Corey Feldmanis back in the spotlight this month, dishing onwhy he believes it took so long for his 2004 filmThe Birthdayto finally be released 20 years after it made the rounds at film festivals. Directed by Eugenio Mira and set in 1987, the film stars Feldman as Norman Forrester, a humble pizzeria worker who attends the posh birthday party of his girlfriend’s father,only to discover he’s caught up in a larger conspiracy surrounding a doomsday cult.
In a recent interview withSalon, Feldman answered what he calls “the million-dollar question” as towhyThe Birthdayhas been delayed from seeing a U.S. release for the past two decades. He saysthe “official” answer has to do with finances, and that the film’s executive producer was unwilling to accept a deal with any distributor that didn’t have him recouping his investment up front.
“There’s the million-dollar question! I have my own theories. The official answer is that the Executive Producer said he didn’t want to accept any offer that was not a full refund of his expenses to make it theatrical. We wanted it theatrical, but most distributors wouldn’t give money upfront, or would only give a little upfront, saving most [payment] for the backend. DVDs were fading out then, and times were changing. He held strong. We played at some festivals and got tremendous reviews. It was getting the buzz it needed, but he said, ‘No.’ It is what it is.”
The fresh buzz surroundingThe Birthdayisthanks in part to Jordan Peele(Get Out,Us), who screened Feldman’s movie in 2023 at Film at Lincoln Center in New York City. Since then, the movie has had a number of showings, earning praise from the likes of Elijah Wood, who calls it"a delicious, long awaited treasure of a film.“Stephanie Malone from Morbidly Beautiful calls it a"a rare gift for lovers of unconventional cinema,“while Dan Scully of ScullyVision said it’s"the ultimate ‘go in blind’ movie,“meaning it’s best not to reveal too much aboutThe Birthday, and let audiences enjoy the ride for themselves.
Best Corey Feldman Performances, Ranked
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Corey Feldman Believes The Birthday Was Purposely Prevented from Being Released
Getting his start in 1978, Feldmanwasn’t even 10 when he appeared in his first roleas the “Daycare kid” in the ABC sitcomEight is Enough. As such, he practically grew up before our very eyes in the 1980s, having starring rolesinThe Goonies,Gremlins,Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,Stand By Me, andThe Lost Boys, all within a four-year period.
Since then, the actor hasn’t been shy about his struggles with addiction, and has remained adamant that he was sexually abused as a child star in Hollywood, shouting from the rooftops at any chance he getsthat pedophilia is a huge problem in the industry. It’s for that very reason he believesThe Birthdaywas prevented from being released theatrically in 2004 by “people in high places"who didn’t want to see him succeed.
“I don’t want to go down that conspiracy theory road. I feel the stop of this film was done intentionally and for that very reason. There were people in high places that didn’t want me to be a success. They wanted to portray the idea of a fallen hero, someone who lost their craft and ability and was no longer the talented kid they once were. That was the image that they tried to hang on me.”
Now thatThe Birthdayis finally seeing the light of day, Feldman says he feels a sense of"validation and redemption"since audiences will finally get to see him in what he calls “his new favorite role,” which will leave many to wonder what could have been had the film been given the chance to succeed, and perhaps changed the course of his entire career.
The Birthday
The Birthday (2006) is a tale of unexpected challenges and eerie undertones, centered around a man’s attempt to help organize his father’s birthday party at a peculiar hotel. As the celebration unfolds, strange occurrences and unsettling discoveries transform what should be a joyful event into a night of unnerving experiences. This film artfully combines elements of suspense and intrigue, delivering a thought-provoking narrative that keeps viewers engaged until the end.
