My Bloody Valentine

Twenty years ago, in a small Nova Scotian mining town, a cave-in trapped several miners. The men on watch were AWOL at a Valentine’s Day party, forcing the lone survivor to resort to cannibalism. After his rescue, the survivor donned his mining gear and murdered the negligent men. Since then, the town hasn’t celebrated Valentine’s Day.

Now a fresh group of young miners and their girlfriends want to have a Valentine’s Day party. Unbeknownst to them, someone wearing a miner’s outfit has begun offing locals. The mayor and sheriff keep the killings under wraps and cancel the party. But the frustrated miners move the party to the mine. Soon, the youngsters find themselves trapped underground with the killer.

Like Friday the 13th, the story revolves around a tragedy of neglect born of indulgence. In a subtle nod, the film sets Valentine’s Day on a Saturday, making the preceding Friday the 13th of February. Like Halloween, it features a holiday theme. But My Bloody Valentine eschews wooded cabins or suburban homes and substitutes a dank, dark, coal mine. It’s an inspired choice that works thanks to shooting in a real mine. Another inspired choice is the script’s allowance for multiple survivors. By avoiding the “final girl” trope, the film avoids the contrived plotting that goes into whittling a group, despite the natural human impulse to stick together.

Indeed, as an 80s slasher, it shines. My only sticking point was the Nova Scotian accents. To me, they sound too cheerful and polite, giving the film an unintentional satirical tone.