Opiniones de usuarios

The teenager Virginia Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson) studies in the traditional Crawford Academy and belongs to a group of wealthy friends named The Top Ten. Virginia had a serious car accident a couple of years ago where her mother died. Now she lives with her father and is psychologically treated by the prominent Dr. David Faraday (Glenn Ford). She has also frequent blackouts but she is slowly recovering her memory. When one by one of her friends are murdered and disappears, Virginia starts to believe that she is the killer, but Dr. Faraday does not think so. Who might be the serial-killer?

"Happy Birthday to Me" is a creepy slasher with a good story with many twists. When it seems to have disclosed the killer and the motive, there is one last unexpected twist that surprises the viewer. The conclusion is extremely dark and makes this movie one of the best in the genre. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Feliz Aniversário para Mim" ("Happy Birthday to Me")

Note: On 30 Jun 2020, I saw this film again.

Well first things first, It makes me wonder if the creators of scream and I know what you did last summer watched this movie to get ideas. This movie I think is BETTER then those movies, It has way more suprises in the ending thats for sure. And best of all its filmed in Canada! Good shocks, Good death scenes (the dumbell!), and a great plot make this a winner. Just when you think you know the killer it changes again and again Worth the price to rent (I just saw it on movie PIX for free uncut and commerical free) A solid 7/10 Check out my other horror movie reviews click on my name above!

This is the story of Ginny, the aftermath of a car accident she was involved in and that cause her mother's death. It all started going bad before that, divorced parents, living with an abusive mother, Ginny wasn't popular, didn't have any friends, all in all a childhood to forget. Due to the car accident, she undergone extensive brain surgery, the consequence was frequent blackouts. Once at the Crawford Academy, she finally started getting along with the popular kids but not for long because they all started to mysteriously disappear. Who's to blame, are Ginny's blackouts related to this events??

I consider this to be a very good slasher movie. The cast is as good as it gets in this genre. The killings are original and imaginative. The death of Dr. David Faraday (Glenn Ford) is particularly bloody and Ginny's brain surgery is also pretty graphic and worth watching. The only negative aspect is the exaggerated amount of "twists", it is a good plot but taken a little to far in my opinion. Still a must watch slasher.

A nearly 2 hour excuse to showcase some grisly deaths and silly plot twists, but that's not a bad thing. I did sometimes wonder if the film's content really supported the run time, but the pacing isn't terrible, so you don't spend most of the movie checking your watch. It's nice to see Melissa Sue Anderson in something other than Little House on the Prairie and she's really likable in this as the birthday girl with memory problems whose friends keep disappearing and she might be the one responsible. The finale is one of the silliest and most entertaining conclusions I've ever seen.

Happy Birthday To Me started off looking promising, with a girl getting her throat slit, and the pace moving along nicely. But then things started to get confusing, as the girl has flashbacks, and you're left trying to figure out how this fits into the storyline. At the end of the film it starts making a little more sense, but then suddenly things take an unexpected twist (a twist too far if you ask me) and the film gets too far fetched, resulting in a spoilt film. If they had of left the twist as it was rather than adding the ridiculous second twist, it would have been a much better film. However, there are many good scenes which get points from me such as the flashback of the car falling off the bridge - it's very well done and we get to see the car falling in at different angles. The acting from Virginia's mother is also superb for her brief appearance. There are some unusual death scenes too although I must have seen the cut version because I didn't get to see much of them.

Overall, this film could have been a lot better without the elements that make it confusing, but it's still worth seeking out and is better than a lot of slashers out there.

This has to be the most unintentionally funny film I have ever seen. I cannot believe there is not a goofs list for this film, when it contains the worst bit of Continuity EVER!! Imagine the scene, the young star has a flashback, her and her mother are trapped on an opening bridge. As it opens, the car falls, spins 180 degrees and lands roof first in the water. The Director, Editor, whoever, obviously loved this stunt as we see it 4 times, in slo mo, from 4 different angles, then, as a climax to her flashback we see it one more time, this time, however, the car falls into the water Roof UP!!! Who was editing this thing?? Anyways, its worth a look for its laughs, and has a few decent effects too, including a kebab skewer through the head. Watch it, you may actually like it!!

Bernadette (Lesleh Donaldson) is almost strangled and relieved to see someone she knows. But, it is a short relief as she is slashed with a razor. So opens a classic slasher film.

This is Little House on the Prairie's Melissa Sue Anderson's first starring role in a film, and, ignoring Skatetown U.S.A., her first film outside of TV.

Someone upsets Virginia (Anderson) and he is dispatched quickly. By whom? Is it the creepy guy Alfred (Jack Blum) that hangs around the Top Ten? Soon another gets a weight dropped on his balls with disastrous results.

Well, at least we know who the murderer is with a little pruning, a tasty shish kabob, and a quick dip, as we saw who did two of them - or did we? It is certainly a mystery why there are no bodies.

The shower scene was very unsatisfying.

I may take a lot of grief for saying this, but I firmly believe that Happy Birthday to Me is one of most intelligent and well acted slasher films of the 80's. I think the reason that it never made as much of an impact as films like Friday the 13th and Prom Night, which were released around the same time, is that is was just TOO intelligent for its time. It was released around the time when gore and body count is what made a slasher succeed. HBTM relied on plot twists and character development. This film is comparable to something that would be released and be successful today, where plot twists are what make a "slasher movie." Melissa Sue Anderson gives a excellent performance as Virginia, a member of the elite "Crawford 10" who suffered injuries in a car accident just months before the start of the film. At the approach of her 16th birthday, her fellow classmates begin to get butchered. Yes, a lot of things about this film are very confusing, and the ending can be tricky at best to figure out, but overall it plays out well and provides just enough gore and suspense to satisfy the slasher fans, but also tries to appeal to those who want more than just a bunch of murders on film. Highly recommended. Intelligent, and very well acted by Melissa Sue Anderson. Just remember this film was made in 1981. Way ahead of its time.

With seasoned pro J. Lee Thompson behind the camera, well known TV actress Melissa Sue Anderson in the lead role (hoping to make the transition from the small screen star to movie star), and veteran actor Glenn Ford giving able support, Canadian slasher Happy Birthday To Me is a far more competently made film than many of its contemporaries: the direction, cinematography, editing, lighting and acting are all top notch.

Unfortunately, it is this very slickness, along with the rather convoluted plot, lack of gore, and very silly finalé, that prevented this from being as enjoyable as I had hoped; I guess I just prefer my 80s slashers to be simpler, cheaper, nastier, and just a little more willing to shock!

Anderson plays Virginia Wainwright, newest member of the 'Top Ten', a clique of rich kids at exclusive private school, The Crawford Academy. After a game of chicken almost results in a terrible accident, Virginia begins to have flashbacks to a similar incident which claimed the life of her mother and left her with terrible injuries to her brain. When a gloved killer starts to stalk and kill the 'Top Ten', Virginia begins to wonder if she is the person responsible for the grisly murders...

Thompson, the director of highly regarded classic Cape Fear, puts his obvious skills to use, making the most of the silly script and delivering some well executed scenes of mayhem: the road race at the beginning wouldn't have looked out of place in a modern action movie, whilst the first death is worthy of an Argento giallo. However, the plot is so silly that even a skilled director like Thompson, with over thirty years experience, struggles to hold things together. The film eventually becomes a mess of disappointing gore-less deaths (the MPAA apparently cut some of the bloodier moments before its original release) and silly red herrings, and at times it also feels rather restrained (there is no nudity, despite there being the obligatory shower scene).

Thankfully, there is a sufficiently twisted ending, with the manky murder victims assembled around a table to take part in a macabre birthday party, although the final revelation is so daft that any suspense or terror is quickly dissipated.

After Happy Birthday To Me, Anderson returned to TV, Ford was given flack from critics for his appearance, and Thompson's career went downhill (King Solomon's Mines, anyone?); despite all this, the film isn't THAT awful, and should be of some interest to fans of the genre, if only for the infamous shish-kebab scene that featured on the excellent poster.

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.

The 80's were rife with generic slasher flicks and sadly this is one of them. I however thought it wouldn't be for two reasons.

For a start Happy Birthday to Me was the most successful Canadian film ever! For a couple of months that is until Porky's took that title.

Second because it was specifically advertised for its 6 shocking kills, each more inventive and brutal than the last. Because "Machetes are boring", in fact this was a prominent title that gets mentioned in relation to the video "Nasties" epidemic of the 80's.

Let me be clear the deaths aren't shocking, they're barely inventive. They're semi-cut away, minimal blood and honestly really tame stuff. How this could have offended anyone is beyond me.

The plot tells the convoluted story of a girl dealing her dark past while her friends systematically begin to go missing. Could there possibly be a connection? *Yawn*.

The plot is cliched and very 80's, it's not very interesting, doesn't come together very well and the finale is pants.

There are so very many movies of this ilk from around this time, and most are better.

The Good:

A couple of great scenes

The Bad:

Some really confusing logic

Dissapointing kills

Entirely muddled

stars Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford, Tracey E. Bregman, Jack Blum, Lawrence Dane, and Lesleh Donaldson.

plot: The 'top ten' at Crawford University are disappering one by one, starting with Bernadette (Lesleh Donaldson). Meanwhile, Ginny (Melissa Sue Anderson) begins having flashbacks of an accident and brain surgery during the time she lost her mother. Her psychiatrist and friend David (Glenn Ford) tries to comfort her, but she can't help but think that she is the one doing the killing and then forgetting.

reveiw: This movie is wicked fun to watch! It's very confusing to find out who the killer is. The murders are also very original and very gory. Melissa Sue Anderson is great at playing Ginny. And the revealing of the killer is very surprising!

10/10!

Virginia (Melissa Sue Anderson) finds her friends from private school slowly disappearing. She was unconscious after a bad accident on her previous birthday. She recovered but lost her memories after some dangerous brain surgery. Now her birthday is coming up again.

There is a lot to like in this B-horror movie. The possibility of Virginia doing the killing is quite compelling. The kills are competent without being ridiculous. This is more of a serial killer movie than a slasher splatter horror. And I like the reveal of what happened in the previous birthday. Everything is working toward a very good B-horror. But then the ending pulls a Scooby Doo. It is really unacceptable to stupid it up like that.

Also Melissa Sue Anderson best known for 'Little House on the Prairie' doesn't have enough screen presence. She needs to own this movie, but mostly she remains the shy quiet girl in the background. The camera really needs to follow her more.

I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs n didn't enjoy it then cos it was not on par with FT13 n Halloween n other slashers of the late 70s n early 80s. (The gore n the killings aint on par). After revisiting it recently, i liked it n found it to be an intelligent n different thriller with a solid revenge theme and much ahead of its time. One of the best part is the car racing scene which is brilliantly done n again much ahead of its time. The end credit song n music is haunting. The twist is good n the finale poignant.

This was one of the very rare 80s slasher to show a teen/victim a bit intelligent. The teen/victim plays dead to catch the killer off-guard....

Some terrible flaws: How was the killer able to clear the heavy gym plates from the barbell n that too very quickly? How was the killer able to dispose the bodies so easily? The convenient method of drugging and all and the even more convenient latex and all is a bit too far fetched.

Can someone explain: What happens to Maggie (Lenore Zann) n her boyfriend? Lets assume they went home aft the dance n never arrived for the birthday of Virginia. Then why Amelia was standing in the rain, clutching a wrapped gift adjacent to the grave of Virginia's mother? Mayb she came for the birthday but got a shock seeing the guest room.

I saw this when it came out in 1981 and loved it. It still holds up 20 years later. Melissa Sue Anderson and her friends are stalked by a killer at Crawford Academy. Who and why? In many ways this is a standard by the numbers slasher film, but it has fairly good acting (with 2 exceptions), a very good script with a few neat twists and turns and some very inventive (and bloody) murders. Also there's a VERY graphic brain surgery sequence. As I said the acting was OK except for Anderson (miscast and really bad) and Glenn Ford (he looks very embarassed to be in this). Still, it's an enjoyable horror film with a great birthday party at the end. My only real complaint--why are Anderson's friends all so obnoxious? You want them to die! Be aware--there are two versions of this film. Both are R-rated, but one is slightly gorier than the other--unfortunately, they're showing the tamer one on cable.

Veteran director J. Lee Thompson was unusually fond of stepping into the gutter once in a while, so this gory slasher-flick wasn't just a case of an esteemed filmmaker cashing a paycheck. Thompson gets good work from top-billed Melissa Sue Anderson as a traumatized teen who may or may not be responsible for the elaborate slayings of several of her classmates at an elite academy--but the picture goes on and on for a seat-numbing 110 minutes, and one good performance isn't enough to carry the load. The screenplay by John Saxton, Peter Jobin and Timothy Bond, from Saxton's original story, appears to have been worked over many times by too many writers, and the whole bloody mess collapses under the weight of throat slashings, false scares, brain surgery and a double-twist ending that makes no sense. Glenn Ford's obtuse role as Anderson's doctor is also a puzzler--but no matter, he's trashed right along with most of the cast. Canadian-made thriller has very few thrills, however cinematographer Miklos Lente gives the final scenes an eerie sheen and Thompson stages a suspenseful game of chicken near the beginning. *1/2 from ****

The Canadians prove once again that they were responsible for some of the most interesting slashers of the early 80's. Happy Birthday To Me has a labyrinthian screenplay with so many characters and subplots that you might find yourself thinking it would function better as a TV miniseries. The twists and turns come fast and furious, sprinkled with some gnarly and gruesome death scenes and styled with old school Hollywood class by veteran director, J. Lee Thompson. Be sure to stay for the absolutely insane final act.

A 1981 horror flick starring Little House on the Prairie's Melissa Sue Anderson. Anderson & her college friends start to get knocked off one by one due to someone possibly in Anderson's life who wants them gone which as the narrative goes on, we find out why. Taking a page from the better received Prom Night, one of the films which made Jamie Lee Curtis the scream queen she was, which came out maybe within months of this release (they were cranking these out almost weekly) actually becomes a low point for director J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear/Guns of Navarone) & this is during a point in his career where he became attached to the hip working w/Charles Bronson (making at least 10 films together during this period) which not only has possibly a twin at the root of all the lazy murders or someone wearing a mask or maybe both? Also starring is poor Glenn Ford as Anderson's guardian & veteran character actor Matt Craven as a fellow friend & student.

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 ****

In the year 1981 the horror market was already pretty congested with an overload of dull and uninspired teen-slashers, but this "Happy Birthday To Me" was one of the first movies that at least attempted to bring a little more depth and content. This shouldn't come as a big surprise, since the man in the director's chair was J. Lee Thompson, acclaimed creator of great horror / thrillers such as "Eye of the Devil", "Cape Fear" and a nearly endless amount of Charles Bronson action vehicles. With J. Lee Thompson in charge, the tension is built up more atmospherically and the inexperienced young cast members are definitely kept on a short leash. Still, "Happy Birthday To Me" doesn't deserve too much praise as it remains an ordinary bloodbath in which teenagers you don't care about are killed off in the most absurd ways by the most unlikely culprit. Pivot character is the cherubic Virginia who just joined the elite clique of the school after recovering from a near-fatal car accident that killed her mother. Someone clearly isn't happy with Virginia's return since the teenagers go missing one by one. Or maybe Virginia herself is still a little sick in the brain?? The first hour is pretty good with an eerie title song, witty dialogs and a couple of very nasty killings (oh yes, the kebab-stabbing!). After that, however, the story becomes tedious and you start hoping that all the characters die a quick and painful death. The famous twist ending is indeed unpredictable, but at the same time very far-fetched and dumb. Considering "Happy Birthday To Me" is a low-budgeted early 80's slasher film, a little bit of naked flesh would have been welcome, too.

This was quite different from any other slasher that came out in the 80's. You could tell that they really wanted their death scenes to be set apart from all the other slashers. I mean, who can resist this movie after seeing the cover anyway? I was a little disappointed to see the 'actual' shish kabob scene as opposed to what they have on the movie cover. but hey, thats marketing for you. Although none of the characters were very likeable, the theme of the movie keeps you going. I would have hated the movie if they hadnt thrown in that last twist in the end though.

Proficiently made psychological thriller with a convoluted story. The troubled Ginny (Melissa Sue Anderson) attends college and hangs with a popular clique, the members of which mysteriously begin disappearing. They are actually being murdered in inventive ways by a gloved killer. This assailant remains unidentified, but it is someone who is known to the victims...

The complex story generally sustains viewer interest and builds effective levels of intrigue, though the constant heavy handed red herrings through the film soon lose their effectiveness. Ginny's impending birthday, the posse of students and the murder methods firmly place this film in the Halloween-Friday the 13th cycle. This film diverges slightly by being set over several days, by emphasizing several older characters rather than focusing on only the teens, and by slowly revealing the backstory via unfolding flashbacks late in the proceedings rather than in the more common prologue. It is also less bloody than others in the cycle, and doesn't dwell on scenes of terrified teens being pursued and slashed by the assailant.

Some formal reviews complain that despite his billing Glenn Ford appears only briefly in a throwaway role as Ginny's psychiatrist. Actually he probably has the most screen time aside from Anderson and Tracey Bregman (as Ginny's best friend Ann - somewhat a rich bitch), has quite a bit to do, and appears over several scenes. Ford plays his scenes well lending the film some class. Lawrence Dane as Ginny's father likewise does solid work. Sharon Acker does a hair-raising high-camp turn as Ginny's crazed social climbing mother. Her manic performance in the revelatory flashbacks is great fun and fits in perfectly.

The younger characters are also well played and attempts are made to flesh out their characters in their relatively brief scenes. The aforementioned Tracey Bregman stands out among this crowd. Bregman seems to be adding hints of menace to her character of Ann. No wonder she went on to such a successful career in television soap operas.