This is the new Halloween hotness right here, kids! From the first time I so much as heard about Trick ‘r Treat back in 2007 and saw the first couple of screenshots, I knew it was destined to become a Halloween favorite and I couldn’t wait to see it. The problem is, for some reason or another that I still don’t quite understand, the film was never released in theaters. After making the festival rounds and getting a lot of positive buzz from bloggers, Trick ‘r Treat finally saw an eventual direct-to-DVD & Blu-ray release in 2009 just in time for Halloween. And let me tell you, it made my year.
Trick ‘r Treat is a dark comedy/horror anthology film–that is, it’s four different horror stories in one movie. Although it’s a comedy/horror and not a straight-up horror film, it’s plenty scary and downright gruesome. But I promise it isn’t one of those schlocky gore-fests with no substance and terrible acting. It’s a well-polished and beautifully-shot love letter to Halloween itself, telling four interrelated stories that play upon classic Halloween traditions and fearful urban legends like poisoned candy and costumed killers hiding in plain sight. The stories are interesting, the acting is great, and it’s not so scary as to make you feel uncomfortable when it’s over. (Of course, very few films are able to do that to me anymore.)
My favorite thing about it, though, which probably won’t be surprising if you’ve been following along with this countdown, is how extremely Halloween-ish this movie looks. From beginning to end, the scenery bleeds Halloween. There are jack-o-lanterns and orange twinkle lights everywhere! I also love how all the stories are loosely connected and take place on a single Halloween night. It’s all so very Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye, if you can remember that one.
If you’ve never heard of this movie and are judging it by these pictures, or if horror movies aren’t really your thing, I’d urge you to give Trick ‘r Treat a chance. Go ahead and look up the reviews if you must! The vast majority of them are nothing but positive, and I definitely agree with the sentiment that it’s “a new Halloween classic.” And oh that little Sam! So creepy-cute. So deadly. Seriously, guys, this movie is SO much fun. Go watch it.
Watch the Trailer
Rather than just post a single clip, I decided to go with the trailer so that you can soak up all the extreme Halloween-y goodness.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMoiNyyXSwU
Spooky Screencaps
What is 31 DVDs of Halloween?
As a special feature for the Halloween Countdown, I’m showcasing 31 Halloween DVDs from my personal collection. I have a lot of Halloween-related and horror DVDs in general, but for this year’s countdown I’m only going to focus on my absolute favorites–the ones I consider 100% essential for my enjoyment of the holiday.
