Directed by
George Mihalka
Made by
Paramount Pictures
Two miners, fully equipped with face masks, are seen descending into a deep mine shaft, each wielding a pickaxe. In a surprising twist, one of them, who reveals herself as a young woman, removes her mask and part of her uniform, standing provocatively before the other miner, who remains masked. As she performs a sultry striptease, she playfully touches the man’s mask and breathing apparatus. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts dramatically when he seizes her, violently thrusting her against the pickaxe propped up nearby, and she is horrifically impaled.
In the town of Valentine’s Bluff, preparations are underway for a long-awaited Valentine’s Day dance. This quaint community, strongly tied to the coal mine industry, faces a dark history. Mayor Hanniger discusses the festivities with Mabel Osborne, a local laundromat owner, while alluding to a tragic past that has left scars on the town. Twenty years earlier, a catastrophic mining accident caused by the carelessness of two supervisors occurred just before Valentine’s Day, resulting in the entrapment of five miners. Tragically, only one survived—Harry Warden—who, pushed to the brink, endured unimaginable horrors, including cannibalism. After being rescued, he avenged his fallen coworkers by brutally murdering the negligent supervisors and left their hearts in Valentine boxes—a warning to never hold such festivities again.
Though the town has tried to move past this nightmare, excitement buzzes among the younger generation, particularly involving a complicated love triangle between T.J. Hanniger, the mayor’s son, and his friend Axel, both vying for the affection of Sarah. Their reunion becomes tense when T.J. returns from an unexplained absence, as Sarah has started dating Axel, sparking jealousy and conflict.
Events take a sinister turn when Mayor Hanniger and Chief of Police Jake Newby receive an anonymous box of Valentine’s chocolates, which horrifically contains a human heart, likely that of the woman from the film’s opening scene, accompanied by a menacing note warning against the dance. The ensuing chaos escalates as Mabel becomes the next victim of the masked killer, meeting a gruesome fate in her laundromat, her body later discovered stuffed into a dryer.
In a desperate attempt to mitigate public panic, Newby covers up the truth about Mabel’s murder, claiming she died of a heart attack. However, mounting fears emerge upon discovering Harry Warden might have resurfaced, particularly when the heart in the box is confirmed as human.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, T.J. and his friends decide to host their own gathering in the mine, dismissing the bartender Happy’s warnings about Harry Warden. Tragedy strikes again when Dave is gruesomely killed in the mine kitchen, experiencing an unimaginable death involving boiling water. The festivity rapidly spirals into gross misfortune when Sylvia, another partygoer, finds herself preyed upon, only to be discovered hanging from a shower nozzle by her boyfriend John.
As tensions escalate, the gang begins to unravel, discovering the horrifying realities within the mine as they encounter the remains of their friends. The atmosphere is thick with dread as they scramble to escape, only to face the masked miner—a true embodiment of their worst nightmares. In this intense climax, the identity of the killer is shockingly revealed as Axel, whose past trauma stemming from the events surrounding Harry Warden’s original killings ignited his violent tendencies.
In the frenzied finale, Axel traps his friends as the mine itself becomes a character in their horrific tale. As the entrance collapses, hope flickers briefly before Axel, driven mad by the past, threatens to return. As he ominously calls out to Sarah, “Sarah, be my bloody Valentine…!”, the shadow of horror looms large over Valentine’s Bluff, leaving the fate of its inhabitants uncertain.
Descent into the Mine
Two miners, equipped with face masks, begin their descent into a deep mine shaft. One of them, a young woman, surprises the other by removing her mask and revealing herself while dancing provocatively.
Tragic Impalement
The playful atmosphere turns violent when the masked miner seizes the woman, thrusting her against a pickaxe. The horrifying scene culminates in her tragic impalement, marking a brutal shift in the story.
Preparations for Valentine's Dance
In the town of Valentine's Bluff, the community gears up for a long-awaited Valentine's Day dance, reflecting on the scars of their dark history. Mayor Hanniger discusses the preparations with local laundromat owner Mabel Osborne.
A Dark History Revealed
Mayor Hanniger alludes to a tragic past involving a catastrophic mining accident that claimed the lives of five miners twenty years ago. Only one miner, Harry Warden, survived after enduring horrifying experiences underground.
Harry Warden's Revenge
After being rescued, Harry Warden avenged his fallen coworkers by brutally murdering the negligent supervisors responsible for the accident. He left their hearts in Valentine boxes as a grim reminder not to hold the dance again.
Love Triangle Complications
T.J. Hanniger returns to town, leading to a complicated love triangle with Sarah and Axel. Their reunion is marked by tension, as Sarah has begun dating Axel during T.J.'s unexplained absence.
Sinister Gift
Mayor Hanniger and Chief of Police Jake Newby receive a box of Valentine's chocolates containing a human heart. The heart is likely that of the woman from the film's opening, accompanied by a chilling warning against the dance.
Mabel's Gruesome Fate
Mabel becomes the next victim of the masked killer, found gruesomely murdered in her laundromat. Her body is discovered stuffed into a dryer, raising fears throughout the town.
Cover-Up and Growing Panic
In a bid to control public panic, Police Chief Newby covers up the details of Mabel's murder, falsely claiming she died from a heart attack. However, fears mount as it seems that Harry Warden may have returned.
Party in the Mine
Determined to defy the ominous warnings, T.J. and his friends decide to host their own gathering in the mine on Valentine's Day. They dismiss the bartender's warnings and proceed with their plans.
Dave's Death
Tragedy strikes when Dave is gruesomely killed in the mine kitchen, meeting a horrific end involving boiling water. This marks the beginning of a series of brutal events as fear grips the group.
Sylvia's Horrifying Discovery
During the chaotic party, Sylvia's boyfriend John discovers her hanging from a shower nozzle after another vicious attack by the masked killer. The group realizes they are in serious danger.
The Unraveling
As panic ensues, the partygoers encounter the remains of their friends scattered in the mine. The realization of the reality they face becomes apparent as fear and dread fill their hearts.
Identity of the Killer Revealed
In a shocking turn of events, the killer's identity is unveiled as Axel, whose past traumas linked to Harry Warden's original killings led him down this dark path. The revelation adds a complex layer to the story.
Climactic Finale
As the entrance to the mine collapses, Axel's madness intensifies, leading to a desperate struggle for survival among the trapped friends. Axel ominously calls out to Sarah, leaving the future of Valentine's Bluff uncertain.
T.J. Hanniger
T.J. is the conflicted son of the town's mayor, returning after a mysterious absence to confront both his feelings for Sarah and the ghosts of the past. His journey is marked by tension and jealousy as he navigates his complex relationships with Sarah and Axel. T.J. embodies the struggle of reconciling the past with the desire for a hopeful future.
Axel
Axel is T.J.'s friend and rival for Sarah's affection, whose past trauma transforms him into a menacing figure. Driven by jealousy and psychological scars from the mining accidents, he becomes the embodiment of vengeance, revealing the depths to which a person's grief can lead them. His descent into madness is a focal point of the film's horror.
Sarah
Sarah is caught in the middle of T.J. and Axel's rivalry, embodying the complexities of love and friendship. Her character grapples with the emotional aftermath of their past relationships while also facing the mounting dread of the events unraveling around her. Sarah's choices ultimately influence the fate of those around her.
Mayor Hanniger
As the town's mayor, Hanniger is deeply invested in the Valentine's Day festivities, but he is also burdened by the painful history of Valentine’s Bluff. His character reflects the tension between public perception and private terror, as he grapples with the memories of the town's past and their impact on current events.
Harry Warden
Harry Warden represents the dark legacy of the mining disaster, his traumatic survival shaping the narrative of revenge. His character is pivotal as the catalyst for the horror that unfolds, illustrating how unchecked grief can evolve into a cycle of violence. Warden’s chilling return looms over the town's Valentine's Day celebrations.
Time period
Present Day (relative to the story)
The events of the story take place in contemporary times, amidst the preparations for a Valentine's Day dance that are juxtaposed against the haunting memories of a mining disaster that shaped the area's tragic past. This period reflects a community struggling to move on while grappling with the consequences of unhealed wounds.
Location
Valentine's Bluff
Valentine's Bluff is a small mining town deeply rooted in the coal industry. Known for its quaint charm, the community is overshadowed by a dark history linked to a catastrophic mining accident that haunts its residents. Once a site of celebration, it now serves as a chilling reminder of past tragedies, especially surrounding Valentine's Day.
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Love & Jealousy
The theme of love intertwines with feelings of jealousy, particularly highlighted through the complicated love triangle of T.J., Axel, and Sarah. As tensions rise, emotional scars from their individual relationships amplify the horror of the situation, revealing how past affections can lead to destructive outcomes.
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Fear & Trauma
The movie delves into the collective fear and trauma borne from a tragic past. The resurfacing of Harry Warden's horrific legacy resonates deeply with the townspeople, illustrating how unresolved trauma can manifest in terrifying ways, especially when festivity collides with memory.
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Loss & Revenge
Loss is a recurring theme throughout the film, marked by the tragic deaths from the mining disaster. These losses provoke a cycle of revenge as characters are compelled by grief and anger. Axel's violent actions serve as a disturbing echo of Harry Warden’s own journey, connecting their narratives of vengeance.
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