If horror fans are all about cheesy fun, then the '90s and 2000s are great decades, especially when it comes to slashers. I Know What You Did Last Summer offers up a story about teenagers who are being tormented for killing someone the summer before. Scream is definitely the gold standard for scary yet campy films. And there are many other movies, from Urban Legend to The Faculty to Trick 'r Treat, that are entertaining and have become a solid part of the genre's history.
Valentine was released in 2001, but it's not a movie that is often talked about when comparing slashers from the 2000s or even films about a certain holiday. The story of four friends being stalked by a killer while they try to move on from a tragedy from their past doesn't stand out that much among many other better movies. But although Valentine isn't perfect or well-crafted, this slasher movie is interesting and fun for many reasons.
A Fun Cast
Scream 2022 has new cast members and fans celebrate the talented actors who have starred in this horror franchise, from Neve Campbell to Courteney Cox to Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rose McGowan, and Matthew Lillard.
While Valentine is nowhere near as celebrated as Scream, the cast is recognizable and talented as well. Katherine Heigl, beloved for Grey's Anatomy and several movies, plays Shelley, the first person in the friend group to be killed. The movie also stars David Boreanaz of Buffy The Vampire Slayer fame, along with Marley Shelton who appeared in the cheesy movie Sugar & Spice along with Scream 4 and Scream (2022). Grey's Anatomy fans will definitely want to check out the movie to watch Jessica Capshaw as Dorothy, a woman with a sad past. Denise Richards also plays Paige.
A Good Reveal
Slasher films need a killer (no pun intended) conclusion or it's going to feel like watching this film was a waste of time. Sometimes a horror movie is meant to have a darker ending, but the conclusion of Valentine is definitely very bleak and horrifying. Valentine has two main themes: the power of friendship and also the power of revenge. When the movie opens, fans learn that Dorothy goes on a date to the school dance with Jeremy, who is seen as a loser by everyone else. When the cool, popular girls see them kissing, Dorothy pretends that he hurt her and he ends up in a mental hospital.
Valentine might not be as well-done as other slasher movies, but it does have one thing going for it: a good reveal. At the end of the movie, audiences learn that Kate's boyfriend Adam is really Jeremy and he has been behind the stalking and the murders. Jeremy also tries to make it look like Dorothy is the actual killer, which is a smart move. While clever horror fans might guess this ending, it still feels satisfying enough to make this movie feel like it's worth watching since the reveal does make perfect sense and all of the pieces of the movie fit together.
An Entertaining Slasher Story
Valentine can be considered an underrated 2000s horror film as it's an entertaining slasher story. The movie also really leans into its theme of Valentine's Day which makes it fun.
There are many great Christmas horror movies and it's cool to watch one that is centered around making the day of love terrifying. When Jeremy murders the members of the friend group, the kills are related to February 14th, along with how the women treated Jeremy when they were younger. Jeremy kills Paige by throwing an electric drill into the hot tub that she's sitting in, which works because she told him that she would like to be "boiled alive" before dating him. Jeremy kills Lily with arrows and also gives her chocolates full of maggots because she said "ew" to him. And when Jeremy murders Shelly, he goes through the body bag that she's cowering in and cuts her throat because she told him that she would be with him "in your dreams."
Jeremy also wears a Cupid mask, which is a fun part of the Valentine theme and also a unique idea. The characters can't enjoy this holiday as they're scared of anything and everything, and that's exactly what the killer wants.
All in all, Valentine might be a horror movie that many fans of this genre have missed out on, as it's pretty much a forgotten film. But if someone is looking for a slasher with some interesting kills, a killer with a clear motive, and characters who have a dark past and a complex relationship with one another, Valentine is a solid choice.