Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

As we all know in order for most run-of-the-mill horror films to work the characters have to behave unbelievably stupid. They have to make foolish decisions to advance the agenda of the writer. This film takes that meme to new heights of dumbness. Cribbed from The Wicker Man and mixed with the homoerotic earmarks of a David DeCoteau film, Unhappy Birthday fails to raise interest.The man-on-man sex scenes, I suppose, are to shock and divert us from the failures of the script. And while the scenes were titillating, actors David Paisley and Jonathan are attractive and capable enough actors, the well-worn story is so painfully predictable. The feeble reason why they come to the island and the ending itself do not add up. We know instantly they are in trouble. They do not. We know who is going to be the whack-job instantly. They do not. It's hard to root for people who are mindlessly being lead into a trap. Lastly, the lead actress is neither convincing, attractive enough or engaging. The three-way scene between the leads exists only to add running time to this poor film.

This movie is stylishly made and definitely pulls you along, helped mainly by Jill Riddiford's performance as the pious and grandmotherly Corinne. Riddiford keeps you guessing until the very end whether she is unhinged or just childlike and pitiable. That said, this is also one of those thrillers where the characters have to make all the wrong (and increasingly stupid) decisions in order to keep the (ridiculous) plot going. By the end, I knew I was supposed to feel the horrible moral ugliness of the deranged religious fundamentalism espoused on "the island", but all I saw was a series of gruesome hate crimes (with the gay guy, of course, getting it the worst). It's been done before--and with less obvious sadistic relish.

Couple Rick (David Paisley) and Sadie (Christina De Valles) are going to the island of Amen for her birthday. They are joined by Rick's best friend (and secret boyfriend) Jonny (Jonathan Keane). They have a surprise for Sadie on the island but, when they get there, things go from bad to worse and their lives are in danger.This movie is far from perfect. The ultra low budget shows in the threadbare sets and some of the plot is left unanswered--like does Sadie know that Rick and Jonny are lovers? Also the slow pace works against it at times. Still this is worth seeing. It starts off with a feeling of dread with eerie music playing on the soundtrack and never stops. Also the acting is good across the board--something you usually don't find in any horror film. I also like that the movie has a gay male couple and doesn't shy away from showing them have sex. There's also some female nudity but more male nudity. Keane and Paisley have a pretty explicit sex scene and later on we see them washing each other off with a glimpse of full frontal from Paisley. I didn't see the ending coming at all and it's disturbing and bloody--as it should be. So--no great movie but worth catching.

It is extremely perplexing to me that a film as good as "Unhappy Birthday" could possibly be running a 2.4 rating on this site. Huh? I personally think it's one of the best small-budget horror films of the last 10 years-- dread-filled, well acted, and beautifully shot. I just watched it last night on On Demand and was blown away.The only thing I can think of that might explain the low rating is that there is a very frank sexuality to the film, both hetero and homosexual. Maybe that was too much for some folk? For me, it is the rare film where sex is an integral part to the overall story and characters, not just thrown in for titillation (and easier distribution).Otherwise, I am at a loss as this is a perfectly awesome little gem of a horror film that is really affecting and haunting.