a group of model caliber san francisco woman who have be friend since elementary school be suddenly be threaten and attack by someone send them bizarre valentine day card . who be the killer and why be the killer after them . my rating will often change on subsequent viewing of a film sometimes slightly up and sometimes slightly down . however and i can not remember another film where my rating have change as drastically a it have for valentine . the first time i watch it and upon it theatrical release and i think it be pretty awful i give it a 4 out of 10 and the equivalent of an f letter grade . watch it for a second time last night and i can not remember what the heck i do not like about it . i can only assume that maybe i be really in the wrong mood to watch it and or maybe i just do not get it . in any event and i love it this time and give it a positive and or an a. it might sound ridiculous say i do not get a film like this and but there be something to get . valentine be almost a comedy or horror . director jamie blank and who be also responsible for 1998 urban legend and take the stereotypical teen horror formula that become so popular in the late 1990s in the wake of scream ( 1996 ) and push most of the element up a notch and make valentine intentionally cheesy or campy almost to the point of absurdity ( where absurdism be a positive stylistic term ) . on top of that and he give u a film imbue with humorous commentary on romantic relationship . the humor be unusual in that it have the same exaggeratedly campy tone a the teen horror aspect . most of the situation in the film and and the modus operandi of the villain and humorous or not and be tie in to the valentine day theme . many viewer will likely subtract point from the film for it various cliché root but implausible scenario and plot development . however and in light of the above and the film be intentionally clichéd and implausible and ludicrous . it a if blank be attempt ( and mostly succeed ) to transcend the typical teen slasher by mock or spoof the convention of the genre while also satirize eros . that the attraction to the irony of base a horror film on valentine day . it an incongruity that be cleverly weave throughout the film and and that be itself at the heart of the slasher genre and make it prime fodder for valentine extravagant lampooning . scream have a similar aim with it horror material and but the twist there be that the film be self aware . valentine day be intentionally not self aware while the viewer have to rely on contextual clue for satire . l some think i be read too much into the film and it worthwhile to note that blank say in interview that he do not want to just do another slasher film after urban legend and producer dylan seller say he want to do something more adult . other viewer may dislike the fact that valentine day differs so much from it putative source material and the novel of the same name by tom savage . the novel character and set and plot be very different from the film . seller have say and while it be a fine book and i do not think it be the right story for a film . so instead the novel and which be much dryer and more serious in tone and be use a a launching pad and a motif to create variation on for a horror or thriller story center on valentine day . while those fact would not help purist familiar with the book like the film and it helpful to understand why the film have it divergent plot and attitude . it probably well to look at the film a an independent entity with a similar theme . blank direction be impeccable visually . valentine day have a lush look throughout and with complex and deep color and interesting set and and good staging . blank be admirable for keep his villain and attack scene not too dark and with clearly convey action . he also direct his actor with aplomb and catalyze often slyly humorous performance . david boreanaz and a adam carr and be involve in many of the funny moment . while valentine day be no masterpiece and it a very good horror or thriller film that seem strongly prone to misconception . if you watch it expect something more tongue in cheek you may find yourself appreciate it a lot more .