I'm pleased to report that the My Bloody Valentine 3-D DVD is definitely one for the permanent library. While I did see the movie twice on the big screen, and even loved it enough to appear in the TV spot on behalf of Horror.com , I must admit I wasn't entirely convinced the movie could stand on its own pickaxe as a regular, everyday 2-D horror fright flick. While yes, it is true that the marvelous 3-D effects do greatly enhance the viewing experience, they aren't essential.
The remake captures the spirit of the 1981 original without lampooning or eschewing it, taking the idea of a coal mine killer and setting it in present day and stocking it with an alarmingly good-looking cast who can also act. What a combo. Now, don't get me wrong: with a title like My Bloody Valentine 3-D, you must know we aren't talking any Academy Award nods in its future, but it's a fun ride and extremely well-done given the genre.
Jenson Ackles stars as Tom Hanniger, the son of a mine-owner who returns to the small town where he grew up after a 10-year absence. His father has died, leaving him the family fortune, business and property. But Tom isn't very happy to back, and the townspeople are hardly welcoming him back with open hearts, either — you see, it was his youthful negligence which led to a cave-in and hence Hanniger Mines employee Harry Warden (Rich Walters) breaking down while trapped in the rubble and murdering his fellow workers for their air supplies.
Still in town are Tom's school friends, Sarah and Axel (Jamie King and Kerr Smith), and Irene (Betsy Rue), plus law enforcement old-timers Ben and Burke (Tom Atkins and Kevin Tighe) — none have really ever forgiven Tom for leaving, for their own various reasons, each of which are revealed as the plot unfolds amidst an extremely gory, over the top murder spree.
This new spate of killings is obviously sparked by Tom's reappearance in town, but who's doing it? Is someone really so angry as to want to frame Tom for murder? Could Harry's ghost somehow be the culprit? What if Harry never really died in the first place? Having seen this movie three times now, I knew very well how it would all tie up, but I still enjoyed every moment leading up to the bang-up reveal.
As for the DVD featurettes and capabilities, Lionsgate has gone all out. The two-disc special edition has both the 3-D (four sets of paper glasses are provided) and the 2-D versions plus commentary on one, and a special standalone smorgasbord of extras on the other.
I was really curious to see how the 3-D would look at home, especially since I have a respectable system with HDTV and stereo surround, etc. Unfortunately, after just a few minutes, I had to switch to the 2-D version of the film — in 3-D, many of the colors were extremely muted, while others (like reds, and whites) were flaring or tinged with purple. The good news is, the movie's stellar cinematography, great direction, editing, acting and a solid screenplay don't have to rely on the gimmick of 3-D.
The commentary, between director Patrick Lussier and screenwriter Todd Farmer, is upbeat, informative, candid, and really funny. They talk about Lussier's background working with Wes Craven, as well as inform the audience about where they were coming from with homages to not only the original My Bloody Valentine, but the horror movies they've worked on in the past. It's also interesting to hear about how the movie was shot in an actual mine (no cushy sets or wild walls here), and how the ending got tweaked just a little bit (even more so, when you see the alternate ending, amusingly entitled Tom, Pick & Harry, on disc 2).
The two making-of featurettes are entitled Deep Inside My Bloody Valentine (standard fare, but fun for fans of the cast) and Sex, Blood and Screams (five minutes with F/X gore guru Gary Tunnicliffe). There's an amusing gag reel, and then the pièce de résistance: Tons of deleted and extended scenes, which are actually good! Cinematographer Brian Pearson gets to show off a beautifully executed, color-saturated, nicely composed uncut tracking shot in "Barflies"; we see more of that adorable rat (I know… he was supposed to be gross) in "Spoiled Chocolate"; and actor Edi Gathegi will happy to see many of his moments as Deputy Martin restored.
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