THE MOVIE PAGES presents in MY BLOODY VALENTINE mybloodyvalentine.htm

What Do The Critics Say?

"Old-school gore, complete with people getting slaughtered while they're nude, gooey viscera as far as the eye can see and the planting of seeds for a sequel."
Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS
"Director Patrick Lussier and cinematographer Brian Pearson, with help from production designer Zack Grobler, have managed to make the most effective 3-D movie I've ever seen."
Ken Hanke MOUNTAIN EXPRESS
"If you've got a strong stomach, My Bloody Valentine 3D is a definite pleasure...albeit a guilty one, in the perversely stupid tradition of all good gore films."
Mark Demetrius FILMINK
"Why not see a flick that will keep you cringing and practically feels like an amusement park ride."
Kevin McCarthy CBS RADIO
"Body parts are lopped off. Pick axes are stabbed at the camera. There's even a completely naked girl chased by the killer, in glorious 3D. This movie spoke to me."
Kevin Carr 7M PICTURES

"Blending ample serves of gore and nudity with a dash of self-awareness, Lussier skilfully uses the 3D format to simulate the perspectives of both predator and victim."
Jake Wilson THE AGE
"I am no fan of slasher films, and I came to this with no expectations:- who needs another remake? but it won me over in spite of myself."
Steve Biodrowski ESPLATTER
"While the story itself is a mixed-bag at best, you have to give it up for the technology, which uses the 3-D platform to such a successful extent, it takes a mediocre movie and turns it into a reasonably fun, camp contender."
Christopher Smith BANGOR DAILY NEWS
"This briskly paced remake of the 1981 slasher goes easy on the cheesy 3-D effects while delivering lots of seriously nasty gore."
Maitland McDonagh TIME OUT NEW YORK
"My Bloody Valentine is a fun throwback to the golden era of slasher movies: packed with gore, nudity, and the classic gimmick of 3D. Like its inspiration, My Bloody Valentine is never content to just follow the stalk and kill formula that became so synonymous with slasher cinema in its heyday."
Mike Bracken MIKE BRACKEN'S HORROR MOVIES

The Inside Story In the 1980's, the slasher film craze was at its peak, driven by the box office success of films such as "Friday the 13th", "Halloween", "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "The Last House on the Left". In 1981, out of Canada came the controversial low-budget sleeper "My Bloody Valentine", whose enormous cult following shocked even its creators. Now, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" brings the fear factor to a new level with an immersive and utterly terrifying remake of the ultimate campfire story. "This is the marriage of old school horror mixed with a great story and unbelievable new technology," says director Patrick Lussier. "There’s also some good old-fashioned gore. It’s the intersection of so many different things. We’re doing a 3-D movie; we’re doing a slasher film, but it’s much more than that. It requires a new way of looking at storytelling, and it’s a very exciting opportunity." "When I first experienced 3-D, it was a gimmick," producer Jack Murray ("Date Movie") notes. "It got people in the seats because they’d never seen it before. But it wasn’t about storytelling. It was a carnival trick, just a series of opportunities to set up the next moment where something would come out into the audience. That’s not what we’re doing in this film. We’re letting the 3-D fill out the environment we’re working in, and, at the same time, finding those moments where that third dimension makes it even scarier." Michael Paseornek ("American Psycho" & "Monster's Ball"), president of Lionsgate and executive producer on "My Bloody Valentine 3D", elaborates: "Our film uses traditional techniques with very few special effects, plus dimensional space to place viewers’ attention where the director wants it. It immerses the audience in the environment, as opposed to just throwing effects at them. When you’re thinking about creating an environment of tension, if you’re in it; as opposed to watching it, it’s much scarier. Even down to the fact that when someone shines a flashlight around, it blinds you. And when the Miner swings his pickaxe at you, it swipes across you." When it came time to select a director for a state of the art update of this blood-soaked classic, the producers found a filmmaker with just the pedigree they were looking for. Patrick Lussier, the editor of films including "Scream", "Dracula 2000" and "New Nightmare", is a long time collaborator with legendary horror auteur 1997 Gérardmer Film Festival Grand Prize winner Wes Craven ('Scream"). "Patrick’s vision was very much tied to using 3-D to do what it does really well," says Murray. "There are times where 3-D needs to be right out there grabbing you, but there also need to be moments when the audience gets to relax and just enjoy the story. Along with other techniques and devices like prosthetics, stunts and visual effects, it lets the audience viscerally feel and experience the terror." Paseornek ("Shattered Glass" & "The Devil's Rejects") says the plus Lussier provides is "a great sense of humor. There was a vibe on the set like we were at the right place at the right time with the right people. You can’t buy that kind of synergy. You can’t hire it. It just happens. To sit back and be awash in it is the best." Lussier, who hails from north of the 49th parallel, found the prospect of revamping such a beloved film both daunting and rewarding. "The film is a Canadian icon. The offer to be involved in the project took me by surprise. I really wasn’t sure I wanted to tackle it, but as I read the script and started working with it, I saw the opportunity to bring something new to the story."

Lussier says the film is about this "great love triangle. What else would you expect from a movie that has '‘Valentine' in the title? But the love triangle has gone slightly awry, and as a result has gotten bloody." he also says the use of 3-D photography was an intrinsic part of the storytelling. "The feeling of claustrophobia, the feeling of being trapped and the feeling of the horror are all heightened to a point that will take audiences beyond what they have seen before." Years of working with horror master Craven taught Lussier that, in order to create a compelling horror movie, character has to come first. "All of Wes’ movies are character-based. If you let the characters and story come first, then the horror comes out of the events, as opposed to concentrating on how much blood you can splash on the screen." Front and center in the films story are three high school classmates caught in a decade-old love triangle: Tom, Axel and, Sarah who is now Axel’s wife and is Tom’s former high school sweetheart. Jensen Ackles, Kerr Smith and Jaime King, who portray the three primary characters, lead an impressive ensemble cast that combines some of the hottest young Hollywood up and comers with acclaimed veteran actors. "Jensen and Jaime and Kerr bring so much depth to the characters," says Lussier ("The Prophecy 3: The Ascent"). "And then we have a great supporting cast with people like Kevin Tighe, Tom Atkins and Edi Gathegi. Every one of them has brought so much more than what was on the page." Jensen Ackles, familiar to fans of the small-screen as Dean Winchester in the highly popular TV series "Supernatural", was cast as Tom Hanniger, the catalyst for the story. "Tom is returning to this small town to face some unfinished business," says Lussier. "Jensen has such a natural charm. He has real cinematic grace and weight to him, which makes Tom incredibly likable and endearing in the face of adversity." Ackles notes, The unique technical aspects of the film appealed to his curiosity. "I think everything’s so much cooler in 3-D. I’m very interested to see how this story unfolds in that kind of a format. I think it’s really going to increase the scare factor." Of Lussier's directing ability he offers: "Patrick was fantastic. I believe that editors make very good directors, because they can envision exactly what they want and they know how to get it." The 1998 Soap Opera Digest Award winner ("Days Of Our Lives") adds: "Patrick also knows how to work with actors. With that combination, it’s just so easy to work with him." 2001 Young Hollywood Award winner Jaime King was cast as Sarah, the woman at the heart of the film’s romantic triangle. "Jaime is not your typical slasher film chick," says Lussier. "She brings such depth to the character of Sarah. She plays the conflict of the unrequited love she has for Tom, and balances it with her love for her husband in every moment of her performance." King ("Sin City" & "The Spirit") revealed she loved Lussier’s character-oriented approach. "All the choices in the script were very thoughtful and extremely layered. Jensen and Kerr and I were able to take the time to sit together and talk about how we could make our story as complex and intricate as possible. It’s really easy to do something that’s very cookie cutter, but I’m not interested in doing that and the people making this movie weren’t either." King also drew energy and inspiration from her costars, Ackles and Smith. "It’s a great benefit to be on the set with such talented actors."

Kerr Smith ("Final Destination" & "Road Kill"), who played most of his scenes with King, is equally effusive about the film’s leading lady. "Jaime’s fantastic. It’s always great when you work with somebody who just gets it, and she does. She just understands what each scene is about, so we can explore the most interesting directions to go while we’re doing it." Lussier recalls he found the character of Axel the most difficult to cast. "Axel is a very conflicted man with dark tendencies. He knows that he was Sarah’s second choice. Kerr’s choices in playing the character are so unique and so deep, and the moments that he draws on and the surprises that he brings to his performance are fascinating." "I’m the kind of guy that likes to get in there with no ideas set in stone," says Kerr, who played Teddy Ellison Hughes in TV'S "As The World Turns". "I have maybe a couple points I want to hit, but essentially what this is all about for me is exploring it while you’re doing it, and finding the truth in the situation. Patrick allowed me a lot of freedom, which was great."” Lussier says the ensemble exceeded all his expectations. "They delivered such strong, powerful performances. It was extraordinary to have an amazing crew and an incredible cast that continued to surprise each other as part of a massive and wonderful conspiracy to make this incredibly horrific event. Their collaboration has added tenfold to the story because they have truly made these characters as three-dimensional as the film itself." With everything in place, the filmmakers started their search for 'the mine' targeting locations in Pittsburgh, near the heart of western Pennsylvania's coal mining country. "One of the first locations we locked into was the mine," says Lussier. “It was no longer a working mine, but it had an amazing, beautiful look." 'Brutal' is the word Patrick Lussier uses to describe the long production days, which gave the cast and crew just a hint of life in a coal mine. "The mine is an incredibly confined space and it’s dripping wet. We were always covered in mud or anything else you can imagine. Every single person on the crew, some of whom have been working in films for 20 or 30 years, said it was the worst place they had ever shot. And yet, they did an amazing job. We were incredibly lucky to have this group of people dedicated to this project." The ceiling of the mineshaft in which many of the film’s critical scenes were shot was so low, it was often difficult for the cast and crew to stand up. "It allowed us to create this absolutely claustrophobic world our characters were trapped in for a vital part of the story," Lussier said. "The mine had its own sound. You felt it breathing, dripping, crying. You felt trapped inside and could feel the horror as the walls converged." For the actors, the location was a mixed blessing; difficult to work in, but inspiring. "We got to feel what it is to live in a mining town," says King. "We were in a mine with little baby bats chillin’ with us. You had to be careful not to knock your head on the ceiling. But I think that if you can be in a real location, it’s awesome. It was definitely helpful in connecting to the character." Texas native Ackles says he was a little out of his comfort zone. "When you walk in a hundred, or maybe two hundred feet under the earth, and the only way out is way behind you, it’s kind of creepy," he noted. "The worst part about working in a mine is that you’re working in a mine. I hit my head a lot, let’s put it that way," says Smith. And 'The Miner'? He’s just a guy with an attitude. He’s the ultimate killing machine. Synopsis

Ten years ago, a tragedy changed the town of Harmony forever. Tom Hanniger, an inexperienced coal miner, caused an accident in the tunnels that trapped and killed five men and sent the only survivor, Harry Warden, into a permanent coma. But Harry Warden wanted revenge. Exactly one year later, on Valentine's Day, he woke up and brutally murdered twenty-two people with a pickaxe before being killed.Ten years later, Tom Hanniger returns to Harmony on Valentine's Day, still haunted by the deaths he caused. Struggling to make amends with his past, he grapples with unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, who is now married to his best friend, Axel, the town sheriff. But something else from Harmony's dark past has returned. An unstoppable killer is on the loose. In the midst of the slaughter, Tom, Sarah and Axel start to believe that Harry Warden is somehow alive and wants revenge.

The Verdict

"Cinemagoers have always had a fascination for horror/slasher flicks. In the early days it was the talents of Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and the british production company Hammer Films that scared the living daylights out of audiences. Even the iconic Clint Eastwood appeared in a couple: "Revenge of the Creature" and "Tarantula". And who could forget the impact films such as "Frankenstein", "Jack The Ripper", "An American Werewolf in London", "The Exorcist", "Halloween", "Scream", "Nightmare On Elm Street", "I Know What You Did Last Summer", "Final Destination", "Wrong Turn", "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Saw" had on audiences. Films in this genre haven't always been noted for their dialogue, or the acting ability of cast members. After all, horror/slasher fans are attracted to the blood, the gore, the inventive ways victims are despatched and for the thrill of being terrorized by the onscreen antics, secure in the knowlege they are safe in their cinema seats. It was inevitable that sooner or later, someone would, with the advancements cinema has made, make a horror film in true 3-D. That moment has arrived with "My Bloody Valentine", which features the handywork of an insatiable, murderous monster known as 'The Miner'. Unfortunately this film is not for 'minors' as it has copped an R18+ rating restricting screening of the film to adult only audiences. Not that there's anything too adult in this film. It is however good fun trying to second guess who 'The Miner' is. "My Bloody Valentine" has everything a good horror film should incorporate: full front nubile sex (updated with a busty young blonde sporting a 'brazilian'); bloody murders; jump in your seat moments; some eye-popping 3-D effects that will have you squirming, ducking and weaving as body parts and a pickaxe come flying from the screen to smack you right between the eyeballs. Admittedly, this film isn't for everyone, but those who thrive on the genre or are lovers of the ever improving 3-D format will get a kick out of what happens on the screen. 3 1/2 STARS." Who's Who?

Jensen Ackles
Jaime King
Kerr Smith
Betsy Rue
Edi Gathegi
Tom Atkins
Kevin Tighe
Megan Boone
Karen Baum
Joy de la Paz
Marc Macaulay
Todd Farmer
Jeff Hochendoner
Bingo O'Malley
Liam Rhodes
Andrew Larson
Jarrod DiGiorgi
Selene Luna
Rich Walters
David Whalen
Sam Nicotero
Denise Dal Vera
Tim Hartman
Ruth Flaherty
Annie Kitral
Jerry Johnston
Chris Carnel
William Kania

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Tom Hanniger
Sarah Palmer
Axel Palmer
Irene
Deputy Martin
Burke
Ben Foley
Megan
Deputy Ferris
Rosa
Riggs
Frank the Trucker
Red
Officer Hinch
Michael
Noah Palmer
Doc Miller
Selene
Harry Warden/The Miner
Bartender '08
Bartender '98
Nurse
Eli Hanniger
Thelma
Desk Clerk
Verne
The Miner
Deputy Sheriff Murdock