I've enjoyed this low-budget flick since childhood. I like it so much that I make sure to see it at least once every year in the month of February. Though it suffers from a restricted budget, a cast of unknowns, and a serious case of over-editing, this is still worth a look for horror buffs.
The story centers around a crazed miner who returns to haunt a small mining town in Canada twenty years after an accident on Valentine's Day nearly killed him. It seems he and a few others were trapped in a coal mine while the rest of the town was attending a big Valentine's Day dance which had been a tradition for over 100 years. The town is called Valentine Bluffs, for Pete's sake! Anyway, this miner known as "Harry Warden" was buried in the mine for six weeks following an explosion caused by the failure of two supervisors to check the methane gas levels in the mine shaft. It seems the supervisors were a little too anxious to get to that dance and forgot to make sure Harry and the others were safely out. Harry Warden was the only survivor and apparently had to feast on the dead bodies of the other miners until he was rescued.
Needless to say after that ordeal, Harry had to be committed to a mental hospital. But one year later, on Valentine's Day, Harry Warden broke out of the looney bin and came back to Valentine Bluffs to seek some revenge. He killed the two supervisors and stuffed their hearts in heart-shaped candy boxes and left them at the dance with a warning attached. Valentine Bluffs must never hold another Valentine's Day dance again!!!! Now how about THAT for a set-up???? As our movie begins, we find twenty years have passed, and the town is ready to hold another big dance on Feb. 14th. Do you think Harry Warden would let that happen? Certainly not! Corpses begin piling up and more heart-stuffed candy boxes are sent to the police chief warning him to cancel the dance. He does so, but a bunch of young miners still throw a party: You guessed it- AT THE MINE!!!! That sets up a dramatic showdown with the killer and his new crop of victims.
This film has a number of strengths. A man dressed in full mining gear is in fact quite scary. The gas mask he wears also gives his breathing a Darth Vader kind of effect. A pick ax is one hell of a weapon, too. There are some very funny characters that make up this town. The mayor and the police chief are so serious it's almost laughable. The young men who work in the mine are a rowdy bunch who love to drink Moosehead beer. It's my guess that Moosehead beer donated a good chunk of change to this movie due to how much you see of their product. The bartender at their local hangout is a real hoot, as well. He's pretty much the crazy old man who warns the youngsters that they're doomed like the old guy from the Friday the 13th movies.
Oh, and Lori Hallier who plays the lead female is an incredibly beautiful woman. Just had to mention that.
There is some good camera work. I especially like the shot from inside a mine elevator as it plunges deep into the mine. The camera stays focused on the top of the shaft, and spooky music plays as the cage sinks deeper and deeper into the mine. Love that little folk song during the end credits, too! There are some faults, though. This film appears to have had much of the gore trimmed from it. That can be a big mistake for a horror film. Also, it isn't hard to figure out that Harry Warden is not the killer and that one of the two male leads definitely is.
A perfect romantic evening would include a six-pack of Moosehead, this film, and a heart-stuffed candy box. I promise your girlfriend will never forget it.
8 of 10 stars So sayeth the Hound.
The story centers around a crazed miner who returns to haunt a small mining town in Canada twenty years after an accident on Valentine's Day nearly killed him. It seems he and a few others were trapped in a coal mine while the rest of the town was attending a big Valentine's Day dance which had been a tradition for over 100 years. The town is called Valentine Bluffs, for Pete's sake! Anyway, this miner known as "Harry Warden" was buried in the mine for six weeks following an explosion caused by the failure of two supervisors to check the methane gas levels in the mine shaft. It seems the supervisors were a little too anxious to get to that dance and forgot to make sure Harry and the others were safely out. Harry Warden was the only survivor and apparently had to feast on the dead bodies of the other miners until he was rescued.
Needless to say after that ordeal, Harry had to be committed to a mental hospital. But one year later, on Valentine's Day, Harry Warden broke out of the looney bin and came back to Valentine Bluffs to seek some revenge. He killed the two supervisors and stuffed their hearts in heart-shaped candy boxes and left them at the dance with a warning attached. Valentine Bluffs must never hold another Valentine's Day dance again!!!! Now how about THAT for a set-up???? As our movie begins, we find twenty years have passed, and the town is ready to hold another big dance on Feb. 14th. Do you think Harry Warden would let that happen? Certainly not! Corpses begin piling up and more heart-stuffed candy boxes are sent to the police chief warning him to cancel the dance. He does so, but a bunch of young miners still throw a party: You guessed it- AT THE MINE!!!! That sets up a dramatic showdown with the killer and his new crop of victims.
This film has a number of strengths. A man dressed in full mining gear is in fact quite scary. The gas mask he wears also gives his breathing a Darth Vader kind of effect. A pick ax is one hell of a weapon, too. There are some very funny characters that make up this town. The mayor and the police chief are so serious it's almost laughable. The young men who work in the mine are a rowdy bunch who love to drink Moosehead beer. It's my guess that Moosehead beer donated a good chunk of change to this movie due to how much you see of their product. The bartender at their local hangout is a real hoot, as well. He's pretty much the crazy old man who warns the youngsters that they're doomed like the old guy from the Friday the 13th movies.
Oh, and Lori Hallier who plays the lead female is an incredibly beautiful woman. Just had to mention that.
There is some good camera work. I especially like the shot from inside a mine elevator as it plunges deep into the mine. The camera stays focused on the top of the shaft, and spooky music plays as the cage sinks deeper and deeper into the mine. Love that little folk song during the end credits, too! There are some faults, though. This film appears to have had much of the gore trimmed from it. That can be a big mistake for a horror film. Also, it isn't hard to figure out that Harry Warden is not the killer and that one of the two male leads definitely is.
A perfect romantic evening would include a six-pack of Moosehead, this film, and a heart-stuffed candy box. I promise your girlfriend will never forget it.
8 of 10 stars So sayeth the Hound.