The Birthday

I also got to see the movie at Sitges and I am perplexed. I agree with my Italian counterpart on the "love or hate" stance but I believe that the movie still has to grow on us all. The tempo is awkward but it's compensated by the brilliant sound and camera movements that keep us inside the movie's technique, something I believe Eugenio Mira intended for when he made the movie. I would say once again that it is too soon to judge "The Birthday" when, for now, it is heading to be a cult movie, indeed similar to Donnie Darko (my all time favorite), that has still to be seen and compared to similar movies that are trying to grasp a new style of cinema that young filmmakers are trying to institute in the new millennium. Last but not least, I want to point out that the actors are great specially taking into account the fact that the movie was made on a low budget in Spain. Corey Feldman makes me wonder why he disappeared for a decade from mainstream movies ( "The Birthday" looks like one of them, anyway...) but I believe that with this movie he has a made a great comeback playing a role that suits him well and that probable only he could represent. Check it out dudes! THE cult movie of the year (and it's only just started!)

Corey Feldman overacted throughout the entire movie to the point it's almost infuriating, if it weren't so excruciatingly dull. His use of ridiculous "spirit fingers" and weird body language was the only comedy in this movie, not sure why it's classed a comedy/horror. It seemed as though he was trying to imitate Jim Carey but failing miserably and looking like a stiff weirdo. The plot was all over the place and impossible to follow. The entire movie jumped around, leaving the viewer completely perplexed for no reason. It leads you to believe that all the frustration you've suffered should lead to a big ending, but it ends up lacklustre, confusing, and uneventful. The set was beautiful, but otherwise this movie was by far the worst I've ever seen, and I've watched Blue Valentine.

You may have noticed that the reviews for this movie or either really high or really low. This is weird in almost good weird way. First start off by saying that this is a very cool looking movie, it's shot well, but it's visually intriguing and artistic. You can tell it's low budget, but they make up for it in uniqueness and atmosphere.

This movie would be a lot more enjoyable if English isn't your first language I think, but if English is your language, I recommend watching it overdubbed in another language with English subtitles. I know that sounds crazy but let me explain.

The acting in this movie isn't great, mainly because Corey Feldman takes his character too far. He plays this really shy and nervous nerdy guy, but to the point where he's acting in a way no human would ever act. That alone is enough to make this movie frustrating. Even the scenes where he's talking to his girlfriend, and his friend, it's like he's talking to people he's never met in his life. It really makes you dislike him and everything that's happening, but there are so many little things that you will like and you keep watching.

The other thing I noticed was the way the characters talk to each other and what they're saying just doesn't work. And it's not necessarily the writing that's bad, because the premise is interesting enough, and quirky enough. This is a Spanish movie, filmed in Barcelona, Spanish director, and a lot of the actors and extras are from Spain as well. I think if I had watched this in any other language I would've loved it, but in English it's annoying.

It's not so much what they're saying but how they're saying it, and Corey Feldman's delivery. If you could find this overdubbed in any other language with English subtitles I say go for it. I would love to see someone remake this, literally anyone, but preferably someone remake it in another language.

Welcome to Feldman's next career move, doing horrible Jerry Lewis impressions while pretending to have a sleeper hit movie as a comeback actor. I have no doubt that every 10 star review on this movie was written by the same crew he pays to flatter him daily.

Five minutes into this movie will give you an accurate understanding of the low grade trash you're about to subject yourself to for however long you watch.

Cut rate Corey aside, the script and acting is very trying on the patience. I get the distinct feeling those movie is another in a long line of Feldman ego projects. He's not a musician, he's not a guitarist, he's not a playboy, and he's definitely no longer an actor. He's sad. Corey is a sad desperate boy desperately seeking your approval.

There's not much that's really redeemable here, just cringe worthy performances that were either coerced or were done by sycophants too hopeful that even bad publicity is good publicity.

Watch it to see Corey, but don't expect to be even neutral afterwards about what a waste of time this is.

I don t believe much of the reviews seen here, i think that they are written by the crew of the movie. In Sitges, 2 years ago, all the crew was in the cinema during the movie: they were the only ones to applaud, to clap their hands and to "like" the movie. I've seen thousands of movies, and this one was the one that disappointed me the most and bored me the most on a cinema. It s boring, no implication at all from the viewers and ultra long, so you want it to end but it never happens. You spend all the movie time expecting for some climax but that never happens. As a friend, a lover of cinema, a huge fan of fantastic and horror movies, don t waste no minute in this garbage.