Exploring Happy Birthday to Me - From Small Canadian Studio to Major Hollywood Competitor

Good Bad Flicks looks into the history of the studio Cinepix and their film Happy Birthday to Me. Directed by J Lee Thompson.
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Movies, games, and the occasional editorial.
From A-Z list films, video games, and other overlooked goodness.

[@_NoDrinkTheBleach]

I remember seeing it when I was younger. I recognized Tracey Bregman from Y&R, so that was a motivating factor in me watching it. I bought it a few years back on Blu-Ray from that VHS box style packaging collection. I didn't know that Cinepix later became Lionsgate. That's pretty neat, even if Lionsgate isn't anymore.

[@quintessenceSL]

I wonder if any other erotic outfits went mainstream (Caligula aside). It seems with all the money porn makes, someone might try their hand at mainstream movies. I can imagine the disconnect, like learning The Lord of the Ring series and Meet the Feebles were directed by the same guy.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Lauren Fenmore in Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful She was barely recognizable ☺️

[@SirSmoldham]

The biggest mistake of my career. I was a screenwriter just out of film school and had a meeting with a producer who was about to make a horror film with one of the stars of "Little House on the Prairie." In his office, with a few other celebrity partners, he started things off by saying, "I have a great idea for a horror film... a Coke bottle shoved down someone's throat." I was insulted. I didn't know how to negotiate and left the meeting. The writers eventually hired knew how to deal with the situation and the Coke bottle got exchanged for a shish kabob. The film came out alright in any case.

[@matthewkoch6937]

I unabashedly love this movie. I'm a murder mystery fan, and it got me into horror. Is the twist ridiculous? Sure, but the giallo-esque and psychological elements make up for it. Melissa Sue Anderson's and Glenn Ford's great performances elevate this far above your standard '80's slasher.

[@HorrorMetalMaestroRedrusty66]

All Good, Nothing Bad. This film still sits at my top 10 horror slashers of all time. It's a pure 80's masterpiece slasher. I rabidly adore every second of it to this day. My Bluray of it gets a regular workout...lol

[@MrBooone]

I might need to re-watch it, it honestly kind of bored me a lot when I saw it. Probably got more enjoyment out of watching April Fool's, and that wasn't even technically a horror

[@johnrife7134]

It's something else. Although I don't think it really has anything to make it stand out.

[@filiperoque1801]

And which movies make your top 10 besides this one?

[@theninjamaster67]

@@filiperoque1801 Probably more b movie slashers like Sleepaway Camp or the usual suspects of Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm st, Scream, Chucky, ETC

[@ricardocantoral7672]

C'mon, nothing bad? The wooden acting, the dumb fakeouts, the idiotic twist? Happy Birthday is trash but it's fun trash.

[@joanpasley2181]

I remember this film. Brandon Tenold did a video on this flick. I watched it way back when.

[@childofthe80s1981]

Siskel and Ebert nine times out of ten hate horror films it doesn't matter what it is

[@kylecurry577]

I've always liked this movie over the decades. A giallo style murder mystery, slasher & rather underrated. I liked the ending. Considering all the ups & downs during the making...not bad. The late 70s thru the 80s was a fun time to be a horror fan as this genre evolved.

[@ruffusgoodman4137]

It feels like the script had more rework and it was better polished. Today's scripts goes more or less like Pitch Meetings. "But why would she be the killer? MAGIC! But she had no motive... MAGIC!"

[@gatchywatchyentertainmentb2090]

8:08 Cop uses threat. It's Extremely effective!

[@nattmazzoni]

What I really like when I watch these so called "second rate" slashers is how well shot and edited they are. I love the use of dutch and ambulance lights whenever she blacks out in this movie. The ending is really absurd, but I can't see how that would be a bad thing

[@stillhuntre55]

Great episode! I must admit, my pet peeve is misleading marketing for a film. How does a film ever find it's true audience if the marketing misrepresents it? I'm glad this movie succeeded despite the ads. As a side-note, Steven *is* the English of Etienne.

[@theninjamaster67]

I would've assumed it would be Ethan rather than Steven but languages rarely make sense.

[@Austin_Soares]

Maple Syrup Porn? Well... I can certainly say that this is the first time hearing that one. But then again it does make sense, I mean we have Spaghetti Westerns so why not Maple Syrup Porn?

[@jonathanreilly5354]

Okay now I need to know what other food / movie genre sub-types are out there. Campbell’s Soup cinema verité? Just spitballing here.

[@Austin_Soares]

@@jonathanreilly5354 Maybe Crumpet Horror? Burrito Thriller? Tika Masala Fantasy? Vodka Historical? Haggis Science Fiction? Sushi Mystery?

[@jonathanreilly5354]

@@Austin_Soares Lol

[@jonathanreilly5354]

@@Austin_Soares I would be completely down for Haggis Science Fiction. Or a good Tex-Mex Docu-Drama.

[@Austin_Soares]

@@jonathanreilly5354 Ooh, I finally got another good one, Pad Thai Superhero and Croque Madame Coming of age.

[@Mister-Six]

Being called the Canadian Roger Corman is a huge compliment.

[@pop000690]

A very underatted Slasher. I have a soft spot for Whodunit, Giallo esc slashers, and this one is a very good one, even with the bonkers ending.

[@docsamson198]

Thanks, Cecil. One of your best. I always heard wild behind the scenes rumors about this one. Supposedly Glenn Ford was drinking so excessively he once thought he was back at Columbia Studios in his salad days and Melissa Sue Anderson was Rita Hayward! Probably not even remotely true, but still pretty funny.

[@TonyInVan314]

Melissa Sue Anderson must have enjoyed her time in Montreal, because according to IMDB: As of May 2007 was living in Montreal, Canada, with her husband and their two children. Rarely acts in order to be a stay-at-home mom.

[@idahomike4254]

Dude, once again your research into whichever movie you decide to dive into really shines. Big fan!

[@EverlastingRain55]

As a Canadian and very longtime fan and subscriber to you, thank you for covering this and giving some information on the history of Canadian Cinema. There's lot I myself didn't know and very much appreciate! Great video as aways, Cecil!

[@theninjamaster67]

I'd love for him to cover Canadian shows like Reboot, Transformers Beast Wars, and My Babysitter's a Vampire cause of his usual thoroughness but those are kinda out of his usual wheelhouse so I know he never will but it would still be hella awesome cause they're really good shows and actually have a really cool backstory but I'm almost certain he could probably find out way more than I've ever been able to find. PS. It's kinda weird but awesome as an American how many Canadian TV shows and Canadian KZbinrs I grew up watching.

[@jonathanreilly5354]

Trying to follow this excellent video this but my mind keeps going back to ‘Maple Syrup Porn.’

[@davearquette3303]

So happy to see a new Exploring video in my subscriptions! Even happier that it's about Canadian horror!

[@racheledwards2352]

And today IS my birthday!!! Thanks, Cecil!!

[@brandonpage7087]

I LOVE this movie, & just recently purchased it on Blu Ray! I was expecting that guy on the cover to be in the film, & was puzzled when a completely different guy was the victim of the shish kabob death. I also didn't notice that characters names are used on the cover, that aren't in the film, lol, but this is still a true 80s horror masterpiece. I love the direction, & the acting & characters. I do like the ending, but wish that there had been more details given about Virginia's half sister's background, in the end. I'd like to think of this film as a classy slasher.

[@thunderstruck5484]

Saw at the theater with my wife and honestly this was one of the few slasher era movies that got me scared in the theater! Thanks again!

[@philbertdez3863]

Thank you for the informative deep dive look at Happy Birthday to Me and history of what would become Hollywood North. Solid video as usual, keep up the awesome work and have a great day.

[@williamduhamel7726]

Watching their dog lick itself was more informative than a Siskel and Ebert’s movie review.

[@gg-er1vv]

awesome work man! I watched this one back in the 90's on VHS, might be time for a re-watch

[@blacknapalm2131]

*One of the most iconic 80's VHS covers ever!*

[@themoviemaniac8416]

Among Horror Film fans, those not just looking for gore and kills, this one ranks very highly. If it's like a Giallo, that's due to the director and his background. Forget what contemporary critics say, they're usually wrong with horror films. Also, the marketing dept only did it's job. Sure it was marketed in a sensational manner, but that's to be expected with a horror film of this period. Though it might gall some people, it got it where it needed to be in the theaters.

[@robertmcghintheorca49]

And this was also the first of two films I believe where Lesleh Donaldson plays a character who gets beheaded. The other being "Curtains".

[@NickMichalak]

This is a really good and fun film that I discovered several years back, and it definitely deserves further attention. Thompson's directing gave it some great style, especially those flashback transitions. Melissa Sue Anderson was a great talent here, and the film is well worth hunting down. UK's Indicator Series released a respectable Region Free Blu-Ray with additional bonus features including the weird re-scored soundtrack from the original DVD.

[@rexbitten]

I saw this only one time in a theater in 81 when i was 14 because my twin sister insisted we were old enough to handle it so our mom let our 19 year old cousin take us. I went reluctantly and it was the only "slasher" type movie i ever saw in a theater.

[@TommyDeonauthsArchives]

I'd certainly watch this as a double feature with Happy Death Day... the first one.

[@Madbandit77]

The director of Happy Death Day, Chris Landon, is the son of Michael Landon, who starred in and executive produced of "Little House On The Prairie" (wrote and directed some episodes too).

[@loudogwalker1601]

I love that production started on the day I was born! I like that film even more now 😀

[@cambellfan22]

i'm going to take a guess that movie you were going to review but could not due to as you mentioned paramount does not believe in fair use would be the 80's slasher my bloody valentine

[@AubreyTheKing]

Another very good obscure horror film! I MUST WATCH!!! This looks promising! I'm sure I'll enjoy this one! Thanks for another recommendation I can add to my collection, Cecil! I really love the exploring videos on obscure movies! Great video man!!!

[@GentlemansCombatives]

"Well gentlemen, you've been consulted" What an enormous chad

[@jamesmoss3424]

Melissa Sue Anderson is fantastic as Virginia Wainwright. 😀👍

[@MrBooone]

Never loved this film, but I found it cool the school shots were all at my university. And specifically while I was going to it a year ago (they shot a lot at Loyola campus Montreal, looks almost exactly the same including the football field). Also holy shit those kills looked gnarly. I think I would of dug the movie much more if they had included them

[@JoeDredd2012]

10:49 That sucks Cecil I would've love to hear about that 😞😞😞😞☹☹ 19:48 Both films I grew up enjoying Cecil Another good episode Cecil!

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

the film has pacing issues but damn this is a classic of 80s slashers. go Canada

[@richarddeese1991]

Thanks. @21:36 - Hey, it's Vincent Schiavelli! ;) tavi.

[@baronclime6423]

Fuck, Paramount. Fight the power Cecil. If you are in the right you are in the right. I'd suggest a half asian lawyer to take the case. Guy is a badass. Great content as always.

[@kimbaptempura4073]

HOLY SHIT DO I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!! I remember this fucking box at my video store for years and eventually rented it and fucking...don't remember it much, like many films from my youth, but I do remember really enjoying it, and eventually watched it again and it's pretty bad ass! It's from a time late 70's to early 80's where children could see commercials for films like C.H.U.D., Alligator, Friday the 13th, et all, from 7AM to 7AM next day. I would never be allowed to see these movies...but they seemed intriguing...the last times I felt that were as a young kid, seeing the trailers for The Thing and The Shining......kids nowadays......they don't know how good it was.

[@occularmalice]

I haven't seen the movie for a very long time but this calls into question if Gene Siskell even watched the movie. In his review he says "...and people being skewered like shish kebabs" but you mentioned the poster had a picture of an actor who wasn't in the movie, getting a skewer in the mouth. Was there even a shish kebab kill in the movie? Did Siskell even watch it for his review?

[@kylehuckins213]

The Vindicator would make a good episode or two for here. Loved that flick back in the day.

[@ferrisbueller3231]

Something about your voice is strangely soothing, even when you’re talking about someone coating a set with fake blood. Love your content.

[@Scatscar1985]

The tax breaks situation led to some excruciatingly dull British/Canadian coproductions.

[@RavenHouseMystery]

Thanks for another great Exploring episode, Cecil. I agree that Happy Birthday To Me is very underrated. I will say that even though I've seen the film numerous times, there are still certain elements that never added up. This of course was explained when you talked about how the ending was changed, along with the identity of the villain. Personally, I think that was an excellent change. To have a "supernatural" explanation to the killings was even more ridiculous, especially with the plot being a straight mystery thriller. As for Siskel & Ebert, it has become more obvious to me that the two critics were just using their "war against horror" as a way to get more national attention. Their Chicago based show was only locally known until they did their "horror special" in 1980, which kind of started the whole "horror directors and horror fans hate women" malarkey.

[@stefmeijer3406]

dude, you post a video on my birthday called happy birthday to me......im amazed at how chance works. nice video as allways, of a bit of cinema history i never knew about. this was a nice birthday surprise.

[@djkangal]

Still remember feeling ripped off when the credits rolled without a shishkebab kill.

[@anti-death5306]

It's a classic, thank you for exploring this, I feel the movie is more appreciated now that I know more about the film, you're awesome. 👍

[@howsitvingoing2048]

Yes! Cecil is excellent! My favorite movie reviewer and I love his oddball film choices, whether I am familiar with them or not.

[@mjjoe76]

Any video with a still of Zap Rowsdower is worth a like.

[@JoeFiorelloFilms]

It’s funny because the poster for this movie was one of the ones I remember the most my days renting VHS tapes from that era of horror movies. Ironically though, it’s one of the movies that I never managed to get my parents to let me rent, specifically because of the poster. It was too explicitly gruesome for them while the Halloweens, Friday the 13ths, and Nightmare on Elm Streets were more artistically no explicit with the gore.

[@beyond72deepsoulfulhousemixes]

Funnily enough, 'Bloody Birthday' was the one that got away from me - the killer kids angle must have freaked my Mom out lol.

[@goregrindisthebestgenre]

Love this movie!

[@TyroneBruinsmaFilms]

I love this film, even the nutty twist. I actually have a blu-ray copy on order. I will say I wouldn't this being remade with a worked out ending beforehand

[@tattooeddragon]

I’m very happy you reviewed this film! I have never seen it based on the poster alone because it actually looked pretty dumb. Thanks for changing my mind, I’ll be sure and check it out!

[@laurallewien2165]

Oh classic, who'd a thought Mary Ingalls was such a badass? I wish Melissa Sue Anderson would have made more horror type movies,she was great in this!

[@maskedathiest]

i have a problem with anyone who says "needlessly gruesome film with too many stabbings" in reference to a slasher film. anyone with that opinion has no business watching the movie to begin with. that would be like saying "too much action, iron man blows up too many tanks and the hulk transforms too often" as a negative about an Avengers movie.

[@rosebyanyname]

Can "shish kabob marketing" become a phrase that means publicity which doesn't match the film it is publicizing?

[@Vile_Entity_3545]

I have only seen one lions gate film that was total crap. I don’t think they put their name to sub standard films. I can’t remember what the film was called but it must have slipped through somehow.

[@tleeg74]

The only scene I remember from this movie was when the chick is feeding the guy the kabob and shoves the skewer thru his mouth, basically the thumbnail.

[@KyleRDent]

Canadian p--n is called Maple Syrup? May I suggest that for British it be called Bangers and Mash?

[@simplegarak]

Happy Birthday, Cecil! Oh. Wait... no... Oh I see my mistake. Well whenever it comes around, Happy Birthday!

[@jturnbow71]

Siskel even mentioned the shish kabob. Makes you wonder if they actually watched it.

[@zillzultraboy]

The theme song to this film is one of my all-time favorites. If I didn't enjoy the movie, the theme would still resonate with me, nonetheless.

[@allright]

Invasion USA ,and speaking of which, I just remember Chuck Norris's TV show Walker Texas Ranger had a spin-off series called the Sons of thunder, that lasted only six episodes, I think you should talk about it in your forgotten TV show series, but first Invasion USA.

[@johnst3296]

I remember the ending not seeming to make sense. That and the weightlifter death is what stuck with me...

[@redringofdeathgamer]

Always good to see new gbf. Thank you for your work. It is always fun. Good TV.

[@SonicfanTheNightfury5099]

Hehehehehe Maple syrup Corn 👌

[@williamduhamel7726]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention more about Matt Craven since it said that he is the actor being impaled by the shish kebab on the cover. And since you mentioned “Meatballs (1979)” where he played a camp counselor in his first acting roll. And went on to do massive things.

[@m.e.3862]

I remember this movie because I'm from the Montreal area and a lot of the popular seniors in my high school were extras in the football game scenes. One of them actually had a closeup which made me lol because it was so weird seeing them in a movie. I'm also a graduate of Concordia university and anyone else who's been there will recognize how the movie made the Loyola campus look so much better than real life. I'm also kinda bummed that Tracy Bregman was here and I didn't know until later! Thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂

[@Pheuri]

That motorcycle death made me fear/respect bicycles as a kid.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

@0:34 "Maple Syrup Porn" Sounds delicious to me.

[@kevinbartoe7881]

I remember renting it way back when and loving it. Still do

[@Belgand]

"Fans are split"... over a split diopter shot. Well played, sir.

[@kellyrogers4492]

I love both this one and My Bloody Valentine, yet they both suffer from the random killer ending. Still totally enjoyable but with a dash of WTF that made the 80’s so worth remembering. The 70’s and 80’s, when no kid was safe in a horror movie!

[@michaelaldan6969]

a very good review Cecil, top notch work.... as always! (there... I said it again!)

[@bloodrunsclear]

It's funny the poster is a complete lie! I never picked that up...

[@otaking3582]

Ah, the sliding scale of "too predictable" vs "pulled completely out of their asses"

[@Zenlore6499]

Maple Syrup Porn sounds very sticky… but delicious!

[@upcoast]

Would've been great to have a directors cut

[@karl_alan]

I was wondering if you were going to bring up the giallo comparison

[@katemaloney4296]

Have you ever done a deep-dive review for the horror/slasher "Mother's Day"?

[@crystalfelicia9924]

One of the best videos on this movie. Well done. This was really informative and enjoyable. 💜💜💚💚🌸🌸

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thank you!

[@seventyseven7815]

Another amazing video, thanks so much for bringing back so many great memories, I rented this gem from blockbuster after school in 96 , it's still one of my favorites, awesome job on the break down and the indepth you are a legend in the making my friend.

[@pdzombie1906]

No matter how bad the movie is, an Exploring treatment from Cecil is always interesting!!!

[@GoodBadFlicks]

:)

[@Malum09]

Love the movie but boy what a bleak ending

[@Nyg5618]

This was a favorite movie of mine. My older bro loves horror and got me into it too. We used to have marathon sessions watching movies. This was one of my favorites (girls night out was up there too). Glad you’re doing this movie my friend.

[@LostRanger87]

Fantastic Exploring, as always. I hope you continue to look at some of these strange slashers that followed this trend in the 80s. I always wanted to learn more about them

[@polrua]

Very nice tribute to John Dunning. Good stuff.

[@jasonsantos3037]

Canada made some interesting movies Happy Birthday to me

[@jr03312010]

I'm Canadian and I am curious how much of a tax break people got? Say if the movie cost 3 million dollars how much would theu get back from taxes?

[@CineMasochist]

OMG. Okay I almost never comment, but I gotta just to share this. A buddy of mine has a birthday tradition with this movie, he watches it every year on his birthday at like 8 am and gets high to it.

[@matteofuriga4810]

I rarely comment under your videos, but there is a thing that I have to say: I am always shocked by the stupidity of Siskel and Hebert! They didn't understand half of the movies they watched, and in many cases those reviews sank a considerable number of great movies (not this, mind you). They were so biased and "unprofessionals". Besides they were often mean with any kind of movie that fell under categories that they dind't like. I don't know why, but that kind of behaviour was pretty common back then among critics of all kind of art. For example a reviewer for Rolling Stone, after listening to Uriah Heep's "Very eavy, very humble" wrote that she would have killed herself if the band had succeded. Fuck that kind of mentality! Anyway keep up the good work.

[@zmbdog]

Including all the drops of the car from the bridge is one of those things where you can only sit there and think "What? WHY?".

[@ryanmclellan8740]

I've never seen this. I have to find this )

[@Adrasdea]

I've loved this film since I was a child. Its never really made sense and I've never cared. It is what it is and I love it.

[@effsinthechat1766]

I remember seeing the "John will never eat a shish kebab" advert in the local paper, when i was a kid - because of my name it always creeped me out. That, and in my 11 year old brain i imagined the meat was human flesh -

[@blackdragon6]

Was there ever a director's cut?

[@fredleggett923]

It always impresses me as to how information dense these retrospectives are. Must require a crap-ton of research.

[@jacotromp59581]

Your old intro needs to be brought back. I loved it. Maybe use it as your outro. Thanks for this great video.