Happy Birthday to Me

Amazon.com

Happy Birthday to Me typifies the horror genre prior to the self-reflection and irony that saturated the genre in the late '80s and '90s. A solid cast, decent acting, a well-written 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. The plot follows the rules of the genre (later parodied in such films as the Scream and Scary Movie series). A number of teenagers (played by actors who appear visibly older than their characters) from an elite prep school get into mischievous sexual situations fueled by alcohol and pot smoking. As teens start to disappear, murdered in a variety of violent ways, the film suggests a number of suspects. Is the killer the troubled star played by Melissa Sue Anderson who lost her overbearing, social-climbing mother in a car accident that she survived? Or is it the stern school mistress, the wacky, cool social clown, the social misfit, or none of the above? The film keeps you guessing until the final scene. Happy Birthday is a must-see for serious fans of the horror genre and this release is a solid digital mastering of the movie. Hardcore fans should note that the DVD release was not able to secure the rights to the original soundtrack so this version features an alternate soundtrack of largely nondescript '80s electronic music. --Brian Saltzman

Customer Reviews:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HORROR MAN........2007-08-16

Today is my Amazon friends birthday,and like alot of my friends
here(you know who you are) I thought I would give a nod as I
will with the rest of you on your b-days(that's right...no
getting by the C.B.,of course you can delete your birth date)
So anyway to my friend HORRORMAN hope you and your family
are enjoying this special day....Now on to the review!

A sullen looking Anderson stars in this fairly lavish-looking slasher
about a gloved killer(No! Argento did not direct this)doing in the
snotty kids at Crawford Academy.Could the maniac be brain-damaged
Melissa or is someone else stabbing,crushing,and shishkabobbing
the cast? Overlong but well acted(a treat in horror films)
good effects and a ghoulish ending sporting no less than four
twist???

Better than I expected.......2007-08-06

The story centers around some private school students at Crawford Academy. They start disapearing one by one by an unknown killer whos on the loose while the main character 'Ginny' is trying to figure out whats going on and where her friends went. In the middle of all this shes having blackouts and flashbacks from her mothers death and some brain operation she had in the past and trying to piece together the mystery of where everyone went and trying to figure out who the killer is.

This movie did have some different inventive murders though the ending was a little disapointing, though there was something about this movie. It was a little different than the regular stuff. I liked this movie but I think it had too many plot twists and was kind of hard to follow at the end. There was so much going on and different details and suprises though the whole atmosphere and who dun it thing kept me interested. I would recommend it to horror film lovers. You might like it.

Sad. Just sad, sad, sad, sad, sad........2007-07-22

If I were King of the world, or at least at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment - let me just say that heads would roll with regards to this product offering. I loved this movie as a kid, sick as it may seem, along with Grease and Little Darlings, I watched this movie over and over. But after seeing the new incarnation of this film - the only thought I was left with was "Why bother?" It is a completely different film because of the soundtrack changes and it isnt scarry and it isnt interesting. And if there is one thing that bothers me even more than changes to the actual film it is changes to the artwork and packaging. The promotional artwork for a film is where I find an emotional attachment to movies; at least I did as a kid. The artwork they replaced this new package with is unexceptional in every way, just like the new version of the film. Uggg.

Columbia destroys a classic horror film!!.......2007-04-06

Just finished the DVD of this 1980 slasher classic, and, as mentioned in previous posts, Columbia's lame-brained decision to alter the ENTIRE soundtrack completely compromises the tension, pace, and feel of this once-wonderful thriller. Only the closing credit song remains the same. From the putrid opening dance-ditty (played even throughout the first murder sequence!) to the mind-numbingly awful soundtrack changes during the dance sequence and ALL the murder scenes, this plays like an entirely different--and bad--movie. And let's not get started on that terribly inept DVD cover art...why not stick with the brilliant original shish-kebab art (here it is found as an insert)? Do yourself and your fellow horror fans a favor and skip buying this DVD: it'll be something audiences could never forgive, and a lesson Columbia should never be allowed to forget.

Creative Slasher that satisfies........2006-12-29

"Happy Birthday To Me" isn't going to win an Oscar or any other Hollywood awards BUT~!! It is a good slasher flick.
Creative for the genre ,a genre that I love.I hear people complain that theres not enough blood or gore in it ,blah blah blah..but I am a die hard slasher fan and it satisfied me.
The kills are creative and the plot has some good twists and a satisfying ending ,you have your jock ,nerd, popular girl, new girl, and all the usual suspects .Glen Ford lends his talent and name to make this movie more credible , and you also have Mellisa Sue Anderson of Little House On The Prairie fame as the heroine .and a young Tracey E Bregman of The Young & The Restless who gives an impressive performance.
Instead of the woods you have a collage campus as the setting.If your into 80's slashers this movie satisfies, it's a must for the collector.

Average customer rating:

No Parachute Volume 1
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Happy Happy Birthday To Me
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000BYCM9C
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Product Description

"No Parachute" is a DVD collection of indie music videos from the best and brightest bands today, almost 90 minutes of great music set to animation, film and video. It is the first volume in a series of DVD's that provide a forum for music videos that you can't see on television by the likes of The Clientele, Entre Rios, Kimya Dawson, Le Mans, The Hidden Cameras, and Of Montreal. It just goes to show that you don't need a million-dollar budget to make a great music video.

DVD:

DVD

DVD