Just in Time for Halloween

I admit it; I dig torture porn (Saw, Hostel, etc). I like seeing all the blood a human body can lose and still manage to crawl around (on screen of course. I haven’t lost it and started hacking people up yet.). While this type (subgenre?) of flick isn’t too mentally stimulating, I just can’t seem to look away. In fact I will see the new Saw (what’s this one, number 20? 40?) and watched the last one this weekend in preparation (with all those twists and turns I find it hard to keep all the sequels straight in my mind). However, the good old fashioned creepy story movie holds its own warm spot in my heart. I like the kind of movie that lingers after you turn off the lights. That’s what Trick ‘r Treat was.




For once I’m not the only cheerleader for a flick. It rated five out of five bloody knives over at Dread Central, the folks at Brutal as Hell called it “delight from start to finish that anyone can enjoy”, and even the tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes is at 100% (this is as of today of course). Personally I’ve been waiting on this movie nearly two years. The movie was making rounds at horror festivals and was put on the backburner by Warner Brothers (shame on you, Warner Brothers). I am pleased to say that my patience was rewarded.

Trick ‘r Treat is a collection of four tales about, what else, Halloween. It moves through the stories of psychotic principles, pretty werewolves, a short bus massacre, and a creepy little guy named Sam with delightful quickness and ease. Some “story collection” movies rely on one or two good stories to carry the whole movie, leaving slow spots but Trick ‘r Treat managed to avoid this.

This flick doesn’t rely on jump scares, but more on urban legend type stories that embed themselves in your mind. Granted you know that dead kids don’t come creeping out of rock quarries after they’ve been dead for years and years but after the lights go out it may become harder to convince yourself. This film is also different from typical horror flicks in that it works the kid angle. While films like Nightmare on Elm Street allude to the murder of children, there’s not much in the way of kiddie killing being done on screen. Trick ‘r Treat is a true “no one is safe” film as you find out in the first story. While it is mostly predictable (there’s only so many places you can good with a scary story), there was at least one surprise for me (good job ladies! Especially you, Anna Paquin. But, honey, can we please do something with that gap. And maybe take the brows down just a notch. You’re not doing yourself justice!) and that was just enough.

I’m keeping this one short because there’s not a lot to say about this one that hasn’t already been said. I loved it. I recommend EVERYONE getting their hands on it. I also recommend not taking any chances and giving out candy and leaving your pumpkins lit all night on Halloween, I know damn well I am.