By Brandon Engel - Though romantic comedies may be a popular choice for Valentine's Day entertainment, options exist for those who prefer their holiday viewing a bit dark and twisted. The fascination of romance with the vampire legend is but one example of unconventional holiday celebration. Valentine's Day movie viewing can be unique as the following movies glaringly illustrate:
Prom Night (1980)
Ten year old Robin Hammond is eager to play a dark version of hide and seek with a group of neighborhood children, in which the seeker is portrayed as a hunter. The group has no desire to welcome her and instead tease her mercilessly, resulting in Robin's deadly fall. The frightened children make a pact to keep the fatal incident's truth between themselves. Six years later and now friends with Robin's siblings, the group realizes that someone else may know their secret as telephone calls threaten each before prom night. This instant cult classic stars scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis and a pre-Airplane Leslie Nielsen.
Valentine (2001)
All that Jeremy wants at the Valentine's dance is to find a nice girl to dance with but his invitations are repeatedly and rudely declined. Finally finding a nice girl to spend his time with, he is interrupted by bullies and betrayed by the girl he trusted. A brutal public humiliation ensues and a traumatized Jeremy leaves the dance never to be seen again. A decade later the women who were once cruel girls receive threatening poetic notes shortly before Valentine's Day. The threats become credible as each woman is hunted and killed by an unknown assailant wearing a cherub mask. A film providing more suspense than gore, Valentine stars David Boreanaz and Denise Richards.
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Valentine Bluffs is a peaceful Canadian mining town until poor management leads to an underground explosion trapping 5 miners for weeks before rescue is achieved. Harry Worden survives by eating his fellow miners but at the price of his sanity. He wreaks vengeance upon the responsible parties a year later, warning the town to never celebrate Valentine's Day again or he will return. A new mayor 20 years later ignores the warning and a killer with a pick ax starts another series of bloody murders. With a secluded setting and a love triangle, this movie remains a favorite of slasher film fans. It’s really the pinnacle of Valentine’s Day horror films and fairly easy to watch thanks to its availability through iTunes and DirecTV and makes for a much better watch than that awful 3-D remake.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Teenager Nancy Thompson leads a regular life until the recurring nightmares of a scarred madman begin to disrupt her normal routine. After her best friend Tina and Tina's boyfriend both die in violent circumstances, a frightened Nancy believes that she and her boyfriend may be the next targets. As Nancy attempts to make the now infamous madman Freddy Krueger vulnerable enough to destroy, the truth of Freddy's origin is made clear even as the line between dreams and reality are blurred. Spawning a twisted nursery rhyme and the popular line "whatever you do, don't fall asleep", this movie also propelled actor Johnny Depp's career forward.
Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
Virginia Wainwright is a member of an exclusive group of students attending Crawford Academy but struggles with memories of her mother's death and her own possible brain surgery. Increasingly frightened as her friends are murdered through incredible methods by an unknown gloved killer, Virginia suffers from sporadic blackouts. Is the killer a stranger or far closer than Virginia suspects? Melissa Sue Anderson from the wholesome Little House on the Prairie series stars as Virginia. Producers of this horror flick also produced My Bloody Valentine, number one on this list of top Valentine's fright fest films.
Prom Night (1980)
Valentine (2001)
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
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