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Happy Birthday to Me (1980)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 6

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Release Date: Jan 1, 1981 Wide

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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 4,035

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Movie Info

Certainly the low point in Glenn Ford's acting career, this Canadian production is, nevertheless, one of the slickest-looking slasher films from that subgenre's early-'80s heyday. The plot (what one can make of it) involves an unseen killer stalking a group of college students at the prestigious Crawford Academy. The well-staged murders are mysteriously linked to the slightly off-kilter Virginia (Melissa Sue Anderson, formerly of Little House on the Prairie), whose disturbing past holds the key

R, 1 hr. 51 min.

Art House & International, Horror

Directed By: J. Lee Thompson

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1981 Wide

On DVD: Oct 26, 2004

Columbia Pictures

Cast

Melissa Sue Anderson
Virginia
Glenn Ford
Dr. Faraday
Tracey E. Bregman
Ann
Jack Blum
Alfred
Matt Craven
Steve
Lenore Zann
Maggie
David Eisner
Rudi
Lisa Langlois
Amelia
Lawrence Z. Dane
Hal
Frances Hyland
Mrs. Patterson
Sharon Acker
Estelle
Michel Rene LaBelle
Etienne
Richard Rebiere
Greg
Lesley Donaldson
Bernadette
Earl Pennington
Lt. Tracy
Damir Andrei
Junior Surgeon
Louis Del Grande
Surgeon
Victor Knight
Ron Lea
Amelia's Date
Walter Massey
Conventioneer
Karen Stephen
Miss Calhoun
Vlasta Vrana
Bartender
Murray Westgate
Gatekeeper
Jerome Tiberghien
Prof. Heregard
Griffith Brewer
Verger
Terry Haig
Feinblum's Assistant
Joe Wertheimer
Alan Katz
Ann's Date
Gina Dick
Waitress
Len Watt

Critic Reviews for Happy Birthday to Me

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (6) | DVD (8)

It's not particularly gory, scary or suspenseful, but it actually contains some good twists and a generally higher level of character and performance.

October 16, 2009 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

If horror fans are going to shell out their hard-earned money for a movie, there needs to be more than just a prettier picture on the DVD case.

October 7, 2009 Full Review Source: Dread Central

| Comment

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton

Dread Central

pretty sweet forgotten 80s slasher

December 3, 2007 Comment

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

sbs.is

J. Lee Thompson's entry in the slasher sweepstakes, done up with the usual lack of style.

April 9, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

A camp-tastic footnote to the late-'70s, early-'80s slasher flick craze.

July 10, 2006 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness

| Comment

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Creative kills aside, it's just plain old boring.

April 17, 2005 Comment

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Happy Birthday to Me

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Happy Birthday to Me is a slow as molasses 80's teen slasher that's mediocre at best. It's dull, has a boring plot, takes itself far too seriously, and worst of all, is waaaaaay too long. The kills are few, far between, and even off-camera (defeating the entire purpose of a freakin' slasher movie in the first place),

November 2, 2011

Lewis C.

Super Reviewer

Good little 80s slasher with a decent array of inventive kills, quite violent too for its day. The ending is a memorable one which will catch you off guard with its twist. At the end of it all it's a good and entertaining viewing but not quite sleazy or brutal enough for my tastes.

January 30, 2011