Trick 'r' Treat (2007)

Trick 'r' Treat (2007) (see below for trailer and preview images)

Directed and Written by
Michael Dougherty
 
Starring:
Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin, Brian Cox
 
Budget $12M                          Video $9.8M
 
IMDb 6.8/10                           Rotten Tomatoes 83%                      Metacritic TBD

This was an interesting little treat that I wish I would have gotten around to watching at Halloween this past year.  But, I watched it this past week and I think this is one film that RT and I actually agree on.  I also think that if it had gotten some sort of big theater release like Halloween 2018 it would have been a lot more of a money maker.  I’m not sure I understand why it went straight to video.  They did a bunch of random screenings when it came out, some months apart and they all went well.  Then they go straight to video and don’t even make enough money on sales to get back what they spent on the film budget.  It just seems insane to me.
 
One of the reasons this was such a successful movie is that it had a Creepshow/Tales From the Darkside kind of feel to it.  The film is comprised of four tales woven together with a common theme between them, Sam, a small trick-or-treater in orange footy pajamas and a mask made from a burlap sack.  He’s a cute yet creepy little guy that always appears to be harmless and yet, is anything but.  Still, he’s the constant character that ties all the stories together.  
 
Throughout the whole film there’s a fantastic horror value with a dash of levity but, the seriousness of the dastardly deeds committed in these tales are still very clear to the viewer. The film seems to be preaching the “rules” of Halloween and the things that might happen if they are not properly followed.
 
For instance, a couple gets home after a night out of Halloween fun, although she seems to be quite the buzzkill and honestly, just a pain in the ass with a bad attitude all around. Anyways, as they are walking to their front door, she leans down to blow out the candle in the carved pumpkin and her boyfriend/husband tells her that she’s not supposed to blow it out before midnight.  She starts making fun of him and he says it’s tradition but, she maintains it’s stupid and blows it outs, thus sealing her fate.  Yes, she dies.  I won’t tell you how and I’m not going to tell you any more about the stories because, like I said, they are all woven together.
 
This film WAS very fun and entertaining to watch.  The horror was a pleasure to watch with each installment adding more to the tasty tidbits that the Halloween theme provides.  It was like getting full size candy bars on Halloween four houses in a row!  I can completely understand how this movie developed a cult following.  As I stated before, it would have had an even bigger following if they had actually promoted it like they do the BIG movies and released it in theaters with a bang as they seem to do with everything else.  This is truly a hidden gem in the world of the horror genre.  You won’t want to miss out on it.
 
RATINGS
4/5 Stars