Valentine

When I first saw Scream Factory's latest horror Blu-ray title, I loathed it - so much so that I vowed never again to view "Valentine" from 2001, a semi-companion piece to the similarly themed horror film "My Bloody Valentine." Flashing forward to 2019, I expected to not enjoy a re-watch of the David Boreanaz ("Angel") starring movie that had average success at the box office back in the day.

I'm happy to report that "Valentine" has actually aged well and features a smart script, witty dialogue, and believable character development. Most of those elements very rarely appear in a horror film. "Valentine" works mostly because of its cast and its send-up of the dating scene in the late '90s and early 2000s.

The plot has to do with a group of childhood friends that suspect a vengeful former classmate is stalking them after a series of bodies start piling up and they begin receiving menacing Valentine cards. Because the camaraderie between the largely female cast is believable, "Valentine" works well. The women are also in control in the film and turn the tables often on the men that torment them.

"Valentine" is surely dated, stuck in the early year 2000 mode of no Internet access and barely any cell phone usage. It's also not perfect by any means, featuring wide plot holes and a sparse appearance from actor David Boreanaz, who received star billing. But for a throwback film that basically rehashes "Prom Night" and every other '80s slasher film, it can be a lot of fun.

There's a slew of "Valentine" bonus features on the Blu-ray and because it's the first time the title has been released in this format, Scream Factory's release comes highly recommended.

"Thrill of the Drill" – Denise Richards fondly remembers filming her creative death sequence

"The Final Girl" – actress Marley Shelton sits down for an interview to talk about her status as a Final Girl in "Valentine"

"Shot Through the Heart" – Jessica Cauffiel reveals that her death scene appears in the top 10 death scenes of all time by Fangoria magazine

"Valentine"
Blu-ray
$29.99
www.shoutfactory.com