I love fan movies. Normally, they are rough around the edges but you can still appreciate all the love that went into making them. "Valentine Bluffs", on the other hand was so far above the level of a traditional fan movie that I would have been absolutely convinced it was a heavily funded movie from a large studio, had I not known what a tiny crowdfunded budget they were able to achieve it with.
So what is "Valentine Bluffs" all about? You may remember a cult classic slasher movie from the 1980s called "My Bloody Valentine". This fan movie is intended as a direct sequel to the original set about 40 years later. It does a phenomenal job of capturing the feel of the original. Obviously not a spoiler, as he's all over the poster, but the miner is back as the principle slasher villain of the film. The basic premise is that Peter's mother, Sarah, has died and he is trying to track down his estranged father to pass on the bad news. This brings him and his girlfriend to the town where the original movie events happened 40 years ago. Unsurprisingly, as the Valentine's Day party takes place, murder and mayhem ensues.
From start to finish, the acting is top notch. There are one or two lines that fall flat but most character interactions are fluid and believable and do not feel forced in any way. Good use is made of Lloyd Kaufman who is hilarious as the corrupt mayor of the town. However, even the background characters all help to improve the overall ambience of the small town where the events take place. Most of the character motivations are sound (except for one that I will cover later in the review)
The practical effects and make up were also extremely well done with some very creative, believable and extremely entertaining kills. Good use was made of lighting and the sets they had available. Although much of the action was at night or set in a real coalmine, the action was well lit and clear to follow.
What really helped to sell the tension and keep me fully engaged in the movie was the absolutely phenomenal sound mixing. The music was placed perfectly to add to each scene without overwhelming the dialogue or feeling out of place. The ambient sound effects added just the right amount of creepiness and helped to sell the practical effects as bones were crunched, flesh was torn and a very bad day was had by all.
Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was that the various characters and victims all had logical reasons for being where they were at the time. Most horror movies (including high budget ones) suffer from the victims doing stupid stuff that no person in real life would ever do. However, in the case of "Valentine Bluffs", the characters, for the most part, took quite reasonable actions which still led to them being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This really helps to keep the audience immersed and invested in the plot.
There were some great gotcha moments and subversion of the audience expectations which were, for the most part, very entertaining. However, I felt the reveal of the actual killer was a little abrupt and could have benefited from an extra line or two of dialogue explaining that character's motivations, which simple was not done. Also, right around the same time, we learn about the last victim's death yet the movie, up to that point, leads us to believe that this victim survived their ordeal. Again, a few seconds to explain this would have been helpful. Other than this 30 seconds or so of the movie which was inadequately explained, everything else was absolutely stellar and top notch. If I was able, I would take off 1/2 a star for these minor gripes. However, as I cannot, the perfect 10 rating stands and is absolutely deserved.
In summary, it is extremely hard to make a movie that perfectly captures the vibe that it intends. "Valentine Bluffs" is one of the rare few that raises itself to that high bar. Truly a "diamond in the rough" and an absolutely epic testimony to the love of the fans who turned it into a reality. "Valentine Bluffs" will almost certainly develop it's own following and likely become a cult classic in it's own right. Enjoy!
