Skip to main content

The MONTH of HORROR - Day 30: Trick 'r Treat

I had a bit of a debate with myself over whether or not to include 'Trick 'r Treat' for yet another instalment of The Month of Horror, and my ultimate decision is that I can't think of another film that encapsulates everything that Halloween really is quite like this now classic fright flick does. Even more so than John Carpenter's 'Halloween', Michael Dougherty's jack o' lantern filled anthology of terror is, in my mind, the seminal movie to watch leading up to October 31st.

The horror anthology is something that when done right (Creepshow) can be incredibly effective, and entertaining--when done wrong though (Creepshow 2) it can be a slog to get through, so thankfully 'Trick 'r Treat' falls much more firmly into the former category. Comprised of four main segments, complete with bookends to tie it all together, we get stories ranging from why it's always important to carefully check your candy before eating it, pretty girls trying to find dates for a keg party out in the woods, adolescent pranks gone wrong, and why you should never be that one house to not turn your lights on for trick or treaters. These are all tales that, in some form or another, perfectly sum up what Halloween is all about--not that I condone pranks, or bullying but it is something that does happen on that night. Without going into too much detail regarding each of these stories, none are especially weak however my favourite is the first one dealing with the local grade school principal who takes sick pleasure in poisoning his students, and with the aid of his equally demented son, carve their heads into hollowed out jack o' lanterns! Hilariously sick stuff.

It's not full on scary or anything, it's more about the things we love about Halloween being transformed into a movie, as smiles creep across our faces when we see yet another spooky, and familiar trope turned up to 11 in front of our eyes. You also can't help but grin about being swept up in the atmosphere of this flick, as no other movie out there has so wonderfully captured the true essence of Halloween, and what it really means, as we do actually get a little bit of a history lesson regarding the origins of All Hallows Eve which is quite nice. Doughtery, along with his super talented team of art directors, and cinematographers have done an excellent job of filling each frame with all kinds of goodies that'll transport you back to those days of slipping on a costume, grabbing a pillow case, and hitting the streets in search of candy--you'd swear you can smell the lit pumpkins through your screen.

It's taken a little while for 'Trick 'r Treat' to leave its mark but I'm noticing that more, and more over the years, people are starting to find it, and adding it to their regular rotation of Halloween horror movies which is exactly where it ought to be. It's great to see it catching on now, as it's no longer that little movie that arrived with minimal fanfare, and only attracted a cult audience of film geeks--the mainstream audience is becoming aware of it now, and I hope it only continues to gain in popularity! Sam is also a terrific little villain who, if the sequel does in fact go ahead, could go on to becoming one of the legendary movie monsters in the annals of film history, he's just that cool. So grab some candy (check for razor blades though), dim the lights, and give 'Trick 'r Treat' a spin if you want to watch one of the most enjoyable movies out there for the big day--it's almost here!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e