The Australian release of My Bloody Valentine certainly has a lot going for it: the Valentine’s Day weekend, preceded by a spooky Friday the 13th – and Jensen Ackles. It’s also the first American R-rated film (in Aussie terms, like a MA17+) to be released with Real-D technology, part of the 3D revolution that will hopefully one day become common viewing. The film itself is all the richer for it, giving the audience thrills and spills (pardon the pun) as we view a horror film that doesn’t give too much away.

While the film can also be seen in regular 2D, the 3D craze is slowly building stamina to excite moviegoers worldwide. We all know it’s been here before, but the days of the cardboard glasses with blue and red lenses are gone. Putting the reasonable plastic glasses on is part of the excitement, but be wary of early distractions. The opening sequence is an eye opener to 3D’s awesome possibilities but within it the back-story gets lost. Yes, within a horror film story isn’t overly important, but it’s still relevant. A remake of the 1981 original, My Bloody Valentine sees Tom Hanniger (Jensen Ackles) blamed for a mine collapse and almost killed by survivor Harry Warden. Having fled, Tom returns to his hometown ten years later to find that the killer has also returned on unfinished business.

There are all the conventionalities of a horror in here that we are given clues to with dramatic music, close-ups of the terrified leads, etc., but it doesn’t faze you as the story rolls through one death after another with decent suspense. The sex scene initially seems unnecessary but is ultimately in context (along with laughs because of the aftermath’s absurdity, and besides, what horror film doesn’t have one?), while a subplot concerning Tom, Sherriff Axel Palmer (Kerr Smith) and wife Sarah (Jaime King) keeps you mildly interested in the characters. Slasher horrors don’t expand on characters much so this is a bonus, but a little more history on Tom as the lead character wouldn’t have gone astray.

It’s a good team performance, most of the scenes shared between Ackles, Smith and King. They give added credibility to a decent film, Ackles particularly benefiting from the big screen. Supernatural fans will happily note a similarity to his character Dean and find that he doesn’t overdo the scared looks; he appears comfortable in his role. The direction by Patrick Lussier, who worked on the Scream trilogy and Red Eye, is smartly kept simple so the 3D can heighten the experience (although again, horrors aren’t privy to unconventionality). The only disadvantage Lussier has within making a version for 3D would be the slight blurriness within tracking shots as the characters move, which may be something to improve over time. The 3D effects are used sporadically and increase the thrill factor (a pickaxe so close you can touch it!), while the regular special effects are quite stunning also and are a vast improvement from the 80’s slasher days of Halloween, Friday the 13th et al.

Verdict:

Having viewed it in 3D, it must be suggested the experience would be richer than 2D – it’s more visually pleasing and just a lot more fun. My Bloody Valentine is a film that uses conventions lightly. We’re given a modern slasher horror that doesn’t overplay the screams and gives us a lead so different from the usual female scantily-clad virgin you’ll be grateful for that alone.

*Adelaide viewers can see My Bloody Valentine 3D exclusively at Greater Union Megaplex Marion. Those in other states check your local guides*

 

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