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Alison's Birthday (1981)

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Alison's Birthday

36 opiniones
7/10

Satanists throw the worst birthday parties!

In case you are - like I was - somewhat reluctant to watch "Alison's Birthday", then hopefully this review can help persuade you to give it a fair chance! Admittedly, it looks and sounds rather boring at first sight, but it's a surprisingly good and intense piece of occult horror from the land of Oz. The Aussies were perhaps a little late with their cashing in on the success of "Rosemary's Baby", but at least their contribution is far better and more memorable than the vast majority of cheap & trashy rip-offs that were released throughout the 70s.

"Alison's Birthday" has a really powerful opening sequence and a staggeringly bleak climax. That's already more than other movies have to show for, and everything in between isn't too bad, neither, albeit a bit slow, derivative and predictable. The intro is fabulous! I usually don't like séance sequences or Ouija-board horror, but this particular scene knows quite a grisly and effectively shocking twist.

A few days prior to her 19th birthday, Alison is begged to come home to the aunt and uncle who brought her up since she became an orphan. The girl has doubts, because a nightmarish séance on her 16th birthday (the one from to the intro) forewarned her to stay away from there at all costs. Boyfriend Peter accompanies Alison, but he's unsubtly shut out by the overbearing aunt and uncle. With Alison further and further out of reach, Peter discovers strange and mystic occurrences, involving a demonic cult, Stonehenge rituals, modern Druids and a 103-year-old granny wandering about! "Alison's Birthday" is far from perfect, but it's one of those rare horror movies that manages to be atmospheric and genuinely unsettling without featuring a single drop of blood. And that final shot, oh man, ... magnificent!
  • Coventry
  • 25 abr 2021
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7/10

Alison, Sweet Alison

This movie about a girl STRONGLY/RIGHTFULLY warned to avoid her 19th birthday party started good, got increasingly MST3k-bad and ended exactly how you thought it would and yet.... I LOVED the ending. That saved this entire movie and believe me...it needed it. I was laughing out loud SOOO many times in the second act, I almost turned it off several times. But, I didn't and I even knew how it'd end. It was the ending I'd crave in these creepy movies made in the late 70s. If you like creepy 70s occult films, check this out on Shudder.
  • thesar-2
  • 10 ene 2022
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6/10

Alison's Birthday

A 16 year old girl named Alison receives a deadly warning during a seemingly harmless ouija game. It tells her that at age 19, she will be in serious danger. It appears that Alison's Birthday at age 19 will be a deadly one.

After playing the ouija game that warns 16 year old Alison of the upcoming danger, the film take us three years forward to Alison's 19th birthday. Alison is a well put together young adult with a job and charming boyfriend named Peter. Her Aunt Jenny calls and begs her to come home for her b-day celebration. She decides to go home to visit them.

Once there, she is startled in the middle of the night by an old woman in a wheelchair who her Aunt Jenny claims is her 103 year old great grandmother. Something seems fishy to Alison (and to me as well when I was watching it). Alison also stumbles upon some weird stonehenge looking stones in the backyard which she starts having nightmares about. The whole place starts to freak her out and she can't figure out why. Eventually, the aunt and uncle are exposed as not so innocent people and it's up to Alison's boyfriend Peter to save her from a horrific fate that was predicted three years prior during the ouija game.

What an unexpectedly interesting little Australian horror flick from the 80's! Alison's Birthday is spooky and has an eerie feeling at all times. In the first half, you get the sense that Alison is in serious danger despite the seemingly loving aunt and uncle who welcome her with open arms to their house to celebrate her birthday. Once the film exposes what is really happening around Alison, we learn some family secrets and things get very creepy leading to a bit of a disappointing ending.

If you can catch this on VHS somewhere I would grab it for sure! It's a fun and at times scary evil presence/ritual type horror film that is pretty unknown at this point in time.

6/10
  • HorrorFan1984
  • 28 mar 2020
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6/10

Enjoyable low budget horror

In the old days before CGI when special effects weren't very special there was a strange concept called imagination which incredibly, enhanced movies, which helps a lot with this one. The acting is amateurish as is the script and direction, but the ideas used are great, the kind you would expect to find in an episode of Tales of the Unexpected or The Twilight Zone. I enjoyed it.
  • Sergiodave
  • 15 ene 2022
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7/10

Distinct flaws & limitations, but enjoyable & suitably well made nonetheless

We've seen other movies with similar story ideas, but that's no reason why we can't enjoy this one. Between such story ideas and the overall tone, this picture also bears a certain kinship with others of the same timeframe. Whether it's a stylistic choice or a matter of budgetary constraints, it's noteworthy that this particular rendition is especially low-key and reserved. We're treated to only a smattering of accumulating odd goings-on heading into the last third, and as details of the mystery are pieced together, there's not a significant amount more to it than what we're likely to have read in any basic premise. Still, the concept is sufficiently enticing, and there's just enough in the plot to keep us engaged as the tale progresses. 'Alison's birthday' isn't anything special, but it's duly enjoyable.

There's definitely a lack of subtlety or finesse about the feature, notable in most every regard. Ian Coughlan's direction is competent, but a tad heavy-handed; the cast demonstrate their capability, but under Coughlan's guidance their acting in some scenes is discernibly blunt. I quite like the original music of Brian King and Alain Oulman, and for the most part it's excellent pairing with the proceedings, though sometimes themes or cues are employed in ways that conflict with the scene to greet us. These same thoughts apply as well to Coughlan's screenplay: there are strong ideas here in every aspect, but dialogue and plot development are decidedly on the nose at points; pacing is a little stilted; the narrative is maybe a tad light, and it's broadly communicated without a major sense of urgency. Even the sound design and editing come across as distinctly rough around the edges, and all this is to say nothing of the robust suspension of disbelief that the title requires at large.

It's a swell concept, though - ill tidings awaiting a girl on her forthcoming birthday. I recognize the hard work and sincerity everyone put into the feature, even if it doesn't meet with total success. I do quite like the cast, and this is more well made than not. It's safe to say, however, that 'Alison's birthday' quite comes across as VERY indie and very low-budget - a labor of love, a passion project, that was seen to fruition without the best means or capability to do so. This isn't to say that it's not entertaining, but anyone who has difficulties engaging with such fare won't have their mind changed here. Still, while it's no must-see, I had a good time watching, and sometimes that's all a movie needs to be. Don't go out of your way for it, but if you happen across 'Alison's birthday' and can appreciate the style, this is suitably fun on its own merits.
  • I_Ailurophile
  • 30 oct 2022
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5/10

Quite a thoughtful horror film - not great, but better than expected.

**** POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILERS ****

Australian entry into the 1970's demonic/witchcraft horror cycle. Film starts with a prologue ( similar to 'Halloween' or 'Prom Night'), where 16-year old Alison is warned, whilst doing a Ouija Board, that she must get away before her 19th Birthday.

Film moves forward a couple of years to find Alison invited to her Aunt and Uncle's to celebrate her birthday which is fast approaching. Film has similarities to 'Rosemary's Baby' with vulnerable young girl falling foul of a witchcraft cult, personified by much older, normally trustworthy characters. Her Aunt makes Alison drink her 'herbal chocolate', in the same way as Ruth Roman brought Mia Farrow concoctions in the Polanski classic.

The film has basic production values and the acting is poor, but the storyline is well thought out and quite complex, remaining true to its horror roots. The middle section of the film concerns Alison's boyfriend (an annoying character who drives around in a feeble yellow buggy), trying to uncover what is going on and save Alison. He goes through old newspapers and searches hospital records, slowly piecing things together, as Gregory Peck did in 'The Omen'.

If you're not mad about the genre 'Alison's Birthday' will be barely watchable, but for horror fans there is more than enough here to keep the interest from waning. The storyline is quite strong and manages to carry the film along. The ending seems a foregone conclusion - but in a final effort the film keeps the horror dark and provides a bleak, nightmarish finale.

Great video cover with a naked girl lying on an altar before a horned demon.
  • Wilbur-10
  • 29 ene 2001
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6/10

Solid Aussie film, but not amazing or anything.

  • bombersflyup
  • 16 ene 2022
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The cemetery scene is tension filled n scary.

I first saw this in the late 80s and found the cemetery scene pretty tension filled n scary. Surrounded by satanic cultists in broad daylight in a desolated cemetery n most of em in black ties n one fella with a scythe.

Revisited it recently n found it a bit slow.

The movie doesn't have any gore, nudity or kill scene.

At least they shud have shown the Celtic goddess nude.

Felt sad for Peter.
  • Fella_shibby
  • 29 mar 2022
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5/10

Low-Key Aussie "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Omen" Knockoff

  • Steve_Nyland
  • 15 ene 2007
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6/10

Slow but effective

  • Leofwine_draca
  • 19 dic 2018
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3/10

ouija, possession, hypnosis, stonehenge, a Celtic goddess, and yet boring!

A sixteen-year-old named Alison and two friends play "ask the glass," a variation on Ouija, played here on a glass table, using square tiles featuring numbers and the alphabet arranged in a circle, and two titles for yes and no in the middle, and an upturned glass as a planchette. A warning is spelled out for Alison from her deceased father, who is then pushed out by some other power. The girl he briefly possessed snatches a circular amulet from Alison's neck, then is crushed by a bookcase.

Close to Alison's nineteenth birthday, she goes to visit her aunt and uncle. Her boyfriend tries to continue visiting her, but the family tries to keep him away. Alison discovers a miniature (though still large) stonehenge in a secret garden, has nightmares, and gets hypnotized. The boyfriend tries to do some research about the name Mirne, which the warning mentioned, and also Alison's real family.

The stonehenge is neat, and I liked that a character takes the time to do research. However, the movie on the whole is on the boring side. The picture quality on the video is not terribly good either. The VidAmerica videobox is sort of a warning: the cover features a drawing, and the back has no pictures from the movie.
  • FieCrier
  • 30 ago 2005
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8/10

Occult Horror Thriller

One of the best I've seen from the Occult genre of the 70s. Copyright year is 1979, so its not a 80s flick. Reminds me of movies on the CBS Late Night movie I use to enjoy watching when I was a in my late single digits to my early teens. When, as we kids called it, the midnight hour approached, the witching hour, we all knew 'scary' movies may be coming on, but we usually fell asleep at the TV set. I don't recall ever watching this one, but its in the likes of Gargoyles, Beyond the Door, Devil Dog, Devil's Rain, Shadow of the Hawk, and of course Rosemary's Baby; all of which is supernatural horror. If your a spoiled 21st century computer effects lover, then you will be disappointed since you are use to "visual" rather than "psychological" fun.
  • robfergusonjr
  • 14 jun 2012
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6/10

Folk Oz horror

  • BandSAboutMovies
  • 13 oct 2021
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4/10

Semi-Decent Independent Supernatural Horror

The film has a decent script and cast, nothing too outstanding but certainly can stand on it's own.

Don't be fooled by the tag-line "Satan's only gift is death" as this has nothing to do with Satan, and there are no naked women in this movie.

Actually come to think of it I am now wondering why this movie got a 18 certificate in the UK as there is as far as I can remember from just watching it; No Gore, No Nudity, No Sex(except it is slightly implied that they 'did it' when then are lying in bed together in one scene), No Bad Language and minimal violence.

It's actually a pretty safe film except for the supernatural plot which the more religious 'may' have a problem with. But nothing that Buffy hasn't done, in fact I'd say if this was resubmitted now it would have no problem getting away with a PG certificate.

But this doesn't mean it's a bad movie, as I've said it has a decent script and cast and everything is done quite competently even if it doesn't come near raising the bar it's a perfectly acceptable watch for it's 95 minute running time keeping up a good air of menace.

4/10
  • Sic Coyote
  • 13 feb 2006
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Not a bad little horror flick from the land of Oz

This movie was part of a Down Under horror mini-boom that took place for some reason in late 1970's and early 1980's and included some pretty decent if low-watt films like "The Survivor", "Thirst", and "Razorback". It was kind of a little late therefore in getting into the whole satanic cult craze that started with "Rosemary's Baby" in the late 1960's. The cult in this movie though is not technically a satanic cult, but a Druid cult relocated from the British Isles, and they aren't trying to pass the devil's seed into an oblivious virgin, but some kind of ancient centuries-old spirit.

The movie starts with a Ouija board session, involving "Alison" the teenage protagonist, that goes horribly awry. One of Alison's friends starts speaking in her dead father's voice. She/he warns "Alison" not to "go with them" on her nineteenth birthday. Then a bookcase falls on the possessed friend, killing her. You would think she would heed this very compelling warning several years later on her nineteenth birthday when her creepy "uncle and aunt" invite her out to their country estate for a party, but then we wouldn't have much of a movie, would we? Once there "Alison", who is not the sharpest tool in the garage, is remarkably unperturbed to see that her relatives have a miniature of Stonehenge on their property. And what's up with her dessicated 104-year-old great grandmother?

Her slightly smarter friends eventually find the truth and ride to her rescue, and they turn out to be every bit as effective as Scatman Crothers in "The Shining". The ending is great and ALMOST redeems the occasional absurdities and periodic lulls of the earlier parts of the movie. Still, all in all, this isn't a bad little horror flick from the land of Oz.
  • lazarillo
  • 9 mar 2008
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6/10

Derivative but not bad

Not a long review. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, was genuinely shocked at the ending.

Would have liked it more if it wasnt so derivative of Rosemary's Baby, but again, wasn't bad!
  • ethanharmon-11980
  • 15 ene 2022
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6/10

Only for fans to whom gore, nudity&extreme violence are NOT NECESSITIES for a film to be enjoyed.

Again if the gore, nudity&violence are MUST HAVES for a horror film to be deemed enjoyable, then please do skip "Allison's Birthday".. While I was but a mere babe at the time of this film, I do however have a keen love for this entire era, even the international horror films..

I agree with the reviewer who likened this movie to a "made-for-tv" type movie and with that said and in going into it with that understanding its definitely an altogether enjoyable 95 minutes of entertainment.

If you are of the newer generation who overall have a need for the more modern horror movies of today, then "Allison's Birthday" is quite likely a film you will NOT enjoy.. For everyone else I say give it a try and you may just find it as enjoyable as I did.
  • jswindter01
  • 7 ago 2013
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3/10

An ultra-cheap demonic thriller from Australia sounds very bizarre!

And cheap is right! Just what I expected! Another movie that tries its darndest to be normal and serious, but it all ends up in the gutter when taken too cheaply. Here in ALISON'S BIRTHDAY, the word "cheap" is proven true. If you're still craving over more bad movies but haven't had the chance to see this title, then I'd say you've come to the right place! I only wished it wasn't THIS bad, as it is pretty much obscure for an Aussie import. It would even be so bizarre to find this kind of movie being made from the land down under! The story sounds campy, unfortunately, but I'll admit that ANY one soul can crack open a Bud and enjoy the bumpy ride. It starts off with three girls playing an Ouija-style game until Alison learns that a new fate awaits her when she turns nineteen. The rest of the story is up to you. Since this has to do with Satanic rituals and witchcraft, you may be wondering why no blood is present throughout the whole thing. In other words, this is extremely tame for a movie like this when you can compare to those notoriously gory British imports. Everything goes screwy with the plot, and what gives? You're expecting a "family" movie a lot more than any cult classic that would sustain a loyal fan base. The ending? Save it for the movie when you get a chance to see it! Although it's no worse than the worst I've seen out of bad moviedom, still try putting this title on your crowded shelf of huge clamshell boxes. How paranoid can you get?
  • emm
  • 5 abr 1999
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6/10

A Birthday to die for!

A Few years ago, Alison was involved in a séance during which one of her friends were killed. With her upcoming 19th birthday, her Aunt Jane claims her Uncle Dean is not well, and convinces her to come home for her birthday. Jane and Dean raised Alison from a young age after her parents were killed in a car accident.

Alison's boyfriend Peter accompanies her to her hometown. From the moment they arrived, I got the feeling there was something mysterious and even sinister behind Aunt Jane's friendly façade. Uncle Dean also did not look sick at all.

Peter was the first to become suspicious, and decided to investigate. I enjoyed this mystery element to the movie. I'm not going to ruin the movie if you haven't seen it, so all I'm going to say is that Alison was lured back home for another purpose.

Having rooted for Alison and Peter, the film does not have the ending I was hoping for. Even so, 'Alison's Birthday' was still an enjoyable watch.
  • paulclaassen
  • 5 jul 2024
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2/10

Absolutely awful Australian supernatural horror that's as exciting as watching paint dry.

  • poolandrews
  • 13 abr 2005
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7/10

Nice Occult Horror

I actually really enjoyed this film, and I think the story makes up for how much this film has aged, and the lower budget. It has some really nice touches, and is a very solid effort, and I thought it was a well thought out film with no obvious holes.

I really liked the pacing of the film, and how plot twists came throughout. It was a lot of fun to watch, and had nice ways of introducing the occult plotline and telling the audience what was going on. It wasn't cheesy either.

I was overall very surprised by how good this film was. Some parts have obviously aged, but it's still very enjoyable. The ending was pretty creepy too.
  • icocleric
  • 18 abr 2023
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1/10

A Birthday party to miss!

  • loomis78-815-989034
  • 19 abr 2013
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8/10

In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, lived a strange race of people: the Druids.

I spent the first twenty or so minutes of Alison's Birthday trying to figure out where I had seen the lead actress before; I eventually gave up and consulted IMDb, and it's only Joanne Samuel - Mrs. Rockatansky from Mad Max! That sorted, I settled down happily for what turned out to be a very enjoyable occult horror movie in a similar vein to Rosemary's Baby.

At age 16, Alison Findlay (Samuel) and two school friends decide to hold a seance, contacting Alison's dead father, who warns his daughter to not attend her 19th birthday party. Despite her friend Chrissie (Margie McCrae) dying during the seance (crushed by a falling bookshelf), Alison seems to forget about the warning, and, a few days before turning 19, travels to the home of her Aunt Jennifer (Bunney Brooke) and Uncle Dean (John Bluthal) to celebrate her impending birthday. Joining Alison for the trip is her boyfriend Peter (Lou Brown), who, as the party draws nearer, comes to believe that Alison is in danger from her Aunt and Uncle, who might not be who they claim to be.

Yes, we've seen this sort of thing done before, and yes, the story develops as we expect it to, but with likeable leads, a strong supporting cast, and capable direction from Ian Coughlan, plus a neat, downbeat twist ending, what you have is a consistently entertaining 97 minutes of supernatural thrills. Furthermore, zero nudity and gore means that the film is ideal to introduce your kids to the horror genre.

7.5/10, rounded up to 8 for IMDb.
  • BA_Harrison
  • 26 abr 2020
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6/10

Passingly entertaining but won't hold up to repeated viewings

I couldn't help but think of the classic 70s cycle of American made for television supernatural thrillers as I watched this somewhat similar 1981 made for Australian TV flick. In some respects it has a similar vibe, but, as it combines elements of Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, and pagan worship thrillers, it never manages to achieve an effective level of creepiness or suspense, and certainly never achieves any shock value or outright horror. It is somewhat redeemed by two appealing leaves and an unsurprising but more effective final moment. It's worth a watch for fans have made for television horror but is not something I would watch a second time.
  • ebeckstr-1
  • 14 abr 2023
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5/10

Everythings good besides the script

I thought the acting was great specially for the decade in which sometimes the delivery was intentionally bad, in this case the lead male character did great, honestly all the actors did great, the photography worked, editing worked, practial fx specially the opening were good.

My issue was the fact that the lead female dissapears halfway, there is no suspense since she just doesnt do anything ever, the male takes over the protagonist role, she never takes her dead fathers warning seriously it almost felt like a plot hole, the whole movie feels avoidable af, the whole situation shoeforced. I feel that the writer knew how to end the story but now how to get there, so as iconic as it coulda been it lacked the suspense that other films had. (Cough cough Rosemarys Baby)
  • megaruda
  • 19 ene 2024
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