Main Cast: Susan Strasberg, José Ferrer, Lori Lethin, Melinda Cordell, Julie Brown
Release Year: 1981
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
Sort of a triple-threat Bad Seed with a more overtly violent streak, this film tells the tale of trio of cherubic youngsters whose births all coincided with a solar eclipse, which somehow initiated a kind of time-release evil reaction that reaches its climax on the kids' tenth birthday, causing them to transform into miniature homicidal psychopaths. These darling little tykes then proceed to beat dad's brains out with a baseball bat, gun down their teacher, and otherwise beat, stab and strangle anyone who even looks cross-eyed at them. They also seem to be strangely fond of leering at naked teenage girls... or maybe that's just the director's favorite pastime. Produced in 1980, this proto-slasher opus was shelved for six years, then released to video to capitalize on the already-waning trend of Friday the 13th sequels and their hellish offspring. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Review
Kid killers roam loose in Bloody Birthday, a "slasher in jammies" that makes The Omen, The Bad Seed, and virtually any of other evil-kid movie seem like a puppy dog in comparison. A product of the early-'80s line of low-budget slashers, it's not surprising that this horror gem sat on the shelf for three years until 1986. Who in their right mind would have the guts to release a flick with kitchen-knife wielding brats that also blow people away with huge handguns? It wouldn't be as good without this cast either, with extra gonzo points going to each kid as they take maniacal glee in plowing down everyone in their way (including their parents). A spit in the face to the family values crowd, Bloody Birthday is a bloody-fun time that's great for all of the wrong reasons. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Joe Penny - Mr. Harding; Andy Freeman - Steven Seaton; Elizabeth Hoy - Debbie Brody; Bert Kramer; K.C. Martel - Timmy Russel; Ben Marley - Duke; Erica Hope - Annie; Cyril O'Reilly - Paul; Shane Butterworth; Michael Dudikoff - Willard; Daniel Currie; Norman Rice; Georgie Paul; Ellen Geer; Ward Costello; Ruth Silveira; William Boyett; Nathan Robert; Sylvia Wright - Girl in Van; Billy Jayne - Curtis; John Avery - Guy in Van
Credit
Lynda Burbank - Art Director, Michelle Logan - Costume Designer, Wade Mayer - First Assistant Director, Edward Hunt - Director, Ann Mills - Editor, Max Rosenberg - Executive Producer, Arlon Ober - Composer (Music Score), John O. Jones - Songwriter, Michelle Logan - Makeup, Julie Purcell - Makeup, J. Rae Fox - Production Designer, Stephen L. Posey - Cinematographer, Gerald T. Olson - Producer, Roger George - Special Effects, Anthony Santa Croce - Sound/Sound Designer, Wayne Artman - Sound/Sound Designer, Tom Beckert - Sound/Sound Designer, Barry Pearson - Screenwriter, Edward Hunt - Screenwriter
In 1970, three children are born at the height of a total eclipse. Due to the sun and moon blocking Saturn, which controls emotions, they have become heartless and uncaring, with no feelings of remorse over their awful offences. Ten years later, they begin to kill the adults around them and are able to escape detection because of their youthful and innocent facades. However, when a young boy and his older sister discover their crimes, they find themselves as the targets of the evil children.
