antagonist. Whichever way you look at it, Anderson acts with aplomb! Secondly, there is veteran thespian Glenn Ford who, despite what some overzealous critics said, gives a fine performance as the doctor in addition to adding a sense of dignity to the proceedings. Also of note is the luminary Lenore Zann a multi talented wonder who has sadly never enjoyed the success she deserves . Her enlightened performance is both savvy and sensible and she brings a sense of validity to a character that other actress would have simply let fade away into the background as it seems the misguided script intended. Another unforgettable personality is Sharon Acker. Seen only in flashbacks, she takes the role of the overbearing mother to new heights: a sheer classic in overacting! For those familiar with Sleepaway Camp another piece of great 80's horror Acker's whacked out mother just might rival Desiree Gould's Aunt Martha. While these are the players who really stand out, also of note are Lawrence Dane as the enigmatic father , Frances Hyland the headmistress , and Lesleh Donaldson who makes the most out of her '1st victim' cameo .But enough about acting, on to the gore! And oh, what a gory movie Happy Birthday to Me is. The film skillfully manages to be bloody and raw, without becoming revolting. In fact, the grisliest scene is not a murder at all, but rather a realistic medical procedure! That's not to say there are no shocking murders, however. There are 6 bizarre murders as the poster promises, with the notorious shish kabob scene remaining one that will always live in infamy. The only thing more delightful than these sadistic killings is, of course, the twist ending! A real twist ending! What a twist! The twist is virtually unpredictable as it comes almost entirely out of left field and scarcely even makes sense! Oh, but it's just terrific! And let's not forget about the theme song that one hears shortly after. As an audience member, one barely has time to compose themselves after the twist when they're treated to one of the eeriest songs ever composed during the end credits.In short, Happy Birthday to Me delivers on all levels and now that it is easily accessible on DVD, you'd have to be a fool to let this unparalleled work remain unwatched.

the top 10. Is it Dr. David Faraway? Or is it Virginia's busy dad? Is it Mrs. Patterson, ...or is it Virginia herself? Okay, now, my summary for this is "I laughed, I cried, I peed my pants." Let me explain this. There's more to this movie than it seems.Virginia's memory's were pretty scary and the murders so bizarre- the killer kills you in ordinary places with ordinary people it makes you feel unsafe EVERYWHERE! "Shish Kebab?" "NO!" And how it ENDS! Spoooooookyyy! Happy Birthday To me....Happy Birthday to me...Parts of this movie are freakin hilarious! Escpecially in the last scene with the party hat AHAHAHAHAHA! You'll get it if you watch the movie! Okay, now the big secret reveled in the end about Ginny's mom had me in tears! It was just so depressing and it made me so happy that those who died died : So, overall, don't listen to this movies crappy rating- It's one of the best movies of all time! I'm surprised this wasn't a huge hit!

twists are what make a "slasher movie." Melissa Sue Anderson gives a excellent performance as Virginia, a member of the elite "Crawford 10" who suffered injuries in a car accident just months before the start of the film. At the approach of her 16th birthday, her fellow classmates begin to get butchered. Yes, a lot of things about this film are very confusing, and the ending can be tricky at best to figure out, but overall it plays out well and provides just enough gore and suspense to satisfy the slasher fans, but also tries to appeal to those who want more than just a bunch of murders on film. Highly recommended. Intelligent, and very well acted by Melissa Sue Anderson. Just remember this film was made in 1981. Way ahead of its time.

mind-blowing ending to one warped murder mystery. Also worth mentioning are the truly inventive murders in this movie. The gory killings are oddly clever, even to the point of being darkly humorous, yet really shocking. The cast is pretty solid. Beautiful Melissa Sue Anderson makes for a fetching and sympathetic lead. Her co-stars deliver some believable performances. Director Thompson gives this film a wonderfully dark and atmospheric feel. Kudos also go to the composer for a splendidly moody music score it's a shame the score is completely replaced on the Columbia DVD!!! .No matter what some critics have said about this film, see it for yourself. Not many slasher films live up to this amusing and off-beat bloody entry.*** out of ****

in distinguishing the film from it's contemporaries.Give this one a chance. You'll never look at shishkabobs the same way again.

in all,it's a satisfying slasher/mystery film.Good,gory fun for the whole family.Turn off the lights and enjoy this creepy flick.Highly recommended.

pace, builds a substantial amount of nerve-jangling tension, and stages the grisly murder set pieces with real skill and flair the notorious skewering by shish kabob rates as the definite nasty highlight . Better still, this picture plays out more like a crafty and accomplished American version of a giallo rather than your standard mindless cut 'em up body count opus: The twisty narrative keeps you guessing about the killer's true identity throughout and culminates in a deliciously macabre Grand Guignol climax with a real whammy of a surprise ending. This movie further benefits from bang-up acting from a capable cast, with stand-out contributions from Glenn Ford as friendly psychiatrist Dr. David Faraday, Lawrence Dane as Virginia's warm, caring father Hal, Sharon Acker as Virginia's bitter, boozy mother Estelle, Tracy Bergman as the worldly Ann Thomerson, Frances Hyland as stern school principal Mrs. Patterson, Jack Blum as creepy bespectacled nerd Alfred Morris, and Matt Craven as the cocky Steve Maxwell. Miklos Lente's slick and agile cinematography gives the film an attractive glossy look. The shivery score by Bo Harwood and Lance Rubin hits the spine-tingling spot. Highly recommended to 80's slice'n'dice flick fans.

whodunit in the classic "And Then There Were None" mould injected with a heaping helping of gore and an atypical mostly male victim roster. Is Virginia herself committing the atrocities during her conveniently timed blackouts? As the suspects dwindle it becomes increasingly likely but thanks to one of the most implausible twists in horror history, you haven't a chance of guessing the jaw-dropping finale.Sporting an impressive pedigree that includes director J.Lee Thompson the original Cape Fear and co-staring legendary actor Glenn Ford, HBTM is a classy affair when compared to the backyard titles of the era. But don't let the high production values and professional presentation fool you. Producers John Dunning and Andre Link are also responsible for the classic MPAA baiting slashathon My Bloody Valentine and have a clear understanding of what ticket buyers were paying to see circa 1981. Namely, eye popping, show stopping murders performed with tools raging from the standard hunting knife to the now infamous shish kebab skewer that dominates the theatrical poster.All in all "Happy Birtthday To Me" is definitely a party to remember, you certainly get a slice of excellent eighties style horror even though some people hate the final twist at the end I personally loved it and the party scene at the end was delightfully grotesque definitely not to be missed.