique. Happy birthday to me isnt as overtly stylish as most giallo films, but its confidently helmed by j. More for happy birthday to me mistakes visible crewequipment. Happy birthday to me, a 1997 album by the muffs happy birthday to me, a song by bulldog mansion from funk happy birthday to me, a song by cracker from cracker. His direction brings a certain professionalism to the film, but the production ultimately feels guided by john dunning and andre link, the producing duo that also gifted us with. Always remember dont trust the opinion of happy birthday to me 1981 on the internet because the authors paid to write a comment. The film starts with a false scare neatly mirroring the trick ending. Jan 01, 2015 89 min horror mystery thriller 6 november 1981 usa a masked killer, wearing world war ii u. When the investigator pulls up to the house to inform the doc and ginny about the discovery of anns empty car, as he gets out the car and the camera shot is from the back of the car, you can see a crewmembers face reflected in the small rearview mirror.
Happy birthday to me behind the scenes, making the movie. As another birthday is coming near, her buried memories of that fateful day have started returning little by little. The film s press notes say that three endings were shot for happy birthday to me and also boasts the cast wouldnt know which ending was used until they actually saw the film, but ive also heard that was just to cover up the fact that the ending hadnt really been written. Happy birthday to me 1981 music from the film youtube. Virginia wainwright is a spirited young woman who has. The plot involves cliques, prep schools, and a very weird birthday party, but that is not what is important here. Thompson and company were apparently free to dwell on the grisly aftermath, which features some of the best gore effects work of the era. Welcome to upscale crawford academy, where everyone, especially new student ginny melissa sue anderson wants to be part of the schools most popular clique. But her friends are falling prey to a gruelling series of murders, and soon there will be no one left to attend her 18th birthday party. Lee thompson melissa sue anderson ending theme happy birthday to me performed by syreeta. However, the latter film was actually released first, rushed to meet a february 11 1981 release date in time for that years. Thats usually a pretty annoying disadvantage to rewatching a movie youve only seen once or twice, you spend more time trying to remember things instead of just watching what. Itll be a killer party virginia is proud that she belongs to a clique. Its plot revolves around six brutal murders occurring around a popular high school seniors birthday.
Lee thompson and starring melissa sue anderson and glenn ford. Ending theme happy birthday to me performed by syreeta. Original theatrical trailer to the 1981 horrorslasherwhodunnit classic. Happy birthday to me is an aboveaverage slasher from the gloriously bloodsoaked early 80s. However, i have never heard a similar boast about happy birthday to me. But before her 18th birthday, a grueling set of murders take place and her friends are the ones who are falling prey. Army fatigues, stalks a small new jersey town bent on reliving a 35yearold double murder by focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual spring dance.
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