My Bloody Valentine

A 45th anniversary screening of one of the most iconic slasher films of the ’80s

Teenagers in a mining town revive the Valentine’s Day dance despite a warning of an impending massacre, only to find themselves hunted by a killer wearing a miner’s mask. A cult slasher packed with brutal gore and claustrophobic tension, screening on the big screen to mark the 45th anniversary of its release.

Twenty years have passed since the massacre in Valentine Bluffs, a small Canadian mining town that has lived in the shadow of an explosion at the local mine for two decades. Back then, a miner named Harry Warden murdered everyone he held responsible for the tragedy. He also warned that he would kill the rest of the town’s residents if they ever held another Valentine’s Day dance. It’s 1980, and the young people of Valentine Bluffs treat his warning as little more than a local legend. They want to have fun, dance, fall in love, and have sex.

“My Bloody Valentine” is one of the most iconic slasher films of the ’80s. Structured like a classic whodunit, it saves the identity of the killer for a spectacular and surprising finale. Wearing a miner’s mask, he hacks, slashes, guts, and stabs his victims with merciless brutality. His body count shrinks faster than the chocolates in a Valentine’s Day box. Even 45 years after its release, “My Bloody Valentine” remains shocking in its brutality and gripping in its claustrophobic atmosphere. Some of the action takes place underground, in bleak, cramped mine tunnels, and the cinematography in these locations still packs a punch. Critics were hardly kind to “My Bloody Valentine” upon its release, but audiences embraced the film for its carefully calibrated tension, gruesome gore, and characters who are easy to root for. The best proof? A remake starring Jensen Ackles in one of the lead roles was released in 2009, and two years ago, Blumhouse Productions announced plans for another version of the film. And in 2026, the studio struck gold with the independent “Obsession.”

The film remains a pleasure to watch decades later, thanks in no small part to strong performances from the late Paul Kelman, who died in 2022, as T.J., returning to town after years away; Lori Hallier as Sarah, tired of waiting for him; and Neil Affleck as Axel, who comforts her during T.J.’s absence. After the release of “My Bloody Valentine,” George Mihalka continued to work extensively and left a lasting mark on Canadian cinema. In 2025, he received a trailblazer award at the Fantasia International Film Festival for his contributions to Canadian cinema.