Bloody Birthday (1981)

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Three kids born during a solar eclipse have no consciences and turn into psychotic killers as their 10th birthday approaches. Cheesy '80s horror flick that appears to have had a budget of ten dollars with change left over for coffee. The cheapness of it adds to the appeal if you're a fan of low-budget horror from this period. The movie stars Lori Lethin, a cute actress who is forever imprinted on my memory as the epileptic street performer from a very special episode of Diff'rent Strokes. Also features Susan Strasberg and Jose Ferrer slumming. The three kid actors playing the killers are Billy Jacoby, Andy Freeman, and Elizabeth Hoy. Jacoby was a recognizable face in the '80s but I don't know the other two from anything else. Hoy's the creepiest of the three kids. I realize little kids murdering people might make some folks uncomfortable but, trust me, this is a pretty ridiculous movie. How anyone can take it seriously is beyond me. I loved when the scene where they try to run Lori Lethin down in a junkyard. One of the little buggers is driving with a sheet over his head and another is operating the pedals. Terrifying stuff! The best thing about this movie is the scene where buxom Julie Brown dances around her room naked. It's a tacky and sometimes trashy slasher movie that's worth watching if you're bored and in need of a laugh.

This movie sure does cross some boundaries for it's time. The concept of a group of murdering kids would be very chilling in the early 80's. Children are always thought of pure and innocent and to see them in adult situations tips the scales. It gives you an unknown "x" factor in life and makes you think. This movie is a true gem. It is a moving force in the evolution of 80's horror. This film is in typical quality of that time and with equally typical bad acting. Although avid watchers of 80's horror are not watching this genre for the acting and quality. We are watching for the abstract ideas,kill scenes and the aura the movie propels. This movie is definitely in the top category of the 80's horror dynasty. I recommend this film. It's a feel good movie of kids vs. adults through grainy sequencing and low back light. Enjoy.

This film features MTV VJ Julie Brown, but not the one called Downtown Julie Brown, as far as I can determine. Yes, there were two VJs named Julie Brown. She puts on a dance performance that alone makes the movie worth watching. She could have been in Playboy like the other Julie Brown.The film also includes José Ferrer, who had three Oscar nominations and a win prior to this; and Joe Penny from Jake and the Fatman.The three child stars really do put on a good show as they commit their sometimes bloody murders. The little girl (Elizabeth Hoy) was the creepiest of them all.

The amusingly sleazy and tasteless "Bloody Birthday" is solid entertainment for fans of the "killer kiddie" genre. It deals with a trio of psychotic children all born during a solar eclipse, who begin a murder spree short of their tenth birthdays. It's up to a neighbourhood girl named Joyce (Lori Lethin, "Return to Horror High") and her kid brother Timmy (K.C. Martel, "The Amityville Horror" '79) to do something about this.Now, there isn't going to be a lot of grisliness for the gore hounds to enjoy, although there's one amusing arrow-through-the-eyeball gag. The body count isn't particularly high, and the kills aren't exactly on the creative side. The movie does make up for this by having tykes as the killers, and there's an irresistibly trashy feel to the whole damn enterprise: for one thing, one of the kids takes payment from the others for the chance to ogle her older sister, through a peep hole, as she does some dancing in the nude. (Future MTV personality Julie Brown fulfills this requirement satisfactorily.)Provided one is into warped premises such as this, they should get a kick out of seeing children delight in dispatching teens and adults. Elizabeth Hoy and Billy Jayne are good as Debbie and Curtis; her blonde moppet has "bad seed" written all over her and he makes his character such an annoying little creep. Andy Freeman as Steven doesn't come off as well but then not very much is done with his character. Lethin is an appealing heroine, and does a good job of selling the far-fetched idea that because these kids were born during a solar eclipse, it means they now exist without consciences. Jose Ferrer is wasted in an almost nothing part as the doctor who delivered the kids in the first place, but Susan Strasberg is a hoot as a frosty teacher. Other familiar faces in the cast include Joe Penny of 'Riptide' and 'Jake and the Fatman' (although he's barely in the movie) as Joyces' college adviser, the American Ninja himself, Michael Dudikoff, as Browns' boyfriend, Cyril O'Reilly ("Porky's") as Joyces' guy, and Ellen Geer ("Harold and Maude") as Madge."Bloody Birthday" is a fine diversion for horror aficionados, from director Ed Hunt who also gave the world "Starship Invasions" and "The Brain". It runs a very reasonable 85 minutes, coming up with good scenes like one that utilizes the old idea of being stuck inside an abandoned refrigerator, and another where Curtis and Steven try to run Joyce down with a car. It's great stuff right up until its fairly frustrating ending.Eight out of 10.