Alison's Birthday

1981 "She'll never forget her party… and neither will you!"
5.9| 1h39m| en| More Info
Released: 01 May 1981 Released
Producted By: Australian Film Commission
Country: Australia
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

During a Ouija board session with her teenaged friends, 16-year-old Alison gets a message from beyond the grave not to go home for her birthday three years later.

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jswindter01 Again if the gore, nudity&violence are MUST HAVES for a horror film to be deemed enjoyable, then please do skip "Allison's Birthday".. While I was but a mere babe at the time of this film, I do however have a keen love for this entire era, even the international horror films..I agree with the reviewer who likened this movie to a "made-for-tv" type movie and with that said and in going into it with that understanding its definitely an altogether enjoyable 95 minutes of entertainment.If you are of the newer generation who overall have a need for the more modern horror movies of today, then "Allison's Birthday" is quite likely a film you will NOT enjoy.. For everyone else I say give it a try and you may just find it as enjoyable as I did.
lazarillo This movie was part of a Down Under horror mini-boom that took place for some reason in late 1970's and early 1980's and included some pretty decent if low-watt films like "The Survivor", "Thirst", and "Razorback". It was kind of a little late therefore in getting into the whole satanic cult craze that started with "Rosemary's Baby" in the late 1960's. The cult in this movie though is not technically a satanic cult, but a Druid cult relocated from the British Isles, and they aren't trying to pass the devil's seed into an oblivious virgin, but some kind of ancient centuries-old spirit.The movie starts with a Ouija board session, involving "Alison" the teenage protagonist, that goes horribly awry. One of Alison's friends starts speaking in her dead father's voice. She/he warns "Alison" not to "go with them" on her nineteenth birthday. Then a bookcase falls on the possessed friend, killing her. You would think she would heed this very compelling warning several years later on her nineteenth birthday when her creepy "uncle and aunt" invite her out to their country estate for a party, but then we wouldn't have much of a movie, would we? Once there "Alison", who is not the sharpest tool in the garage, is remarkably unperturbed to see that her relatives have a miniature of Stonehenge on their property. And what's up with her dessicated 104-year-old great grandmother?Her slightly smarter friends eventually find the truth and ride to her rescue, and they turn out to be every bit as effective as Scatman Crothers in "The Shining". The ending is great and ALMOST redeems the occasional absurdities and periodic lulls of the earlier parts of the movie. Still, all in all, this isn't a bad little horror flick from the land of Oz.
Sic Coyote The film has a decent script and cast, nothing too outstanding but certainly can stand on it's own.Don't be fooled by the tag-line "Satan's only gift is death" as this has nothing to do with Satan, and there are no naked women in this movie.Actually come to think of it I am now wondering why this movie got a 18 certificate in the UK as there is as far as I can remember from just watching it; No Gore, No Nudity, No Sex(except it is slightly implied that they 'did it' when then are lying in bed together in one scene), No Bad Language and minimal violence.It's actually a pretty safe film except for the supernatural plot which the more religious 'may' have a problem with. But nothing that Buffy hasn't done, in fact I'd say if this was resubmitted now it would have no problem getting away with a PG certificate.But this doesn't mean it's a bad movie, as I've said it has a decent script and cast and everything is done quite competently even if it doesn't come near raising the bar it's a perfectly acceptable watch for it's 95 minute running time keeping up a good air of menace.4/10
emm And cheap is right! Just what I expected! Another movie that tries its darndest to be normal and serious, but it all ends up in the gutter when taken too cheaply. Here in ALISON'S BIRTHDAY, the word "cheap" is proven true. If you're still craving over more bad movies but haven't had the chance to see this title, then I'd say you've come to the right place! I only wished it wasn't THIS bad, as it is pretty much obscure for an Aussie import. It would even be so bizarre to find this kind of movie being made from the land down under! The story sounds campy, unfortunately, but I'll admit that ANY one soul can crack open a Bud and enjoy the bumpy ride. It starts off with three girls playing an Ouija-style game until Alison learns that a new fate awaits her when she turns nineteen. The rest of the story is up to you. Since this has to do with Satanic rituals and witchcraft, you may be wondering why no blood is present throughout the whole thing. In other words, this is extremely tame for a movie like this when you can compare to those notoriously gory British imports. Everything goes screwy with the plot, and what gives? You're expecting a "family" movie a lot more than any cult classic that would sustain a loyal fan base. The ending? Save it for the movie when you get a chance to see it! Although it's no worse than the worst I've seen out of bad moviedom, still try putting this title on your crowded shelf of huge clamshell boxes. How paranoid can you get?