Bloody Birthday
Three eclipse-born children turn their innocent faces into camouflage for a murderous birthday-cycle slasher.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- tense
- grimly playful
- late night horror marathon
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a low-budget, mixed-quality slasher whose entertaining premise and young performances outshone its weaknesses.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The three eclipse-born children use their youthful, harmless facades to evade suspicion while committing murders.
The killings unfold around children, babysitters, and elementary-school settings, turning familiar childhood environments into sources of dread.
The total eclipse and Saturn’s occult influence are presented as the cause of the children’s emotional emptiness and murderous nature.
The children’s crimes and concealed identities create tension as adults and other young characters struggle to identify the danger.
Films like Bloody Birthday, and why
The Children
killer children, slasher violence, and unsettling contrasts between innocence and cruelty
Children of the Corn
evil children, small-town killings, and supernatural explanations for youthful violence
The Brood
child-centered horror, escalating murders, and disturbing family dynamics
Movie Details
- Director
- Ed Hunt
- Release Date
- 1981-04-28
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (174)
Cast
- Lori Lethin
- Melinda Cordell
- Julie Brown
- Susan Strasberg
- José Ferrer
- Joe Penny
- Bert Kramer
- Elizabeth Hoy
- Billy Jayne
- K.C. Martel
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- ARROW
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bloody Birthday about?
- Three eclipse-born children turn their innocent faces into camouflage for a murderous birthday-cycle slasher.
- What is Bloody Birthday like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bloody Birthday as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Bloody Birthday violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Bloody Birthday as graphic.
- What did critics think of Bloody Birthday?
- Critics generally found the film a low-budget, mixed-quality slasher whose entertaining premise and young performances outshone its weaknesses.
- Which films are like Bloody Birthday?
- Films with a similar feel include The Children, Children of the Corn, and The Brood.
- How long is Bloody Birthday?
- Bloody Birthday runs 85 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bloody Birthday?
- In United States, Bloody Birthday streams on ARROW.
