O Aniversário de Alison

This movie about a girl STRONGLY/RIGHTFULLY warned to avoid her 19th birthday party started good, got increasingly MST3k-bad and ended exactly how you thought it would and yet.... I LOVED the ending. That saved this entire movie and believe me...it needed it. I was laughing out loud SOOO many times in the second act, I almost turned it off several times. But, I didn't and I even knew how it'd end. It was the ending I'd crave in these creepy movies made in the late 70s. If you like creepy 70s occult films, check this out on Shudder.

We've seen other movies with similar story ideas, but that's no reason why we can't enjoy this one. Between such story ideas and the overall tone, this picture also bears a certain kinship with others of the same timeframe. Whether it's a stylistic choice or a matter of budgetary constraints, it's noteworthy that this particular rendition is especially low-key and reserved. We're treated to only a smattering of accumulating odd goings-on heading into the last third, and as details of the mystery are pieced together, there's not a significant amount more to it than what we're likely to have read in any basic premise. Still, the concept is sufficiently enticing, and there's just enough in the plot to keep us engaged as the tale progresses. 'Alison's birthday' isn't anything special, but it's duly enjoyable.

There's definitely a lack of subtlety or finesse about the feature, notable in most every regard. Ian Coughlan's direction is competent, but a tad heavy-handed; the cast demonstrate their capability, but under Coughlan's guidance their acting in some scenes is discernibly blunt. I quite like the original music of Brian King and Alain Oulman, and for the most part it's excellent pairing with the proceedings, though sometimes themes or cues are employed in ways that conflict with the scene to greet us. These same thoughts apply as well to Coughlan's screenplay: there are strong ideas here in every aspect, but dialogue and plot development are decidedly on the nose at points; pacing is a little stilted; the narrative is maybe a tad light, and it's broadly communicated without a major sense of urgency. Even the sound design and editing come across as distinctly rough around the edges, and all this is to say nothing of the robust suspension of disbelief that the title requires at large.

It's a swell concept, though - ill tidings awaiting a girl on her forthcoming birthday. I recognize the hard work and sincerity everyone put into the feature, even if it doesn't meet with total success. I do quite like the cast, and this is more well made than not. It's safe to say, however, that 'Alison's birthday' quite comes across as VERY indie and very low-budget - a labor of love, a passion project, that was seen to fruition without the best means or capability to do so. This isn't to say that it's not entertaining, but anyone who has difficulties engaging with such fare won't have their mind changed here. Still, while it's no must-see, I had a good time watching, and sometimes that's all a movie needs to be. Don't go out of your way for it, but if you happen across 'Alison's birthday' and can appreciate the style, this is suitably fun on its own merits.

**** POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILERS ****

Australian entry into the 1970's demonic/witchcraft horror cycle. Film starts with a prologue ( similar to 'Halloween' or 'Prom Night'), where 16-year old Alison is warned, whilst doing a Ouija Board, that she must get away before her 19th Birthday.

Film moves forward a couple of years to find Alison invited to her Aunt and Uncle's to celebrate her birthday which is fast approaching. Film has similarities to 'Rosemary's Baby' with vulnerable young girl falling foul of a witchcraft cult, personified by much older, normally trustworthy characters. Her Aunt makes Alison drink her 'herbal chocolate', in the same way as Ruth Roman brought Mia Farrow concoctions in the Polanski classic.

The film has basic production values and the acting is poor, but the storyline is well thought out and quite complex, remaining true to its horror roots. The middle section of the film concerns Alison's boyfriend (an annoying character who drives around in a feeble yellow buggy), trying to uncover what is going on and save Alison. He goes through old newspapers and searches hospital records, slowly piecing things together, as Gregory Peck did in 'The Omen'.

If you're not mad about the genre 'Alison's Birthday' will be barely watchable, but for horror fans there is more than enough here to keep the interest from waning. The storyline is quite strong and manages to carry the film along. The ending seems a foregone conclusion - but in a final effort the film keeps the horror dark and provides a bleak, nightmarish finale.

Great video cover with a naked girl lying on an altar before a horned demon.

A 16 year old girl named Alison receives a deadly warning during a seemingly harmless ouija game. It tells her that at age 19, she will be in serious danger. It appears that Alison's Birthday at age 19 will be a deadly one.

After playing the ouija game that warns 16 year old Alison of the upcoming danger, the film take us three years forward to Alison's 19th birthday. Alison is a well put together young adult with a job and charming boyfriend named Peter. Her Aunt Jenny calls and begs her to come home for her b-day celebration. She decides to go home to visit them.

Once there, she is startled in the middle of the night by an old woman in a wheelchair who her Aunt Jenny claims is her 103 year old great grandmother. Something seems fishy to Alison (and to me as well when I was watching it). Alison also stumbles upon some weird stonehenge looking stones in the backyard which she starts having nightmares about. The whole place starts to freak her out and she can't figure out why. Eventually, the aunt and uncle are exposed as not so innocent people and it's up to Alison's boyfriend Peter to save her from a horrific fate that was predicted three years prior during the ouija game.

What an unexpectedly interesting little Australian horror flick from the 80's! Alison's Birthday is spooky and has an eerie feeling at all times. In the first half, you get the sense that Alison is in serious danger despite the seemingly loving aunt and uncle who welcome her with open arms to their house to celebrate her birthday. Once the film exposes what is really happening around Alison, we learn some family secrets and things get very creepy leading to a bit of a disappointing ending.

If you can catch this on VHS somewhere I would grab it for sure! It's a fun and at times scary evil presence/ritual type horror film that is pretty unknown at this point in time.

6/10

I first saw this in the late 80s and found the cemetery scene pretty tension filled n scary. Surrounded by satanic cultists in broad daylight in a desolated cemetery n most of em in black ties n one fella with a scythe.

Revisited it recently n found it a bit slow.

The movie doesn't have any gore, nudity or kill scene.

At least they shud have shown the Celtic goddess nude.

Felt sad for Peter.