Valentine Bluffs is one of the best low budget indie films I've ever watched, and I watch a lot of indie horror films. I'm a big fan of the original My Bloody Valentine movie, and this fan film sequel is very true to the original. Filmed in an actual mine, the sets and locations look fantastic! Thomas Smith and Chuck Ryan did a lot with a little here, the production value of this movie is much higher than you would expect with their budget. The movie has an excellent score, and the audio mixing is perfect. Poor audio is one of my largest and most common complaints about indie films, but that is not at all an issue in Valentine Bluffs. The movie also has an excellent soundtrack. Another pet peeve I have is when movies are so dark you can't make out what is happening, which you would almost expect in a low budget movie that takes place in a mine. But again, this is not an issue with Valentine Bluffs. The lighting is excellent. The action scenes in the mine, which are very well done, are perfectly lit, you can completely see what is happening.
Valentines Bluff is polished enough that at times you'll forget you're watching a fan film. It doesn't have a lot of needless filler dialogue that plagues many indie movies, and the acting is all above par. The movie is well paced, I never found it lagged and I was surprised how quickly the time passed.
The practical effects are fantastic, the props and special effects look great, just an outstanding job. The kills looks really good! The miner costume is awesome. Chuck Ryan does a fantastic job as the miner.
Story wise this movie feels much like the original. The way the original ended, I always wish they had made a sequel. Valentine Bluffs is a near perfect sequel. Again, at times it's hard to believe it's a fan film.
Oh, I was surprised to see Lloyd Kaufman as the mayor. He was hilarious! And it wasn't just a cameo, he has a fairly significant role. I have to say, this movie rarely feels like a crowdfunded indie project. It has a larger budget feel.
If you're a fan of My Bloody Valentine, I really recommend checking out Valentine Bluffs, I think you'll really enjoy it. It's definitely a must watch for us every Valentine's Day, though I'm sure we'll watch it again long before that.