Written and directed by Michael Dougherty. Starring Leslie Bibb, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Brian Cox, Richard Harmon, Brett Kelly, Connor Levins, Quinn Lord, Anna Paquin, Tahmoh Penikett, Lauren Lee Smith and Samm Todd.
Plot: a series of scary stories weave into one another in a fantastic way (don’t worry, it is not confusing at all so long as you’re paying attention).
I’ve already used the word fantastic to describe the plot, so you probably already know that I enjoyed this movie. And DJ enjoyed it, too. There could have been some more hot guys to even out the number of sexy girls, but I forgive them. Horror movies are what they are.
Trick ‘r Treat follows the cutest little killer ever in a movie, Sam (Lord). Sam walks around in a burlap type mask over a really rounded head. It’s Halloween and he’s carrying a sack of something and he’s bringing comeuppances, too. It’s good. It’s all good. No story is a miss. It’s original. It’s crafty. It follows the rules it lays out. There are the guilty and there are the innocent and everything plays out exactly as it should.
First, we meet Emma, a wife who blows out a jack-o’-lantern against Henry (Penikett), her hot husband’s, advice. It’s bad luck and it comes back to haunt her, of course. Then, there’s Principal Wilkins (Baker), who enjoys poisoning children, like Charlie (Kelly), and then carving their heads with his young son, Billy (Levins). And even after that murder, he still goes out, without his son, to murder some more. Then, there’s Laurie (Paquin), a young woman who misses trick-or-treating, but her sister, Danielle (Smith), wants her to come to a party in the woods instead. Reluctantly, she joins her sister and all her friends, who turn out to be more than some men – including Principal Wilkins – were prepared for.
An urban legend about a bus driver that was paid – by their own parents – to kill eight disabled children, is the driving force behind the other stories we follow. In one, several kids decide to prank a strange girl named Rhonda (Todd), just because she’s strange. They pretend to be the dead kids from the bus and that backfires horribly, as it should. The other story, the last real story, is about a Mr. Kreeg (Cox), a crotchety old man who steals candy from kids. He ends up getting a much needed visit from Sam and then some other even more unwelcome guests arrive because the old man has been keeping some heinous secrets.
You should trust me when I tell you that this is an impressive piece of work. It’s fun to watch, there’s incredible innovation, a magnificent cast, awesome effects, a nice soundtrack and a killer beginning and end. Me and DJ even managed to completely agree while scoring it. This should be on everyone’s Halloween Movie Playlist.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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