As a horror fan, I’ve always appreciated that some of the most influential slasher films actually came from Canada, not the U.S. Let’s not forget Bob Clark’s *Black Christmas* from 1974 – it’s arguably just as important to the genre as John Carpenter’s *Halloween*. And when the slasher craze really took off in the early ’80s after *Halloween* and *Friday the 13th*, Canada consistently delivered some of the best. We’re talking about movies like *The Burning*, *Curtains*, *Happy Birthday to Me*, *Prom Night*, *Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II*, and *Terror Train*. That last one was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, who later went on to direct a James Bond film, *Tomorrow Never Dies*, which just goes to show the talent coming out of Canadian horror back then.
The most impressive slasher film from Canada in the 1980s isn’t part of any of the famous franchises – it doesn’t involve Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, Michael Myers, or Freddy Krueger. That film is *My Bloody Valentine*, and it really deserved its own series of sequels. *Prom Night* got a franchise, and *My Bloody Valentine* should have too.
It Even Ends With a Promise for More
Prior to 2009, the film *My Bloody Valentine* was only available in a heavily edited version, with three minutes of graphic footage removed. This really hurt the movie’s impact, as it features some truly impressive practical gore effects. Luckily, when the 3D remake brought attention back to the original, Lionsgate released it on DVD and Blu-ray with those missing three minutes restored.
While the special effects are impressive, *My Bloody Valentine* also succeeds because of its surprisingly well-developed romantic subplot, even if it goes on a little too long. It’s also a nice change of pace to see the main characters be adults in their late twenties and early thirties, rather than teenagers, and the acting is generally better than you’d expect from a horror film like this.
The story holds up well on its own, even after over four decades. However, it concludes with the unexpected reveal of the killer, who escapes—though missing an arm—and vows to continue their violent acts.
Given the somewhat suspenseful ending and the fact that critics didn’t completely trash the movie, many expected a sequel to be made quickly, similar to how *Friday the 13th Part II* followed the original *Friday the 13th* just a year later. It’s surprising a sequel wasn’t made sooner, especially since *Prom Night* got one despite its ending not suggesting a continuation.
So why didn’t these films become classics? The main reason is simply that they didn’t make much money. *Friday the 13th* earned almost $60 million with a budget of around $650,000, and *Prom Night* made nearly ten times its $1.5 million cost. However, *My Bloody Valentine* only brought in $5.7 million compared to its $2.3 million budget. It’s taken years for the film to find its fans. At least we got a remake, which wasn’t as good, but was still enjoyable to watch in theaters.
It’s strange the remake never got a follow-up movie. While it shares the original’s ending – with the killer surviving – it was much more financially successful, earning $100.7 million compared to the original’s $14 million.
It’s especially surprising there hasn’t been a follow-up to *My Bloody Valentine 3D* because the writer, Todd Farmer, and director, Patrick Lussier, actually presented a sequel script to Lionsgate. The chance to quickly film it and benefit from continued audience interest in 3D was definitely there.
It’s surprising the movie didn’t get a sequel. While it was a slasher film, critics gave it only mixed reviews, and Lionsgate decided not to pursue a follow-up. This is unusual because, unlike most films, money wasn’t the primary reason, and even moderately positive reviews weren’t enough. Now that the 3D craze sparked by *Avatar* has faded, it seems like a significant missed chance.
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2025-10-20 20:47