The Horror genre is perhaps the only genre that can take heartwarming holidays and turn them on their head. Save Halloween, which is perfect for scary tales, Christmas-themed Horror films – such as 1974’s Black Christmas or 1984’s Silent Night, Deadly Night – push the envelope in an entirely different direction. This can also be said with a list of other holiday Horror flicks; and one that has stood the test of time when it comes Valentine’s Day is 1981’s My Bloody Valentine.
Seldom a theme tackled in the genre, My Bloody Valentine leads a short list of Valentine’s Day themed Horror films which also includes 2001’s glossier Valentine, and the lesser known 1982 film X-Ray (also known as Hospital Massacre, and recommended for ‘80s Horror lovers). Nonetheless, My Bloody Valentine is perhaps the pinnacle of Valentine Horror with a plot strategically centered around February 14th while featuring a creepy, memorable vibe. Directed by George Mihalka (known also for 1980’s Pick-Up Summer and 1985’s Eternal Evil), My Bloody Valentine could almost be looked at as a Slasher film like 1980’s Friday the 13th, mixed up with a bit of 1984’s Footloose. Perhaps a strange comparison to some, if you think about it, it really is not too far-fetched.
Simplified, the plot of My Bloody Valentine takes place in a small mining town, called Valentine Bluffs, which is very prideful about their annual Valentine’s Day dance. Then, tragedy strikes one year on that special night, resulting in the dance being indefinitely canceled for years to come. Fast forward, twenty years later the town opt to reinstate the dance, however, there is a killer on the loose knocking residents off one by one as a warning not to hold the dance. Keeping you guessing until the final scene, after narrowing down the suspects, you shockingly find who the killer is.
This explained, what truly makes My Bloody Valentine stand out is the way the story is drawn out, the characters involved, and the classic Slasher vibe that is undeniable. In fact, many consider it one of the most underappreciated Slasher flicks ever. However, for many years, few knew that Mihalka’s original cut of the film was heavily censored to receive an R-rating MPAA.
Leaving you curious, to run down the list of home media releases of My Bloody Valentine since 1982 would be exhausting, but let us just say it has been available on VHS, Betamax, Laserdisc, DVD a few times, and Blu-ray. Then, in 2009, nearly three decades later, Lionsgate put together a Blu-ray release which in fact featured the cut scenes in an extended edition. Exciting for fans, this would not be the end of restoration efforts, because in 2020 Scream Factory put out a new 2-disc Blu-ray edition. The difference this time was both the theatrical and uncut version of the film were transferred to 4K, but utilizing the original negative for many of the uncut scenes. Something many fans were excited to get their hands on, don’t look now, but Scream Factory returned with a brand-new collector’s edition of My Bloody Valentine in 2023, this time as a 3-disc 4K Ultra HD pressing.
Released on September 23, 2023, for better understanding of what this newest option offers, it features all the content from the previous 2020 Scream Factory Blu-ray, however, this time gives you the uncut version in 4K resolution (both on a 4K disc and Blu-ray disc), and the theatrical version solely on a Blu-ray. So, some may say – what is the incentive to pick up this copy? Well, this edition is reportedly a new restoration, plus it is actually the first time ever that any edition of My Bloody Valentine has ever been put to a 4K disc. That said, there is certainly an upgrade in the quality; and this is all very impressive considering the cut elements from the original camera negatives sat dormant for so many years before even being considered for restoration.
Everything considered, this new Collector’s Edition 3-Disc 4K release of My Bloody Valentine offers you one of the best sounding and visible experiences of the film ever. However, if you are a big fan of this film, do not be so quick to sell or donate your prior copies; particularly the 2009 Blu-ray which has some extras that were not carried over to this press. Do not look at this as a replacement, but merely a supplement with the most pristine quality of the uncut edition of My Bloody Valentine you will ever feast your eyes on. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition of My Bloody Valentine 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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