O Assassino Romântico

My Bloody Stupid Police Chief. He’s the driver of the plot because after two brutal murders, he refuses to call in investigators, allowing the Valentine's Day party of the basement rulers to go ahead and even creating the only jump scare by suddenly shining a flashlight in the main heroine’s face from ten centimeters away on a well-lit night street. I forgive him for all this; it was in the script. The killer’s disguise and trauma-driven motives vaguely resemble Rosemary’s Killer, released the same year, but let’s be honest: the edited version wouldn’t even come close to cult status. The final duel with a mining pickaxe and shovel is a bit wooden, much like some of the acting performances, but the breathing through the gas mask’s snout sticks in the memory, just like its metaphorical use in the opening scene. Three canaries. (16/07/2024)

My Bloody Valentine isn't bad. They managed to create a killer with quite good potential, and I'm almost surprised it didn't become a series. On the other hand, it's probably for the best because the main thing the film could have utilized - the setting, Valentine's Day - is adequately utilized in this film. Another installment wouldn't have been particularly exceptional in any way. A good slasher from the early 80s. This was a good period for films like this. (27/05/2014)